PREFACE. 5 



basis of the whole manege system, and it is 

 thus that horses are made to passage^ to piaffer^ 

 or even to trot backward. 



The objection to the method is that, as equi- 

 librium is gained, initiative is diminished, and 

 this, together with the pedantry of the old-fash- 

 ioned professors of the haute ^coky served to 

 bring the whole theory into disrepute. 



Looked at impartially, nevertheless, it must 

 be admitted that each system is well adapted 

 to accomplish its own peculiar objects, and 

 thus it seems at least reasonable to suppose 

 that ordinary people may be the better for 

 learning something from both. 



Amateurs, and especially ladies, do not ex- 

 pect to confine themselves to the silk jacket or 

 even to the hunting-field, any more than they 

 propose to give haute ^cole exhibitions in the 

 circus. What the majority of men and women 

 need for the park, the road, or even for hunt- 

 ing, is well-bitted, well-gaited animals, with 

 light mouths, broken to canter on either leg, 

 and easily gathered for a jump. 



But such horses when bought are not to be 

 ridden off-hand. To begin with, the finer the 

 training the more likely the beast is to turn 

 restive if the rider leans on the reins. A seat 

 independent of rein and stirrup is therefore 



