Copyright 2001 All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan and Beau Geste S.O.A.R.
Permission to reproduce with full acknowledgement of source is hereby granted.
For free access to Beau Geste S.O.A.R. websites please E-mail to: bgsoar@juno.com
Strongly influenced by the expressed interest for Baucher's last messages Beau Geste SOAR will accumulate here quotes from the 12th Edition of "Méthode d'équitation, basée sur de nouveaux principes, revue et  augmentée par
F. Baucher. Réédition 1974."
To try to preserve the authenticity of Baucher's messages both the original text with reference to their context  and their translation are posted.
This etching found in Général Decarpentry's
"Equitation Académique"  is believed to be by Colonel Margot.
The French quote is posted in red.
Michel Kaplan's English translation is in blue.
QUOTES FROM BAUCHER
Strongly influenced by the expressed interest for Baucher's last messages Beau Geste SOAR will accumulate here quotes from the 12th Edition of "Méthode d'équitation, basée sur de nouveaux principes, revue et  augmentée par
F. Baucher. Réédition 1974."
To try to preserve the authenticity of Baucher's messages both the original text with reference to their context  and their translation are posted.
This etching found in Général Decarpentry's
"Equitation Académique"  is believed to be by Colonel Margot.
The French quote is posted in red.
Michel Kaplan's English translation is in blue.
In Chapter I; Page 18 Comments about the quality of a good instructor
"L'observation silencieuse est souvent un des caractères distinctifs du bon professeur. Après que l'on s'est assuré que le principe posé a été bien compris, il faut bien laisser l'élève studieux exercer lui-même son mécanisme: c'est ainsi seulement qu'il parviendra à trouver les effets de tact, qui ne s'obtiennent que par la pratique. Tout ce qui tient  au sentiment s'acquiert , mais ne se démontre pas."
"Silent observation is often one of the noticeable chacteristics of a good teacher. Once one has made sure that the set principle has been well understood, one must let the serious student exercise by himself his own mechanism: it is only so that he will be able to find the tact effects that can only be acquired through practice. All that pertains to feelings is acquired, but cannot be demonstrated."

In Chapter III; Page 32: Chapter heading and introductory quote
"DE L'EQUILBRE DU CHEVAL"
"L'harmonie du poids et des forces du cheval donne l'équilibre de la masse.
L'équilibre de la masse produit l'harmonie des mouvements." Baucher
"ABOUT THE BALANCE OF THE HORSE"
"The harmony of the weight and forces of the horse gives the balance of the mass.
The balance of the mass produces the harmony of the movements." Baucher
In Chapter IV; Page 39:
"DE L'EMPLOI RAISONNE DES FORCES DU CHEVAL"
"Et d'abord, je pose en principe que toutes les résistances des jeunes chevaux proviennent , en premier lieu, d'une cause physique, et que cette cause ne devient morale que par la maladresse , l'ignorance ou la brutalité du cavalier."
"ABOUT THE RATIONAL USE OF THE HORSE'S FORCES"
"And first, I set as a principle that all the resistances of the young horses originate from a physical cause, and that this cause becomes moral only as  the result of the clumsiness, the ignorance, and the brutality of the rider."

In Chapter VIII; Page 65:
"TRAVAIL A LA CHAMBRIERE"
"La chambrière a été employée jusqu'ici comme moyen de correction; j'en ai fait un moyen assuré de calmer les chevaux les plus ardents. Voici comment je l'emploie.
          Placez-vous du côté montoir, à la tête du cheval; tenez les rênes de la bride à quelques centimètres des branches, le corps droit, le visage calme et l'oeil bienveillant. La chambrière , tenue dans la main droite, sera levée lentement; la lanière sera placée doucement sur le dos de l'animal. Si, lors du contact, le cheval cherche à s'y soustraire par un acte quelconque, la main de la bride, par un mouvement assez vif de gauche à droite et de droite à gauche, arrêtera bientôt cette desobeissance. Le cheval devenu calme et immobile, supportera le contact de la lanière flottant sur son dos, et amenée graduellement jusque sur la queue.
          On continuera cet exercice jusqu'à ce que le cheval ne manifest plus aucune crainte et reste entièrement calme.
          Tel est l'effet des procédés employés avec intelligence; le cheval les comprend, s'en souvient et s'y soumet sans peine: ainsi, l'emploi de la chambrière, de correctif qu'il était, deviendra le modérateur le plus efficcace. C'est alors que sera venu le moment d'obtenir de légers effets de rassembler.
"WORK WITH THE LONG WHIP"
"The long whip has been used so far as a punishing aid; I have changed it into a reliable aid for calming the most intense horses. Here is how I use it.
          Place yourself on the mounting side by the head of the horse; hold the bridle reins a few centimeters from the branchs, the body straight, the face calm and the eye soft. The long whip, held in the right hand, will be raised slowly; the string will be placed softly over the back of the animal. If, at the contact, the horse tries to escape by any action, the hand holding the bridle with a quick action from left to right and right to left, will stop soon this disobedience. The horse, once calm and immobile, will support the contact of the string floating on his back, and led gradually over his tail.
          We will repeat this exercise until the horse shows no apprehension and stays totally quiet.
          Such is the impact of the processes used intelligently; the horse understands it, remembers it, and submits to it without regret: so, the use of the long whip, from the punishing aid it was, will become the most efficient moderator. Then comes the time to obtain light engagements for collection.

In Chapter XIII; Page 118:
"DESCENTE DE MAIN, DESCENTE DE JAMBES, DESCENTE DE MAIN ET DE JAMBES"
"Cherchons, autant que possible, les moyens de combiner l'action des mains et des jambes, afin que leur entente parfaite atteigne un but précis et évite ce travail sans fin que produisent leurs fautes réciproques. Pour bien déterminer le rôle de la main et des jambes, nous allons les faire agir isolément. Puis, pour constater leur judicieux emploi, nous verrons si le cheval a été parfaitement équilibré, en lui faisant continuer des movements réguliers, sans l'aide de la main et des jambes."
"RELEASE OF THE HAND, RELEASE OF THE LEGS, RELEASE OF THE HAND AND OF THE LEGS"
"Look, as much as possible, for the means to combine the action of the hands and of the legs, so that their perfect coordination reaches a specific goal and deters from this endless work that their reciprocal mistakes produce. To determine properly the role of the hand and of the legs, we are going to use them separately. Then, to put in evidence their appropriate action, we shall see if the horse is perfectly balanced, by having him continue the regular movements, without the assistance of the hands and the legs."

NOTE: Critics of Baucher say that he presented his 2nd method only in the appendix of the last edition. The above quotes are imbeded in the chapters of the 12th edition. They reflect a totally different equitation than the equitation Louis Seiger criticized. Louis Seiger was only aware of Baucher's first method that he rightfully teared down.
Copyright 2001 All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan and Beau Geste S.O.A.R.
Permission to reproduce with full acknowledgement of source is hereby granted.
For free access to Beau Geste S.O.A.R. websites please E-mail to: bgsoar@juno.com

This page was last updated on: October 27, 2004