In Craig's absence I have begun to experiment with the training progressions, which Etienne Beudant describes in the 1929 summary of his experiences with Baucher's methods as descibed by Faverot de Kerbrecht. This summary Craig Stevens translated into English. My search for this translations stands at the beginning of our co-laboration.
Beudant begins with five flexions in hand. He adds raising the head, stepping forward to a touch of the whip at C8, backing, reverse pirouette, ordinary pirouette and side stepping, all in hand. And then adds a step, which appears to be the key. He makes the horse aware of the performance position, while teaching it to remain under the rider's control. He then goes on to teach it piaffe, passage, trot to the rear, front leg extensions and spanish walk in hand.
Under the saddle he repeats exercises in this progression: mount, dismount, stand in place, walk, back up, ordinary pirouette, reverse pirouette, straightening, descent of the hand. Training begins in the walk with small circles effected by the inner hand, serpentines effected by the outside rein, side stepping, half-passes, head to the wall, haunches to the wall, counter changes. He continues with voltes, demi-voltes, prolonged back-ups working up to what he calls the crowd (a combinations of lateral movements according to the horse's needs).
All is learned in the small trot and only then does he recommend the ramener (Beizaumung), which has no term in English riding, but speaks of opening the yes joint to bring the horse's nose into the vertical. He plainly indicates that the ramener is not an indispensible aspect of the horse's performance. It can do without, as long as the head is high and the horse is placed correctly.
