Baucher

François BAUCHER

(1796-1873)

Creative but controversial contributor to the evolution of dressage

Baucher has left a controversial but remarkable legacy.

Young, he earned the acclaim of his fans

and the criticism of his adversaries.

Older and crippled, he enlightens,

and discovers his mistakes.

In the 12th edition of his "Méthode d'équitation"

He becomes his own best critic:

"They (My horses) were trained,

since their work had exceeded all that had been done until then,

however their balance was of the secondary type (not perfect)."

His legacy is often misunderstood by its followers.

Only an equestrian genius like Nuno Oliveira

could make the best of it.

Master Michel Henriquet writes in the introduction of his last book

"30 ans de notes et de correspondance avec Maître Nuno Oliveira"

about Nuno Oliveira

"Baucherist regarding releases at the jaw and the poll,

the alternative use of hands and legs,

the decomposition of resistances by halts,

the transitions, the flexions on stiff horses,

he always returns to Versailles and L'école de cavalerie,

this international monument of the equestrian literature

regarding the artistry and the poetry of equitation

and above all collection."

One can find poetry in François Baucher's 12th edition

when he writes with heartful conviction:

"When I feel that my horse obeys all my commands,

and responding without any resistance to my thoughts,

gracefully performs all the movements I ask of him in perfect lightness,

I am so happy, that I only have one wish, sharing my joy."

Reading about the equestrian art of Nuno Oliveira one can easily be convinced that to become a classical equestrian artist a rider must adopt a synthesis of the best of Baucher's second method with La Guérinière's "L'école de cavalerie."

Conceited innovator, Baucher refused to give credit to the teachings of l'école de Versailles and La Guérinière. Meanwhile, Gustav Steinbrecht promoted a German version of La Guérinière's approach. Finally, artistically inspired by Xenophon, Nuno Oliveira seems to have mostly nurtured his art from the teachings of these 4 masters.

Author of:

1833 - "Dictionnaire raisonné d'équitation"

1834 - "Dialogues sur l'équitation; dialogue entre le grand Hippothéo, dieu

des quadrupèdes, un cavalier et un cheval"

1834 - "Réponse aux observations de M. d'Aure sur la nouvelle méthode

d'équitation et analyse de son travail d'équitation"

1837 - "Résumé complet des principes d'équitation servant de base à l'équi-

tation de toute espèce de chevaux"

1840 - "Passe-temps équestres"

1842 - "Méthode d'équitation, basée sur de nouvaux principes"

March 1855 - Date of his accident .

1859 - "Oeuvres complètes"