Antoine de Pluvinel has been considered as the founder of the French school of equitation. He was riding instructor to the Duke of Anjou (later Henry III of France), Henry IV and Louis XIII. He wrote Louis XIII copious notes on horse riding, which became the present work, illustrated by Crispian de Pas, and first published in 1623. It was immediately successful, and ran to several editions. This edition comes from the Windsor Library of George III.