Charles Mercier DUPATY, Marquis de CLAM
(1744-1782)
Educated to succeed his father as Président des Trésoreries de France
He received his equestrian education from M. de La Pleignère
Ecuyer du Roy, nephew of La Guérinière.
Member of several academies he praises in his speeches and books
the teachings of La Guérinière and "L'école de Versailles"
As a scientist he does not hesitate
to warn against abuses and to provide positive criticisms
From May 1762 to December 1769 he joins the Musketeers.
In 1769 he becomes a member of the Academy of Sciences and Literature of his native city La Rochelle and sometime later of the Academy of Bordeaux.
Author of:
1769 - "Pratique de l'équitation"
1772 - "Traité sur l'équitation" includes a translation of Xenophon's "Hipparchikos"
1776 - "La Science et l'art de l'équitation, démontrés d'après la nature" starts with "Discours sur les rapports de l'équitation avec la physique, la géométrie, la mécanique et l'anatomie"
In his writings Dupaty de Clam often praises LG's "Ecole de cavalerie" and the riders of "L'école de Versailles." "To get a correct idea of the good position, one must have seen the riders of the King of France and some of the masters of academies. With them we find the science and the art in their perfection."
Dupaty de Clam thanks to his knowledge of greek translates and publishes part of Xenophon's work. Strongly influenced by his masters and his studies he applies scientific observations of nature to the art of equitation. When justified he does not hesitate to warn against some abuses and to criticize specific points in LG's practice.
He warns against the abuse of the two track work on the circles and even more so on the square voltes. He finds the use of half-halts too hard for young horses. Also, he criticizes LG for not trying to get the elevation of the inside hind leg in the pirouettes.
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This page was last updated on: December 30, 2001
