Introduction* vii 



vinced me that they may be made exceedingly 

 serviceable in the education of ordinary horses, 

 and that they are entirely unknown to, or 

 neglected by, ordinary horsemen. I have 

 therefore endeavoured to explain them in a 

 simple and straightforward manner, as I find 

 them laid down by M. Baucher himself; and 

 I have also stated the opinion which experience 

 has led me to form of their practical utility or 

 necessity, in the hope that better judges may 

 possibly be induced to give them an equally 

 fair trial. 



All Englishmen naturally hate theory ; and 

 perhaps no Englishman hates it so thoroughly 

 as an English sportsman. The fact is, in my 

 opinion, highly creditable to the English in- 

 tellect. Practical men are quite justified in 

 hating a thing of which, potentially beautiful 

 and admirable as it may be, they have never 

 met with any specimen that was not actually 

 useless or pernicious. And just as English 

 statesmen despise a theory of government 

 which practically leads to slavery or to anar- 

 chy, even so do English horsemen despise a 



