In reality, an army horse is taken up when he is five years old, and a year is spent at his breaking, which is regarded as imperfect by competent men ; the reason being that he is put into movement before he is given equilibrium, which is the mainspring of correct and useful propulsion. This was the fault that Baucher found with old-time equitation, which knocked up horses by movement, whatever it was. Its teachers tried to obtain equilibrium, whatever it might be worth, by putting the horses into movement, so that they might get it for themselves. The actual change made by Baucher was to secure equilibrium at first, in order to obtain from it correct and useful movements. The only fault of the great riding master was wishing to perfect and refine this equilibrium, by rendering it unstable, before requiring forward movement. Although I disagree with him, in that I work my horses during propulsion, I do not the less begin, like he does, by getting my horse into equilibrium before putting him into movement, as previously explained. The difference between us is that, in place of demanding efforts from the horse while he is in a confined equilibrium, which is akin to immobility and getting behind the bit, I try from the first to make him obedient to the aids while he is in an equilibrium which is maintained during propulsion.^[1]

Persons who trot and canter horses before teaching them to start with their weight equally distributed on all four legs, follow antiquated methods which spoil the breaking.

We cannot advantageously modify a horse's equilibrium by keeping up or increasing his speed at fast paces. Such a proceeding would accentuate his defects and would knock him up, without teaching him anything.

The great majority of horses are heavy in front, particularly