The Croupade is a Leap, in which the Horse draws up his Hinder-legs as if he meant to shorten and truss them up under his Belly.

The Balotade is likewise a Leap, in which the Horse seems as if he intended to kick out, but without doing it; he only offers or makes a half Kick, shewing only the Shoes of his Hind-feet.

The Horses that are destin'd to these Airs ought to have a light and steady Mouth, and an active and lively Disposition, with clean and nervous Strength; for all the Art and Knowledge of the Horseman can never confer these Qualities, which are essentially necessary to the Perfection of this Manage.

The Croupades and Balotades are different from Curvets, inasmuch as that they are much higher behind, and consequently their Time and Measure not so quick and close, but slower and more extended. Therefore the Rider should keep his Horse's Croupe ready and in awe, by striking it from time to time with the Switch, supporting him not quite so high before, and observing to aid with his Legs slower, and not so forward, as in the Curvets.

As the Perfection of Curvets, both upon the Voltes and strait forwards, is owing to the Ease and Justness of the Pesades, the Goodness of Croupades and Balotades depends likewise upon the same Rules. Your Horse being made light before by the means of Pesades and Curvets, begin by making him rise, as well before as behind, less however in the first Lessons than afterwards; for you will never bring him to the true Pitch, were you to exhaust all his Strength at once, since while he is prest and compell'd to put forth all his Strength, he will never be able to catch and mark the Time, the Cadence, and the just Beats of his Air, both behind and before.

I have already said, that the Croupades and the Balotades are higher than the Curvets, they nevertheless partake of it; for though a Horse that makes Balotades, makes the Measure of each Time as high behind as before, yet he follows the Beat of his Fore-feet with that of his Hind-feet, the same as in Curvets; for this Reason, a Horse that is intended for the Croupades and Balotades, ought to be more active, light, and strong than one that is to be drest for Curvets, as he should have less Strength than one who is put to make Caprioles strait forwards, or on Voltes of one Line, and to repeat them in the same Place.

To manage the Strength and Vigour of the Horse you intend to work upon the Voltes in Croupades and Balotades, let the Line of the Volte be larger than for Curvets, and let the Action of the Shoulders not be quite so high; thus you will not only check and confine his Activity and Lightness; but by raising his Shoulders in a less Degree, you will give Liberty to his Croupe, and he will be enabled by this Method to furnish his Airs all together, that is before and behind, better, and with more Ease; there is still another Reason for this, for when the Shoulders come to the Ground from too great a Height, the Shock alarms and disorders the Mouth; and then the Horse losing the Steadiness of his Apuy, he never will raise his Croupe so high as he ought, to make perfect Balotades.