Le Maneige Royal Or, L'instruction Du Roy

Le Maneige Royal takes the form of a dialogue between master and pupil. The Master, de Pluvinel and the Pupil, the Dauphin. This work describes not only the progress of the royal pupil but also de Pluvinel’s desire to develop a more humane approach to training horses. His bits and spurs are considerably modified when compared to those of his predecessors. In this respect, the influence of de Pluvinel is most clearly reflected, in terms of English masters, in the difference between the last considerable master before his day—Blundeville—and the first after him—The Duke of Newcastle. Much barbarity had been shed in the interval which was filled by de Pluvinel’s teaching. Among other things, de Pluvinel was the first riding master to describe all of the High School movements and aids, and is believed to have been the first to use pillars for training horses. The original publication of the work was not without incident. During a visit to Holland, de Pluvinel met a certain