CHAPTER XXIV 

 MY OWN SYSTEM 



THE various figures of manege, together with the 

 low airs of the high school, constitute the circus 

 equitation. This differs from the equitation savante in 

 that while the one keeps the horse always in the state 

 of equilibrium, the other neglects this, and depends 

 for the horse's training upon straps, tricks, and the 

 memory of caresses or severe punishments. Never- 

 theless, Franconi, Baucher, and Fillis have shown in 

 the beautiful circuses of European capitals some 

 horses which, always in the state of equilibrium, ex- 

 ecuted these low airs so brilliantly that they have 

 never been equaled. 



Baucher offered his system to the different cav- 

 alries of Europe, but without success. Fillis, though 

 not accepted in France, became instructor to the 

 officers of the royal chevaux-legers in Belgium, and 

 also taught for several years at the cavalry school 

 in Russia. Both these grand masters were continu- 

 ally studying the application of their principles; and 

 because of their great reputations, they were able to 

 obtain, for education or purchase, some animals of a 

 quality, both of temper and of conformation, very 

 near perfection, and in every way greatly superior 

 to the general run of horses. 



I, on the other hand, like other artists, always 



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