Page:Notes on equitation and horse training.djvu/19

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All this preliminary work was done in place and resulted in the "gather" (Le ramener); later by the use of so-called "attacks" and "collecting effects" he arrived at the "assemble" (Le rassembler). These first lessons were supplemented by a few movements at the walk, trot, and gallop, and were supposed to complete the training of a horse in two months.

As for the high school, this was Baucher's triumph. He was an admirable riding master and could make his horses execute the most complicated steps. In one of his works he mentions 16 new riding-school movements which he had added to the repertory of former riding masters.

Baucher wrote several works on equitation. The principal ones are a Dictionary of Equitation and a Method of Equitation Based on New Principles.

D'Aure.— The Count d'Aure, a former pupil of the St. Cyr school, graduated there as a second lieutenant of infantry. He subsequently went into the guard corps and was thus enabled to enter the riding school at Versailles under the direction of the Viscount d'Abzac.

In 1830 he resigned, but, although he gave up the profession of arms, he retained his fondness for equitation, and his brilliant success in that direction led to his being appointed in 1847 to the post of head riding master of the school at Saumur.

His equitation is far from being complicated and studied; it is instinctive, bold, and brilliant. The Count d'Aure was an improvisor who, at the first glance, knew how to secure good results from the most difficult horses. Like all true horsemen, he rode equally well in the riding hall and in the open; and while he encouraged hunting and racing, he could excel all others at the head of a riding-school exhibition. He directed his efforts particularly to the marking of bold and energetic horsemen and