New-York tribune., 1902-05-17

the Central Cavalry School St Petersburg.
Translated by NJ II. HAYES r r. CD 5, With
seventy Illustrations octave. pp. Ky, 35J. Charles
Scrbners Sons)
The author of this volume, which may we'll he
termed textbook of equitaton, has long been
chief instructor at the st. Petersburg Cavalry
Riding School. He is high school rider of wide
reputation who has made the horse his study
for many years, and he is acknowledged TO be
an authority on his subject. For these among
other reasons. the opinions he has put into his
book well worth attention. He has some
remarks to make about the intelligence of the
horse which far from fattering. and which
will displease a great many of those who love
and admire that animal The only we'll devel-
oped mental quality of the horse, he says, is
his memory He declares that he is incapable Of
affection for man, and possesses only habits.
1t must be confessed that Mr. Fills adduces
evidence that Is fairly convincing.
One of his friends had horse of whose at
tachment he boasted Mr.. Fills learned the ami
mails habits, borrowed him, gave him carrots as
had his master, initiated his masters voice and
fed him at his accustomed times. In .rty-
eight hours he abandoned his imitation OF the
horses master and the animal made to him
manifestations of affection similar to those ne
had shown for his owner, whose loss he did not
appear to feel in the least. Other persons have
frequently been able. ne adds, to take his place
in the affections of his own horses. Mr. Fills
does not regret this attribute. because if It
were otherwise horses would be willing to obey
only master. The expression on a mans
face has not the least influence on a horse we
are told, while the human voice has the great
est effect. The sweetest words repeated in high
short tones, will frighten him. while the most
horrible threats, uttered in a gentle soft voice
will soothe him. This tendency to heed a tone
Mr.. Fills plays upon with success. In teaching
"A horse IN he nj ic -,
voice The command to trot is given in a higher
voice, is the order TO canter. After q horse
has thus been trained he will canter if one says
walk" in high tone.
The education of the horse Mr. Fills holds
should be conducted upon the principles of re-
ward and punishment Punishment must fol-
low disobedience Immediately, or it will have no
effect, because the animal will be unable to con-
meet the punishment with the particular act of
disobedence for which it is administered A
horseman must never lose his temper with his
mount. "A horse" says Mr. Fills can in no
case understand the feeling which prompts a
man to punish him, and he will remember onlv
the pain he has suffered and the occasion on
which it was inflicted. His intellIgence enables
him to connect his action with the punishment
it provoked but it does not allow him to go
further than that"
In breaking a horse the use of a new saddle
is not advised. since leather Is hard and
stiff. The less upholstering the saddle has the
better, since the less it has the nearer the horse
the rider is able to get. Mr.. Fills is of the
opinion that the great majority OF falls are
caused by the abuse or stirrups. and for this
reason he allows a pupil to use them
until he has accustomed himself to all raits
The whip. too, he regards with suspicion. de-
ciaring; True horsemen require legs and