THE SCIENTIFIC EQUITATION 



make ample preparation, take plenty of time, be al- 

 ways moderate, calm, persevering, and patient. If 

 in these four attacks you obtain any sort of small 

 beginning of a leap from one diagonal biped to the 

 other, rest satisfied for the time, and be generous of 

 your recompense and caresses. But, for pity's sake, 

 do not condemn your horse for a fault which is 

 mostly your own. Be sure you are right before 

 every demand; and do not form your opinion too 

 soon. 



Finally, be sure that the surface on which the 

 horse practices the passage is properly soft and 

 elastic, lest its feet become sore, to its discourage- 

 ment. Stay as much as possible near the wall, and 

 keep the horse straight. Change the hand some- 

 times, but not too often. Let the horse frequently 

 stop and be free. Ask little; but ask well. Be satis- 

 fied if the first sign of the desired cadence is from 

 one biped only. So far as possible, work alone in the 

 manege. Catch your pupil's attention and hold it 

 on yourself. In a word, make him enjoy his lessons 

 at the passage. Success depends upon you and upon 

 nobody else. Remember that you cannot buy the 

 accomplishment. You have to create it for your- 

 self. 



There are, in addition, several more or less in- 

 telligent and progressive mechanical devices for ob- 

 taining the passage; but these are not accepted by 

 the strictly scientific equitation. 



Baucher and Fillis employed a logical progres- 



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