Antoine de Pluvinel

Pluvinels method

Pluvinel was one of the most important representatives of the non-violent method of teaching in the cavalry. Although he was a pupil of Giovanni Pignatelli ( Neapolitan Riding School), who worked with extremely sharp curbs, and in his time the Italian school of horsemanship with their power method (see Salomon de la Broue ) set the tone, Pluvinel was of the opinion that the horse could be brought about by an understanding of his character, patience and praise without violence to cooperate. This non-violent method should contribute to the performance of the horse and extend its life. This attitude can be seen clearly in the following two quotes from his book Le Manège Royal ( posthumously published in 1623 ):

" The horse must own pleasure in the riding have, otherwise the rider will not succeed with grace. "

"We should be worried, not to irritate the horse and maintain its natural grace, she is like the fragrance of fruit blossom, never returns, once he's gone. "

Pluvinel took the view that all equestrian figures, only a working forth of the natural movements of the horse are that should be made more expressive by the cavalry. He devoted himself to the training of the horse by the hand and invented as an aid to this, the pilar.

Works

• L' instruction du roy en l' exercice de monter à cheval. Olms, Hildesheim 1972, ISBN 3-487-08005-2 ( Repr ed d Frankfurt / M. 1670 )
• Manège royal. The Royal Riding School. Allen, London, 1970 ( Repr.d. ed Braunschweig 1626 )