THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



The same movement at the trot is executed in 

 accord with the same principles and by the same 

 means. The rider, however, needs to make a some- 

 what more forcible effect to obtain the same result 

 a fact which goes to confirm this theory of 

 change of direction in diagonal. 



The idea of using the left rein for a turn to the 

 right is bound to give rise to much discussion. But 

 the reader is already familiar with the rein of con- 

 traction, or guiding by the neck, where the rider 

 employs his right leg, and at the same time, by 

 carrying his hand to the right, draws on the left 

 rein. This new principle, created by myself, I have 

 considered and practiced long years. The results 

 convince me of its truth. 



The horse mounted by a rider carries a very con- 

 siderable weight, a fact which both Baucher and 

 Fillis have completely neglected. Baucher, to be 

 sure, has recognized the seat as a third means of 

 control. But what is the seat, if the weight sup- 

 ported by it is ignored? These two masters advo- 

 cate, with reason, collection, the assemblage of all 

 the forces of the animal at a center, and the result- 

 ing state of equilibrium. The horse is placed in this 

 state by the effects of hand and legs, and main- 

 tained there by the same means. They point out, 

 rightly, that the horse in equilibrium is comparable 

 to a large ball, in contact with the ground at a 

 single point, so that the least weight added to one 

 side starts the movement in that direction. When, 



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