| Mark Russell is a classical trainer who has recently relocated his services to Eastern Tennessee after serving Texas, Florida, and New England horse owners for over thirty years. His career began with riding and training Western performance horses in the 1960's. Some years later Mark incorporated dressage into the training experience which inspired him to examine the origins of classical horsemanship and the writings of the "old masters". As a result Mark came to view dressage as essential to all horse training, regardless of riding discipline, and incorporated its fundamental exercises into his own program. |  |
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While pleased with his success in horse training thus far, Mark knew there was more to learn. In 1984 Mark travelled to Portugal to study under world renowned Portugese classical horse trainer and rider Nuno Oliveira. What Mark experienced was a remarkable partnership that transcended everything he had previously learned about the relationship between horse and rider. He saw both horse and rider communicate as equals. The desire to achieve such a partnership led Mark on a lifelong quest and turned the sport he loved into Art.
Mark Russell began "riding in lightness" after being inspired by Nuno Oliveira. Master Oliveira, like his predecessors in classical riding, believed that enjoyment and success in riding was predicated on first teaching the horse to relax.As the horse relaxes, positive energies are released and the alliance between horse and rider improves. These principles have guided Mark Russell in his pursuit of the artistry and lightness in riding. |
| Mark Russell has created a modern teaching system based on classical principles of dressage intergrated with the principles of natural horsemanship. He has developed a strong and dedicated following. Mark Russell's students are taught these techniques which they can apply to whatever discipline of riding they enjoy, be it Western pleasure, hunters, jumpers, dressage, or simply trail riding. Mark Russell's students do have one thing in common. They aspire to a satisfying alliance with their horses, resulting in many mutual rewards. |  |