BREAKING AND TRAINING OF HORSES,
WITH
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING A GOOD SEAT.
ILLUSTRATED.
By F. BAUCHER.
Translated from the Ninth Paris Edition.
NEW YORK:
ALBERT COGSWELL, PUBLISHER,
No. 139 Eighth Street.
Mr. BAUCHER
upon Partisan.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
The author's introduction to his "Method of Horsemanship" is omitted in this edition, because containing much that would be uninteresting to the American reader. It mentions the great difficulties he had in attracting the attention of the public to his system, and the complete success with which it was crowned when once this attention was attracted. One paragraph from it, which contains the principle upon which his whole method is founded, is here given:
"However favored by nature the horse may be, he requires a preparatory exercise to enable his forces to afford each other mutual assistance; without this everything becomes mechanical and hazardous, as well on his part as on that of the rider.
"What musician could draw melodious sounds from an instrument without having exercised his fingers in handling it? He would certainly, if he attempted such a thing, produce only false discordant sounds; and the same thing occurs in horsemanship when we undertake to make a horse execute movements for which he has not been prepared."
M. Baucher presents the official documents upon the subject of the introduction of his method into the French army with the following introductory remarks:
"Since the first publication of my method, indisputable facts have attested the truth of the principles therein contained. Field-Marshal the Minister of War has appointed a commission, presided over by Lieutenant-General the Marquis Oudinot, to examine into its advantages.[A]
"Fifty horses, some from the troop, and others belonging to officers, which had not yet commenced their education, or which were considered difficult to manage, or vicious, were subjected to the experiment, which commenced on the 21st March, 1842. The demands of the service of the garrison of Paris permitting only a small number of cuirassiers, municipal guards, and first-class lancers to be put at the disposition of the commission, nearly all the horses were intrusted to riders who were by no means intelligent, or else whose education was not very much advanced. The riders themselves exercised their horses. On the 9th of April—that is to say, after fifteen lessons—Field-Marshal the Minister of War wished to witness the results of the system he had ordered to be tried. His Excellency was accompanied by the members of the committee of cavalry, and many other general officers. The men being completely armed and equipped, and the horses caparisoned, they executed, individually and in troop, at all the paces, movements that, up to this time, had only been required of horses that had been exercised for five or six months under experienced riders. The Minister of War followed all the trials with the greatest interest, and before retiring expressed his complete satisfaction, and announced his intention of having a general application of it made in the army."
Among the official documents in favor of Baucher's method is a letter from M. Champmontant, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Staff, Secretary of the Committee of Cavalry, in which he requests M. Baucher to fix a convenient time to appear before the committee and explain his system more completely, that they may consider its adoption in the army; another from Lieutenant-General Marquis Oudinot to M. Baucher. In this letter the General informs M. Baucher that the Minister of War has decided that a series of experiments shall be made upon his method of breaking new horses and such as were considered difficult to manage.
Then follows the report upon the trials of Baucher's method, and a recapitulation of the daily operations by the Chef d'Escadrons de Novital, commanding the Royal School at Saumur. The complete success of the trial is mentioned above, and an extract only from the report will be here given:
"But, it may be objected, will not this species of captivity to which the new method will subject the horse, prevent his lasting? Will it not be the source of his premature decay? To this it is easy to answer by a comparison, which to us appears conclusive. When all the wheel work of a machine fits well together, so that each part furnishes its share of action, there is harmony, and consequently need of a less force; so when, in an organized body, we are enabled to obtain suppleness and pliability in all the parts, the equilibrium becomes easy, there is suppleness and lightness, and in consequence, a diminution of fatigue.
"Far from injuring the horse, the new method has the advantage of being a great auxiliary in developing the muscles, particularly in a young subject."
Extract from the report to Lieutenant-General Oudinot, by M. Carrelet, Colonel of the Municipal Guard of Paris:
"To shorten this narration, I would say that the officers of the Municipal Guard are unanimous in their approval of M. Baucher's proceedings, applied to the breaking of young horses.
"We have assisted at the education of forty troop horses, all more or less difficult to manage; and we are convinced that, by Baucher's system, they have been more advanced in fifteen days than they would have been in six months, by the proceedings we have been accustomed to follow.
"I am so convinced of the efficiency of the means practised by M. Baucher, that I am going to subject to them all the horses of my five squadrons."
Extract from the report of Lieutenant-General Marquis Oudinot to his Excellency the Marshal the Minister of War:
"That the system of M. Baucher may produce in the army all the advantages expected from it, it would be necessary to have a certain number of instructors initiated in it as completely as possible, that they may be able to teach it afterwards.
"In consequence of which, I have the honor to propose to you to order:
"1st. That upon the return to Saumur of the commanding officer of the riding-school, the young horses be broken after Baucher's method, and observations made upon the advantages or disadvantages that it presents.
"2d. That in the Fifth Cuirassiers and the Third Lancers, the application of this method be continued.
"3d. That the different bodies of cavalry within a circle of twenty-five leagues around Paris detach, for about two months, their captain-instructor and one officer, who should come to study the system of M. Baucher."
The Minister of War immediately issued these three orders, and also three additional ones:
"4th. M. Baucher, Jr., will repair to the camp at Luneville and sojourn there during the months of June, July and August. The captain-instructors and one lieutenant from the troops of horse stationed in the neighborhood of Paris will be ordered to Luneville during those months to study the Baucher system.
"5th. M. Baucher, Jr., will receive an indemnity of five hundred francs a month.
"6th. Each of the bodies of troops of horse and establishments of unbroken horses will receive two copies of the work entitled 'A New Method of Horsemanship, by M. Baucher.'"
Extract from the report of the Chef d'Escadrons Grenier, appointed to the command of the officers detached to Paris, by ministerial decision of the 20th of May, 1842, to study the method of horsemanship of M. Baucher:
"The officers detached to Paris were of the number of twenty-two, the captain-instructor and a lieutenant from each regiment. * * * They exercised for thirty-nine days. * * * These officers did not all arrive at Paris with the belief that they could be taught anything. One-half were captain-instructors, the rest, lieutenants, intended to become the same. Thus, in the beginning, there was very little confidence, on the part of the officers, in their new professor, sometimes even opposition, but always zeal and good will.
"Little by little, confidence came, opposition disappeared; but only at the end of the first month, after about twenty-five lessons, did all the officers, without exception, understand the method and recognize the superiority of M. Baucher's principles over those previously known.
"Before leaving, they all approved of the new method, and desired its application in their regiments.
"The method of horsemanship of M. Baucher is positive and rational; it is easy to understand, especially when studied under the direction of some one who knows it. It is attractive to the rider, gives him a taste for horses and horsemanship, tends to develop the horse's qualities, especially that of lightness, which is so delightful to discover in a saddle-horse. * * Applied to the breaking of young horses, it develops their instinct, makes them find the domination of the rider easy and pleasant; it preserves them from the premature ruin that an improper breaking often brings with it; it may shorten the time devoted to the education of the horse; and it interests the riders employed in it."
M. Desondes, Lieutenant of the Ninth Cuirassiers, winds up a long and highly favorable report upon the breaking of young horses for the army with the words, "To Baucher the cavalry is grateful."
Extracts from the sixth and last report upon the trials of the new method of horsemanship of M. Baucher:
"The first trials are concluded. The principal movements of the platoon-drill on horseback, the running at the head and charging, have completed the exercises. Thus, thirty-five lessons have sufficed to perfect the instruction of the tractable as well as the intractable horses confided to me. The first rough work with the horse—that is to say, the exercises with the snaffle prescribed by the orders—used to take up as much time as this, and then we scarcely dared to touch the curb-rein. In this view, the new system is of great utility for cavalry.
"But the promptness with which we can put new horses in the ranks is not the only advantage the new method presents; it guarantees, besides, the preservation of the horse; it develops his faculties and his powers; these increase by the harmony and proper application of the forces among themselves and by their rational and opportune use. It is not the immoderate employment of force which conquers a rebellious horse, but the well-combined use of an ordinary force. The Baucher system ought to be considered eminently preservative, since the breaking, being well graduated and well combined, cannot have an injurious influence upon the horse's physique; and his forces being at the disposition of the rider, it is he, the absolute dispenser of these forces, who is responsible for their duration or premature destruction. * * * I repeat it, that the new method would be a great benefit, an indisputable improvement for cavalry. * * * I pray then for its adoption, and ardently desire its prompt introduction into the cavalry.
(Signed) De Novital."
Extract from the Spectateur Militaire:
"Passionately fond of a science that, from his childhood, has been the object of studies as productive as they were persevering, M. Baucher, after having obtained from the horse a submission almost magical, has not been willing to be the only one to profit by his meditations; he has put them cleverly together, and his written method is now in the hands of all those who occupy themselves with horsemanship. * * * The division of dragoons, and the instructors of the different bodies of troops of horse that composed a part of the camp of Luneville, intended to execute, after the principles of the new method, and in the presence of their royal highnesses, the Dukes of Orleans and Nemours, equestrian exercises that would have had thousands of spectators. The mournful event that deprived France of the prince royal did not allow of this performance having the éclat that was intended. Nevertheless, M. the Duke de Nemours, wishing to judge for himself of the results, has had part of these exercises performed in his presence."
The death of the Duke of Orleans, and the indifference and afterwards opposition of the Duke de Nemours, were the principal causes of the system of M. Baucher not being adopted for the whole cavalry of the French army. The former was an ardent admirer of the system, while the latter was an equally ardent admirer of a rival professor of horsemanship.
Extract from a letter of M. de Gouy, Colonel of the First Hussars, to M. Baucher:
"So far from the muscular power being lessened by the repetition of the flexions, is it not increased by having all the advantage of exercise over repose, of work over indolence? Does not the muscular system, in reason, develop itself, physiologically speaking, in proportion to these conditions? Will not address and vigor be the result of these gymnastics? Has the habitual difference between the forces of the right and left arm any other cause than the difference in the daily use of the one to the prejudice of the other?"
Baucher says: "To prove the complete success of my mission to Saumur, I will back, according to my custom, my assertions by positive facts. The officers present at my course of instruction were of the number of seventy-two; of this number sixty-nine have sent in reports favorable to my method. There were but three dissenting voices."
This statement is followed by letters from General Prévost, De Novital, etc., all highly commending the system.
Baucher's method has been reprinted in Belgium and translated into Dutch and German. In the latter language, several different translations have been written, one by M. Ritgen, Lieutenant of the Fourth Regiment of Houlans (Prussian), and the other by M. de Willisen, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventh Cuirassiers (Prussian).
The translator will give some extracts from the preface to M. de Willisen's translation, as it shows that some of the difficulties met with by the former were not altogether escaped by his German confrère.
"After the most positive results had proved to me most convincingly that, of all existing methods, that of M. Baucher was the best, I thought that it would be useful to translate it. This translation seemed at first much easier than it proved in the sequel; above all, it was actually impossible for me to render in German, as I wished, such technical French expressions as attaques, acculement, assouplissement, ramener, rassembler, etc., retaining their clearness and conciseness. In German I could only find expressions that were incomplete. On this account I have put all the words for which I could not find a clear equivalent in German in the original French.
"Horses may be broken with much success upon other principles—they have been broken before M. Baucher's time—but no work has thrown so much light upon horse education; no other method has taught such simple and sure means, nor presented a like result with certainty. He who would ride with safety and satisfaction, ought to be completely master of an obedient and correct horse. To obtain this result, M. Baucher gives the surest means and points out the shortest road:
"The exact knowledge of the obstacles that the horse presents to dispose him to obey easily; the simple manner, easy to understand and easy to execute, of making these obstacles disappear, distinguish this method from all preceding ones, and render it of the greatest importance to all riders.
"The close relations that are established between rider and horse give the former such a certainty of hand and legs, and the latter such suppleness and obedience, that a like result has never previously been obtained.
"Until now, no horseman has ever had such clear and sure means for breaking a horse given him, even approximatively, as are contained in this book. The trial will give the most convincing proofs of this when we undertake to apply the principles therein contained; but that can only be considered a trial when made by following strictly what is prescribed in the method. There is no other method that can put the horse so certainly in the hand and in the legs of the rider; no other method succeeds in developing so much address and assurance in horse or rider: the horse feels at his ease, the rider is absolute master of him, and both are at their ease. * * * This new method teaches, further, what is of very great importance, the most certain means of making the rider perfectly in harmony with his horse, so that they can understand and mutually trust one another, in such a way that the horse obeys as punctually as the rider guides him skilfully. In place of being obliged to break every horse after our own particular fashion, we will only, thanks to this method, have to occupy ourselves with one horse, for it teaches us that the same means are applicable to all horses. It is unnecessary to enumerate the advantages the instruction of the rider gains from it, for he escapes the martyrdom of the lessons being given him on awkward, badly-broken horses. Riders will sooner become masters of these managed horses, and will acquire in six weeks a seat that will come of itself, and their touch will be developed much more quickly.
"Finally, men learn very quickly to put in practice means that are applied on foot, and there is a great advantage in it; it is that they can see better the moment that the neck becomes flexible and the jaw without contraction; besides this, their hand becomes much more delicate than it would have become in a much greater space of time, if the application took place in the saddle.
"Until now, only men of great talent were able to break horses; now, by practising this new method, which demonstrates clearly the means of breaking, every rider, in a very short time, can acquire the knowledge necessary to render a horse fit for use. * * * A person commencing to learn this method, and who is obliged to work from the book, ought to proceed slowly and cautiously in the application of principles that are not familiar to him. He ought first to endeavor to perfect his seat, his position, his touch, the obedience of his horse, and his paces; he will thus make great progress in the breaking, and be enabled to undertake the application of the new method.
"De Willisen,
"Lieut.-Col. of the Seventh Cuirassiers."
M. Baucher received from the King of Prussia a magnificent snuff-box of elegantly carved gold, as a token of the satisfaction of his majesty with our author's system.
If anybody has read all this, they will be pleased to hear that there will be no more proofs of the excellence of the system brought from across the Atlantic. In consequence of the opposition mentioned above, Baucher's system was discontinued in the French army, in spite of the almost unanimous wish of the officers. But he has gained a name as the first horseman of this or any other age—the first who could not only manage horses himself, but teach others to do so equally well. This has been proved under the translator's own eyes.
A gentleman of Philadelphia purchased a horse, four years old, long, gangling, ewe-necked; such a brute as no one but a confident disciple of Baucher would have had anything to do with. Had he hunted the country for a horse with but one merit, that of soundness, and possessing that only because nothing had ever been done to injure it, he could not have been better suited. Mounted upon this animal, it was painful to see a good rider in such a quandary; but a quiet, confident smile showed what was intended to come of it.
In six weeks from that time, without the horse ever having crossed the threshold of the stable-yard, the writer saw him splendid, with his neck arched like the steed in Holy Writ, his haunches well under him, obedient to the lightest touch of hand or heel, ready to do anything that was demanded of him, because he had been put in a position that enabled him to do it.
Since that, the same person has broken two other horses of greater natural capabilities, and the success was proportionately greater.
Every one who takes any interest in horses recollects the horse May-fly, when first introduced to an American audience, by Sands, of Welsh's circus. This horse, a thoroughbred, belonging to the racing stud of Baron Rothschild, was so vicious that he had to be brought upon the race-course in a van, so that he could see nothing till the moment to start arrived. With even this and similar precautions, he was considered dangerous and unmanageable. The master hand was required, and, under its influence, all such things as vice and being unmanageable disappeared. Instead of violent force on the part of man, which would only have produced more violent force on the part of the brute, Baucher sought out the sources of these resistances, and conquered them in detail.
Is it not worth a few weeks' pleasant labor with your horse to be able to make him move with the grace, elegance and majesty of this one, or of those we have since seen ridden by Derious, and that French Amazon, Caroline Loyo? It is within the power of every one to do this to a certain extent; and as the education of the man as a rider advances progressively with that of the horse, there are, as Baucher himself says, no limits to the progress of horsemanship, and no performance, equestrianly possible, that a horseman, who will properly apply his principles, cannot make his horse execute.