THE FIGURES OF MANEGE 



new direction by the reins, and by his legs impels 

 the animal in it. But, of course, the effect of the 

 right rein is to send the haunches toward the left, so 

 that the horse is no longer straight. Then comes 

 the effect of the left leg to keep it straight by pre- 

 venting the swing of the haunches to the left. But 

 under the impulse of the left leg alone, the horse 

 executes a pirouette, haunches pushed to the right 

 by the rider's left leg, shoulders pulled to the right 

 by the right rein. 



I myself hold to a more rational theory, which 

 differs from the principle of the old lateral equita- 

 tion, and also from the reasoned equitation of 

 Baucher and Fillis. The horse is either assembled 

 or it is not. If it is not, go as you please. The horse 

 makes the turn, and that is all. If the horse is as- 

 sembled, the rider controls the center of gravity. 

 This is sine qua non for the scientific equitation, 

 which, moreover, admits at the walk and trot no 

 other effects than the diagonal, either to obtain the 

 equilibrium or to execute any movement. The gal- 

 lop, which is the only lateral gait, requires other 

 effects for changes of direction, of which more 

 shortly. 



When the horse is traveling straight at the walk, 

 its feet follow the two parallel lines AC and BD, by 

 a diagonal stride in which BC and AD support 

 alternately the center of gravity at O. In order for 

 the horse to turn to the right, the line CD moves to 

 the position PL, it sends following the arcs of con- 



207 



