THE REASONED EQUITATION 



Fillis objects to the execution of Baucher's 

 flexions on the ground that he bends the neck at 

 the region of the third vertebra and not at the atlas 

 region. The series of flexions by Baucher is very 

 complicated, those of Fillis are very strenuous; the 

 two are difficult of execution for a young trainer. 



To remedy these difficulties, I have created a 

 series of flexions similar as to object to those of the 

 two grand masters, but more easy of execution and 

 sufficiently comprehensive for the trainer and the 

 horse. The first condition, sine qua non, is to teach 

 the horse to sustain the head and neck high up, by its 

 own effort and without the help of the trainer. To 

 obtain this result, the trainer places himself facing 

 the head of the horse, holding the left snaffle rein in 

 his right hand and the right rein in his left. By 

 raising his two hands straight upwards, not back- 

 ward or forward, the horse will raise head and neck. 

 (Figure 4.) When the head and neck are up, the 

 trainer opens the fingers of the two hands main- 

 tained at the same height; but if the horse drops its 

 head or neck, the trainer shuts his fingers quickly. 

 The flexion is complete only when the horse holds 

 the head up without help. (Figure 5.) It then 

 becomes a question of obtaining the flexion of the 

 mouth without letting the head change the high 

 position. For this flexion, the trainer, facing the 

 head and neck from the left, and holding the right 

 rein of the bit in his right hand and the left rein in 

 his left, causes a pressure on the right bar by 



80 



