05 

 Lecture V. 



HORSE TRAINING. 



The training' school of the old masters does not enjoy the same 

 universal recognition among the sportsmen of to-day, which it received, 

 at the time when the highest achievements in horse training were popu- 

 larly appreciated, and when Princes of the European Courts and distin- 

 guished representatives of society coveted horsemanship among the first 

 of their chivalrous accomplishments. 



The so called old school is almost extinct ; the art of riding as a fine 

 art degenerated and its disciples are few. The protectors and promot- 

 ers of this knightly sport, have almost died out and with them the taste 

 for cultured equitation. 



The celebrated schools, from which graduated excellent masters,have 

 almost ceased to exist, and the modern productions in the field of eques- 

 trianism, bear but a faint resemblance to the character of the beautiful 

 art, which, sad to say, is to many but a cherished remembrance, to the 

 majority, an idea, entirely foreign. 



If, instead of blindly following an unenviable, but large majority 

 into the field of anglomania, we do but try to search for the causes of so 

 remarkable a change, we can easily find them in the facts, that the the- 

 ories, the practical value of high school riding and a great many tech- 

 nical terms of the old school are superficially treated and misunderstood 

 by so called men of my profession, who in ttirn flood the minds of their 

 pupils with misinterpretations and falsehoods. 



I frequently hear such expressions as ; " "What do we want, with 

 high school riding, with its collected trots and little gallops? What for 

 this everlasting ring riding, which is but a waste of time and perspir- 

 ation? W r hat we want, is speed and riding out doors and over ditches 

 and hurdles etc. " 



Never having ridden a thoroughly flexed horse, not being taught 

 better by his teacher and not inclined to study any literature on the 

 subject or to make personal observations, the ptipil lacks all compre- 

 hension of the purpose of the schools, which are only meant to be the 

 means of developing the cross country horse. 



"It is too bad, about the time lost — they say to-day — shrugging their 

 shoulders over the Spanish trot, the time wasted over such unnecessary 

 efforts, a thankless art, which only brings horses behind the bit" are 

 their words. But when they have occasion to buy a horse, that shows 

 disposition to go in the Spanish trot, or has already been educated to it, 

 such a horse is praised as a wonderful animal, it is ridden only where 

 the most spectators are gathered and his value is doubled. In the mean 

 time it remains an open question, whether the horse only floats behind 

 the i-ein, in consequence of weakness, or too great a tension in neck, 

 back and haunches, or only paddles out in. front dragging its hind legs 

 after. As a rule, the latter is the case, and the horse is one, that is least 

 adapted to go correctly according to the schools and requires enormous 

 labor to produce active and elastic motions. 



