368 baucher's method ch. xv 



assistants, and the Frenchman Baucher brought 

 out, in 1842, a method, not, of course, entirely new, 

 which is, more or less, the basis of all the best 

 practice of the present time. 



Baucher's method consists in placing the horse, 

 by the use of the bit and the whip, or the spur, in 

 such attitudes as to give the rider control of the 

 horse's movements, and to make him light, the 

 trainer working first on foot and afterward mounted. 



The attitude assumed by a horse when he resists, 

 or puts himself in a position of defence, is with his 

 legs extended somewhat backward and his neck 

 and head advanced. In order to prevent him from 

 exercising this resistance, his hind legs should be 

 brought under his body, his neck raised and bent, 

 and his nose brought in. In this position he is 

 said to be gathered, and is ready to respond to the 

 indications of his rider, or driver, and cannot exert 

 that resistance which makes a horse heavy on the 

 hand. 



This correct position is of more importance in a 

 saddle-horse than in a driving-horse, but as the stiff- 

 ness of the body affects that of the neck, a driving- 

 horse well gathered will respond more readily to 

 the hand and to the bit, when being driven, than 

 an untrained horse, is more agreeable to drive, and 

 in every way more handy. 



This handling is the basis of what is known as 

 ' High-School' riding, which has always been popu- 

 lar on the Continent, but never so much so in 





