14 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



of his position. His instruction in equitation was 

 reasonable and natural; he greatly simplified methods of 

 training, and the system that he published may still be 

 consulted with advantage. 



Following the riding masters of the eighteenth century, 

 we advance step by step. The Versailles school became 

 celebrated the world over. It was a real academy, 

 which, after laying down the principles of French equita- 

 tion, sought to maintain these principles and prove their 

 superiority. 



Among the numerous riding masters of the eighteenth 

 century should be mentioned La Gueriniere, who pub- 

 lished The School of Cavalry and the Elements of Cavalry 

 (he died in 1751) ; De Nestier; De Salvert; De Luber- 

 SAC, who trained his horses by riding them eighteen 

 months at a walk; De Montfaucon de Rogles, who, 

 in his Treatise on Equitation, gives some useful informa- 

 tion on work with the longe; De Neuilly; Bourgelat, 

 founder of veterinary schools; Du Paty de Clam, who 

 published numerous works and was a writer rather than 

 a riding master; D'Auvergne, head riding master at the 

 military school in Paris; Mottin De La Balme, pupil of 

 d'Auvergne, who wrote Essays on Equitation; De Bohan, 

 who published a Critical Review of the French Army 

 (he thought that equitation should proscribe all artificial 

 gaits) ; De Boideffre, a pupil of d'Auvergne, who wrote 

 Principles of Equitation and of Cavalry; De LaBigne, 

 and D'Abzac. 



Military schools. — It is important to note that progress 

 in equitation was due not solely to instruction received 

 at the Versailles school, but also to the reforms in cavalry 

 tactics introduced by Frederick the Great. The neces- 

 sity of having squadrons able to maneuver proved to the 

 King of Prussia that equitation should be the basis of 

 the instruction of the trooper^ He built riding halls in 

 all cavalry garrisons and caused the principles of the 

 equestrian art to be taught. 



