THE PIAFFER 



trainer should be satisfied. He should then proceed, 

 by calmness, moderation, and equestrian tact, to 

 regulate and to establish the rhythm and cadence of 

 each diagonal stride, their height and tempo. With 

 time and moderation, the horse, more or less excited 

 at the beginning, will calm itself, will understand 

 better the cadence demanded by the esquire, and 

 with the habit of calmness will respond to the tim- 

 ing of the effects of hands and legs. Then, by di- 

 minishing little by little the rapidity of the step, the 

 horse is finally brought to the slow piaffer, the only 

 really perfect and scientific form. 



The slow piaffer is the poetry of action of the 

 horse in motion and is admitted by all schools to 

 be the crown of the scientific equitation. Baucher, 

 Fillis, and I employ the quick piaffer only as a 

 means of obtaining the slow, since we consider this 

 to be the only difficult and desirable form. The two 

 grand masters regard the slow piaffer as the abso- 

 lute proof of the state of equilibrium in motion, and 

 therefore as the most difficult of the low airs. I too 

 accept the slow piaffer as the proof of equilibrium 

 in motion, but I also employ it as a part of my sys- 

 tem of physical culture, to develop the muscles 

 of the horse's back, loins, and haunches. (Figures 



34> 35-) 



Baucher and Fillis, as I have already explained, 

 do not attempt the piaffer with their horses until 

 the diagonal effect is well understood, as in the 

 Spanish walk, Spanish trot, and passage. Baucher, 



273 



