"Rational Equitation"
In my last article I spoke about empirical equitation and how it was broken down into two sub categories;
The purely instinctive and the mainly methodical. I would like to now continue with ' rational equitation '
This type of equitation provides us with understanding the problems in schooling our horses.
The word 'Rational' is described in the English dictionary as ; Astute, perceptive, clear eyed, able to think sensibly and logically..."
For me, there has always been the correlation to true classical riding with thoughts based on the rational approach
Tracing back the causes of the difficulties in order to work in correcting them. Where the lightness, collection and balance are sought from the very beginning of training, rather than just the end result of training.
Rational training therefore works at strengthening and increasing the flexibility of different parts of the horse in 'calmness', melding then, these ' parts ' to make a' whole '.This type of equitation is sometimes difficult to practice as it requires more than a rote routine of schooling, where the rider is continually conscious of cause and effect. Thereby enabling a thinking rider to develop.
This differs greatly from the procedure of the 'empirical' process which only seeks to correct the effects observed.
In human terms of athletic performance, it has been suggested more than half of injuries could have been prevented by proper strength training. A training program which should be based on individual exercises to activate the appropriate muscles response and flexibility of joint movement.
Then why should the training of horses be any different?
Rousselet said ;
"It is easier to use power than knowledge. "
This type of training then, told riders not only how, but also why, enabling them to understand how to utilise a path of common sense and logic when training their horses. Setting apart from a mere' tradition ' to the evolution of riding as a scientific experience.
One famous Ecuyer, Captain Etienne Beudant, wrote ;
"Errors in equitation most often occur in attacking effects instead of searching for and destroying causes."
Also Andrew Mclean was quoted in The Horse Magazine ;
" It is surprising that while many areas of animal training have been rigorously examined and highly effective training methods established, horse training has remained largely untouched by the light of rationality, a rich field for the fakers and frauds.".
Rational equitation was developed so that ' anyone ' could train even untalented horses past an elementary level.
The man responsible for pioneering this type of riding was François Baucher (1796– 1873).
Baucher succeeded, for the first time to have riders understand and believe what he was teaching them. Unlike trainers at the time who merely showed their personal talent with results dependent purely upon the riders own ability to ride and train horses. Unfortunately Baucher never actually completed his work.
He was however, survived by one of his favourite students; General Alexis L’Hotte who wrote the book "Questions Equestres”.
This book was written gathered from notes from lessons by Baucher and Antoine Cartier Comte d'Aure expounding his motto ' calm, forward and straight ' “L’Hotte’s ‘Questions Equestres’ is a doctrine, or set of principles, based on this rational equitation, and still the ‘bible’ at the French National School at Saumur.
