APPENDIX 



hension and ability of any soldier, and must make a good, if 

 not a perfect horseman of him. 



Q. 5. What was the result of the practical work before 

 the Board? 



This question he left the Board to answer. All of this 

 work was that of a master, whether he used old and thor- 

 oughly broken horses, trained, or new and unbroken ani- 

 mals. With his own horse he showed all the gaits and mo- 

 tions of the circus rider ; made him walk, trot, and gallop in 

 place and backward. In short, he showed him a thoroughly 

 trained animal. New animals that he had never ridden be- 

 fore were got under control immediately, and gaited to his 

 taste. The Board is convinced that few men are capable of 

 arriving at the degree of perfection attained by Mr. de 

 Bussigny, but it believes that the system is the best of any 

 known to the Board, and that it can be applied to the Army 

 in general with great benefit. The system was most satis- 

 factorily illustrated to the Board by some of Mr. de Bus- 

 signy's pupils. The only system of treatment that Mr. de 

 Bussigny used or desired to explain was one for horses 

 broken down and not diseased, or those having deficient 

 muscles. His entire system consists in determining exactly 

 what muscles needed increasing, diminishing, or treating, 

 and then by proper gymnastic exercises correcting the defect. 

 Several horses under treatment were shown and the results 

 to be obtained were explained. The methods were certainly 

 ingenious, and would probably be attended with success, 

 but the Board did not remain long enough to witness any 

 thorough accomplishment of his purpose. Mr. de Bussigny's 

 only idea is to strengthen and develop the weakened or 

 stiffened parts by a system of flexions and exercises, and by 

 throwing out of use parts too highly developed, to partially 

 paralyze them. 



The subject of management is entirely considered in the 

 preceding resume", and may be described in a word as one of 



369 



