| Lightness to the aids and balance in self carriage are concepts developed by two French riding masters, Francois Robichon be la Guerniere (1699-1751) and Francois Baucher (1796-1783). Both are credited with being the first to promote the benefits of flexion and suppleness in the horse in order to achieve lightness. The late Nuno Oliveira added the concept of relaxation to these methods. By using these methods the rider unleashes the horse's true and uncompressed movement without either driving force (the rider's legs) or holding restraints (the rider's hands). |  |
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With the recent rise in popularity of what is now called Natural Horsemanship, many trainers are reintroducing the benefits of relaxation into their programs. While natural horsemanship does not equate to riding in lightness in the Iberian sense, there are conceptual similarities, most notably in the way the rider interacts and communicates with the horse.
These principles have guided Mark Russell in his pursuit of the artistry and lightness in riding. Mark Russell has styled a modern teaching system integrating on classical principles of dressage with the principles of Natural Horsemanship and has developed a strong and dedicated following. |