Book Description

James Fillis' classic work Principes de Dressage et d'Equitation originally written in French was translated into English in 1902 by Mathew Horrace Hayes and came to be known under the title of Breaking and Riding. This faithful Xenophon Press edition, restores the title to its clear meaning: Principles of Dressage and Equitation. In the interest of preserving this title forever, Xenophon Press has painstakingly reformatted the text and illustrations in a convenient, well laid out format including all of the text and imagery, unlike lesser facsimile copies on the market."My method of equitation consists in distribution of weight by the height of the neck bent at the poll and not at the withers; propulsion by means of the hocks being brought under the body; and lightness by the loosening of the lower jaw. When we know this, we know everything, and we know nothing. We know everything, because these principles are of universal application; and we know nothing, because they have to be applied practically. "Practice cannot be taught in a book; but I will try to set forth principles." - JAMES FILLIS. "Having fortunately had many opportunities of seeing Mr. Fillis ride both in Germany and at the St. Petersburg Cavalry Riding School, where he is Ecuyer en chef, I can fully endorse the correctness of the good opinion held about him by his most enthusiastic admirers. "With extremely few exceptions, school riders abuse their power, and sacrifice freedom of movement to exaggerated control, with the result, in many cases, of getting their animals behind their bits and straining their hocks. Such men ride in a mechanical manner, which is inelegant in a school...and is entirely unsuited for work in the open. Mr. Fillis, on the contrary, acting on his motto "en avant" (ride forward), has succeeded in showing how a horse can be made clever in his movements, without in any way diminishing his usefulness on the road or over a country. I therefore trust that all English-speaking horsemen...will profit by the valuable instruction which he now puts before them." - M. H. HAYES, translator: