CHAPTER XVL 



BAUCHER'S METHOD OF TRAINING HORSES TO THE SADDLE. 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A WELL-TRAINED HORSE — TO MAKE HIM COME AT YOUR 

 CALL—THE PHILOSOPHY OF TRAINING— FLEXIONS OF THE JAW — FLEXIONS 

 OF THE NECK — FLEXIONS OF THE CROUP— BACKING THE PACES — LEAPING. 



There is notMng wMch so mucli conduces to tlie pleas- 

 ure and safety of a rider, as the proper training of his 

 horse. Indeed, no matter how good a rider one may be, 

 it is impossible for him to ride gracefully, easily or safely 

 on a horse that has not been properly broken to the work. 

 It is true that a good rider can, by a sufficient exercise of 

 prudence, get on passably well with an unbroken horse, or 

 even a poor rider may, by putting his horse into a fast 

 gallop, make up in some degree, and for a short time, for 

 want of training ; but it is very certain that both are la- 

 boring under great disadvantages, and that neither the rider 

 or his horse is working with ease. 



It is too often supposed that all that is necessary to con- 

 stitute a good saddle-horse is, that he should allow a bit to 

 remain in his mouth, and should carry his rider without 

 attempting to throw him, and without viciously trying to 

 make himself disagreeable. If he have a dozen different 

 gaits ; if he carry his head low, and his nose out, — these 



11 [241] 



