MY OWN SYSTEM 



the matter here to emphasize the difference between 

 myself, on the one hand, and Baucher and Fillis, 

 on the other. They employ these airs of manege 

 for the sake of public exhibition. I use them as a 

 means of correction or development. I want a horse, 

 sound, strong, and well developed, in order to have 

 a square and equal walk, trot, or gallop. Since it is 

 impossible to find a horse having these qualities 

 by nature, I attain my object by means of gym- 

 nastic exercises derived from the movements of the 

 high school. 



I have, then, invented no new air of high school, 

 though I have complicated some old ones, but al- 

 ways for the sake of more strength, more precision, 

 more energy. I begin my course of training always 

 by the work with the longe, the horse turning the 

 circle successively at the two hands. It is during 

 this first part of the horse's education that I make 

 my diagnosis of the case, and my prognosis. That 

 done, I attack immediately the local cause of any 

 derangement. 



For example, the horse, walking round the circle, 

 proves weak in loins, coupling, hind quarters. I 

 load it progressively with a proper weight, and 

 watch its progress. When it carries the weight 

 energetically with its hind quarters, I make it walk 

 backward, a few steps at a time, several times at 

 each lesson. When its progress becomes still more 

 evident, I mount and continue the education by 

 flexions, pirouettes, reversed pirouettes, and back- 



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