James Fillis
Encyclopedia
James Fillis was a well-known English-born French riding master. He attended the school of Francois Baucher
in France, and introduced his methods to his home country. He taught for 12 years as Ecuyer en chef of the St. Petersburg Cavalry Riding School. He then went on to train in a German circus in 1892, during which time he performed for the Grand Duke Nicholas in Russia, and was subsequently offered a position to train the Russian Cavalry.
Fillis is featured in Alexander Nevzorov
's book and movie The Horse: Crucified and Risen.
Fillis is credited with teaching his horses to canter
on three legs and to canter backward, neither of which are trained to classical dressage horses today, as they are considered "unnatural" movements. He also taught the spanish walk
, a movement still seen today, despite the fact that it is not considered to be "classical". Fillis was also the developer of the fillis-style stirrup
iron commonly used riders today. He was also attributed with the "Fillis Hold" of the reins of a double bridle
, whereby the snaffle rein passes over the index finger and the curb rein under the little finger, although this most probably originates from the works of the great French masters; indeed, he himself referred to this as the "French" way in his works.
Francois Baucher
A "baucher" is also a type of bit, named after the man.François Baucher was a French riding master whose methods are still hotly debated by dressage enthusiasts today. His methods diverge from those of many earlier masters, but he still has a strong following of riders and trainers today...
in France, and introduced his methods to his home country. He taught for 12 years as Ecuyer en chef of the St. Petersburg Cavalry Riding School. He then went on to train in a German circus in 1892, during which time he performed for the Grand Duke Nicholas in Russia, and was subsequently offered a position to train the Russian Cavalry.
Fillis is featured in Alexander Nevzorov
Alexander Nevzorov
Alexander Glebovich Nevzorov is a former Russian and Soviet TV journalist, a film director and a former member of the Russian parliament. He is the founder of the horsemanship school, Nevzorov Haute Ecole.- Biography :...
's book and movie The Horse: Crucified and Risen.
Theory and teaching
In his preface to Breaking and Riding (1890), Fillis states his fundamental principle thus: His motto was "en avant", "forward". His method of equitation consisted, in his own words, of:Fillis is credited with teaching his horses to canter
Canter
The canter is a controlled, three-beat gait performed by a horse. It is a natural gait possessed by all horses, faster than most horses' trot but slower than the gallop, and is used by all riders. The speed of the canter varies between 16-27 km/h , depending on the length of the stride of the horse...
on three legs and to canter backward, neither of which are trained to classical dressage horses today, as they are considered "unnatural" movements. He also taught the spanish walk
Spanish walk
The Spanish walk is a trained movement performed by a horse. While at a walk, as the horse raises each foreleg off the ground, it lifts the leg in an exaggerated upward and forward manner. While the Spanish walk is loosely affiliated with the field of dressage, it is more of a trick or circus...
, a movement still seen today, despite the fact that it is not considered to be "classical". Fillis was also the developer of the fillis-style stirrup
Stirrup
A stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the foot of a rider, attached to the saddle by a strap, often called a stirrup leather. Stirrups are usually paired and are used to aid in mounting and as a support while using a riding animal...
iron commonly used riders today. He was also attributed with the "Fillis Hold" of the reins of a double bridle
Double bridle
A double bridle, also called a full bridle or Weymouth bridle, is a bridle that has two bits and four reins . One bit is the bradoon , is a modified snaffle bit that is smaller in diameter and has smaller bit rings than a traditional snaffle, and it is adjusted so that it sits above and behind the...
, whereby the snaffle rein passes over the index finger and the curb rein under the little finger, although this most probably originates from the works of the great French masters; indeed, he himself referred to this as the "French" way in his works.
Published works
- Principes de dressage et d'équitation Paris: C. Marpon et E. Flammarion 1890 vi,376pp., pl. "Principles of dressage and of riding" Full text of 2nd edition, 1891
- Breaking and Riding London: Hurst and Blackett 1890 (English translation by M. H. Hayes of the Principes) Full text of 1902 edition
- Grundsätze der Dressur und Reitkunst. Ins Deutsch uebertragen von M. von Zansen gen. van der Osten,... 2te Auflage... von Gustav Goebel... Berlin: C. Borgmann, 1896 xvii,431pp., pl. (German translation of the Principes)
- Journal de dressage Paris: E. Flammarion 1903. xxviii,499pp., fig., pl. "Journal of dressage"
- Règlement pour le dressage du cheval d'armes, établi en 1908 par la Commission de l'Ecole d'application de cavalerie des officiers à Saint-Pétersbourg. Traduction de James Fillis,... Paris: E. Flammarion [n.d.] "Regulations for the dressage of military horses..."