New Method of Horsemanship Part 1

New Method of Horsemanship.

by F. Baucher.

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 a.s.sistance; 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 doc.u.ments 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 cuira.s.siers, munic.i.p.al guards, and first-cla.s.s 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."

[A] "The commission was composed of Lieutenant-General Oudinot, Col. Carrelet, Commander of the Munic.i.p.al Guard, the Chef d'Escadrons De Novital, commanding the Cavalry Riding-School, and the Captain-instructors deGues, of the 5th Cuira.s.siers, and De Mesanges, of the 3d Lancers."

Among the official doc.u.ments 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 Munic.i.p.al Guard of Paris:

"To shorten this narration, I would say that the officers of the Munic.i.p.al Guard are unanimous in their approval of M. Baucher's proceedings, applied to the breaking of young horses.

"We have a.s.sisted 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 Cuira.s.siers 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 ent.i.tled '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 Cuira.s.siers, 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 princ.i.p.al 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_:

"Pa.s.sionately 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 _eclat_ 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 princ.i.p.al 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 repet.i.tion 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 a.s.sertions 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 Prevost, 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 Cuira.s.siers (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 _confrere_.

"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_, _a.s.soupliss.e.m.e.nt_, _ramener_, _ra.s.sembler_, 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.