Antoine de Pluvinel
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Antoine de Pluvinel (1552 - 1620) was the first of the French riding masters, and has had great influence on modern dressage. He not only wrote L’Instruction du Roy en l’Exercice de Monter a Cheval, but was also tutor to King Louis XIII, and is credited with the invention of using two pillars, as well as using shoulder-in to increase suppleness.
[edit] History
Born in the town of Crest (province of Dauphiné in France), Antoine de Pluvinel left for Italy at the age of 10 to begin studying horsemanship under Giovanni Battista Pignatelli, and trained under him until 1571 or 1572. He then returned to France to study under M. de Sourdis, before becoming the premier ecuyer to the Duc d'Anjou (who would later become Henri III) and accompanying him to his new throne in Poland. After the death of King Charles IX, Henri returned to France, taking Pluvinel with him.
He gave several honors to Pluvinel, continued by his brother-in-law, Henri IV, from 1589, including chamberlain, tutor to the Duc de Vendome, governor of Grosse Tour de Bourges, and sub-governor to the dauphin Louis (the future Louis XIII) to whom he taught horse-riding. The diary of Jean Héroard (main witness of the childhood of Louis XIII) describes the relationships between the King and his sub-governor.
In 1594, Pluvinel founded the "Academie d'Equitation", a long-time dream. There, the French nobility was trained not only in horsmanship, but also in all the accomplishments (dancing, fashionable dressing, etc.) It can be said that Pluvinel's influence on the aristocracy lasted from the late XVI century to the XVII century. Richelieu, the future Prime minister of King Louis XIII attended the Academie; so did William, duke of Cavendish.
Pluvinel died August 24, 1620, leaving no male heir. His name passed on his nephews La Baume, who were authorized to add Pluvinel to their own name and later became marquesses of la Baume de Pluvinel (1693).
Pluvinel's book was published posthumously by the flemish engraver Crispin van Pas and valet J.D. Peyrol, first in 1623 under the name "Le Maneige Royal", with magnificent engravings, but having never been edited. In 1625 the book was published in its complete form, having been edited by Pluvinel's friend Menou de Charnizay, under its definitive name "L'Instruction du Roy en l'exercice de monter a cheval." It has since been re-printed several times, and translated into many languages.
[edit] Riding Theories
Pluvinel is perhaps most well-known for his kind, humane training methods. Unlike his Italian teacher Pignatelli, who often used harsh methods to gain obedience from the horse, Pluvinel used praise, careful use of aids, and softer bits (simple curb bits) to get the horse to work with him.
He is also credited with the use of the pillars (wrongly, for La Noue also has record of using them, as does the Greek Eumenes), and he used them extensively in his training of collection and levade. Additionally, he employed the two-track movements, such as shoulder-in, and voltes to supple the horse.
His theories include that the horse must take pleasure in work, due to gentle, understanding riding, and that such a horse will move much more gracefully if he enjoys being ridden.
