THE SPANISH WALK 



ters, they also will obtain the step mounted and 

 without aid. 



I have now arrived at the point which I had in 

 view, when, in discussing such movements as gal- 

 lop, change of direction, shoulder-in, and the like, 

 I disputed the ideas of Baucher and Fillis as to the 

 effects which should be applied. The reader will 

 find that what now follows will be clearer if he will 

 refer back to the portions of the book where these 

 topics were earlier discussed. 



Baucher and Fillis teach the Spanish walk only 

 when mounted, just as I do. Why, then, have, these 

 grand masters fallen into the error of applying cer- 

 tain principles to certain movements, and yet dis- 

 allowing these same principles in similar cases? 



I quote, by way of example, Baucher's theory of 

 the Spanish walk, the italics mine. To the portion 

 in italics, I call the reader's special attention. 



"One understands by Spanish walk the action of 

 a horse which, in walking, gives all the extension 

 possible to each of its front legs alternately. ... In 

 order to obtain this movement, it is first necessary 

 to force the horse to sustain one of its legs in the air. 

 One will arrive at this promptly by flexing the head 

 of the horse, for example, to the right with the rein of 

 the snaffle or the bridle. That position taken, one will 

 carry the hand holding the bridle to the left, while at the 

 same time sustaining the horse strongly by means of 

 his own legs. Nevertheless, the left [leg] will be applied 

 to the flank with more energy, to make opposition to 



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