EQUITATION 





 



CHAPTER I 

 INTRODUCTION 



EQUITATION is divided into several branches: that 

 of the promenade, that of the army, of the races, of 

 polo, of the circus. The equestrian art consists in 

 the practice of these different sorts of equitation, 

 in teaching the principles accepted for their prac- 

 tice, and in training the horse for these different 

 uses. The present work, however, will treat only of 

 the equitation of the promenade. 



This portion of the general art has, in its turn, 

 three subdivisions. These are: 



The usual or instinctive or " lateral " equitation. 



The rational equitation, V equitation raisonnee, 

 based upon reasoned principles worked out by the 

 masters of the art. 



The scientific equitation, Vequitation savante, 

 based upon the scientific study of animal motions, 

 and involving a scientific system of gymnastics for 

 the physical development of the horse, designed to 

 adapt the animal to the controlled use to which it is 

 put. 



It is evident that, from antiquity to our own 

 epoch, the usual or instinctive equitation has been 



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