CONCLUSION. 127 



the good or bad disposition of his steed ; in the same 

 way the loss or the gain of a battle often hangs on the 

 degree of precision in manoeuvring a squadron. My 

 method will give military men a taste for horsemanship, 

 a taste which is indispensable in the profession they 

 practise. The nature of officers* horses, considered as so 

 defective, is exactly the one upon which the most satis- 

 factory results may be obtained. These animals gener- 

 ally possess a certain degree of energy, and as soon as 

 we know how rightly to use their powers by remedying 

 the physical faults that paralyze them, we will be aston- 

 ished at the resources they will exhibit. The rider fash- 

 ioning the steed by degrees will regard him as the work 

 of his hand, will become sincerely attached to him, and 

 will find as much charm in horsemanship as he previously 

 felt ennui and disgust. My principles are simple, easy 

 in their application, and within the reach of every mind. 

 They can everywhere make (what is now so rare) skillful 

 horsemen. I am sure that if my method is adopted and 

 well understood in the army, where the daily exercise of 

 the horse is a necessary duty, we will see equestrian 

 capacities spring up among the officers and sub-officers 

 by thousands. There is not one among them who, with 

 an hour a day of study would not soon be able to give 

 any horse in less than three months the following quali- 

 ties and education : 



1. General suppling. 



2. Perfect lightness. 



3. Graceful position. 



4. A steady walk. 



5. Trot steady, measured, extended. 



6. Backing as easily and freely as going forward, 



7. Gallop easy with either foot, and change of foot by 

 the touch. 



