Excellent introduction to the philosophy, method, and procedures of Baucherism, or the French tradition of "riding in lightness" that Baucher developed in the 19th century. Includes a translation of Baucher's "second manner." Jean-Claude Racinet wrote a few articles in the magazine Dressage and CT in 1992-3 on Baucher and his equitation. This series, with some necessary editing for cohesion, has been brought together to create this book. Two appendices were added; the first one deals with the validity of Baucherism, in light of the last discoveries of "equine osteopathy," as exposed by Dr. Dominique Giniaux of France; the second is a translation of the very last part of the 12th edition of Baucher's Methode d'Equitation, dealing with his second "manner." This text has probably never been translated into English, and is of utmost importance. The riders who will endeavor to apply by the letter the progression described by Baucher in this text will, to their surprise, probably accede to a new and higher level of equestrian knowledge. Born in Paris in 1929, Jean-Claude Racinet is a graduate of St. Cyr, the French West Point, Class of 1950. He was a member of the French contingent in Korea (1950-53), where he was wounded twice. As an officer of the French army, he spent seven years in Tunisia and Algeria (1954-61) and four more years in Europe. While he spent most of his army career during the time when the military was getting rid of their horses, he managed, between and during his sojourns overseas, to successfully attend the Superior Equitation Course in the Cavalry School of Saumur (1953-54), winning the title of Champion of Tunisia in open jumping (1956), and to become a member of the Jumping Team of the Military School in Paris (1953). Riding teacher and trainer as a civilian after 1965, he was more particularly known by his retraining of difficult horses and later as an equestrian journalist by his always witty and sometimes scathing articles in the French equestrian monthly L'Information Hippique. In the United States since 1983, Jean-Claude Racinet became a successful teacher, trainer, lecturer, clinician, and author. Xenophon Press published in 1994 his highly popular book Another Horsemanship, now in its second printing. Jean-Claude Racinet has devoted his life to the vindication of "L¡¯equitation de Legerete" (riding in lightness), which fosters balance by relaxing the horse - more so his mouth - excluding force in the wielding of the aids. In fact, the very essence of riding in the French Classical tradition. softcover, 207 pages, illustrated. Excerpt from the book: So, who was Francois Baucher? Francois Baucher was born in Versailles near Paris on June 16, 1796. Twenty-nine-year-old General Napoleon Bonaparte's "Coup d'Etat" was to take place on December 2, 1798, so the childhood and youth of Baucher was to unfold during the Napoleonic era, which the French call the "First Empire." At age 14, Francois Baucher was brought to Italy by an uncle who was managing in Milan the stable of Camille Borghese, Prince of Sulmone, and husband of Pauline Bonaparte, a sister of Napoleon. Four years later, at the fall of Napoleon, Baucher came back to France. He worked for a short time in the stables of the Duke of Berry in Versailles, then decided to work for himself and by 1820 settled in Normandy where he managed first one, then two riding establishments, in Le Havre and Rouen. Baucher evinced outstanding qualities as a rider, trainer, and riding teacher. Yet he deplored that the way horsemanship was taught at the time was unclear, vague, and futile, and he set out to create his own system which, he hoped, would be based on rationality and "scientific" observations.

Racinet Explains Baucher

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

RACINET, JEAN-CLAUDE

Pets & Animal Care

Xenophon Press LLC

Racinet provides a recipe for absolute balance, whereby all else succeeds. He searches for answers to riding problems from the inside and provides a thorough understanding of the cause. This is enjoyable reading, whereby you can gain relaxation in your horse. This book outlines and explains the concept of "riding in lightness" as understood by Jean-Claude Racinet who has spent his life riding and teaching the French School of horsemanship. Born in Paris in 1929, Jean-Claude Racinet is a graduate of St. Cyr, the French West Point, Class of 1950. He was a member of the French contingent in Korea (1950-53), where he was wounded twice. As an officer of the French army, he spent seven years in Tunisia and Algeria (1954-61) and four more years in Europe. While he spent most of his army career during the time when the military was getting rid of their horses, he managed, between and during his sojourns overseas, to successfully attend the Superior Equitation Course in the Cavalry School of Saumur (1953-54), winning the title of Champion of Tunisia in open jumping (1956), and to become a member of the Jumping Team of the Military School in Paris (1953). Riding teacher and trainer as a civilian after 9165, he was more particularly known by his retraining of difficult horses and later as an equestrian journalist by his always witty and sometimes scathing articles in the French equestrian monthly L'Information Hippique. In the United States since 1983, Jean-Claude Racinet became a successful teacher, trainer, lecturer, clinician, and author. Xenophon Press published in 1994 his highly popular book Another Horsemanship, now in its second printing. Jean-Claude Racinet has devoted his life to the vindication of "L'equitation de Legerete" (riding in lightness), which fosters balance by relaxing the horse - more so his mouth - excluding force in the wielding of the aids. In fact, the very essence of riding in the French Classical tradition. (softcover, photos, 135 pgs.) Excerpt from the book: From a rider's point of view, two distinct muscular functions preside over the equestrian performance. The first function assures locomotion. It Is acted out through an alternation of extensions and contractions. The second function must establish favorable articular angles and provide a fulcrum to the action of the muscles in charge of the first function. It upholds the structure. In one word, it assures the "posture." This second function works through a steady muscular tension. It is obvious that the muscles affected by the first function, which requires an intermittent tension, cannot in the meantime fulfill the second function, which requires a steady tension. Therefore the two muscle sets affected by either function are, at any given time, totally distinct. Their definition is, however, blurred, since in plain, day-to-day riding, at a walk or at a gallop or over the jumps, the posture constantly changes. At a trot, however, the posture is steady; the head position as well as the angle of the pelvis is pretty constant. At a trot, even at a racing trot, the horse's body is, so to say, "gelled"; its form does not change.

Total Horsemanship: A recipe for riding in absolute balance

The world of modern dressage includes a broad canon of doctrines that are rarely if ever questioned. Despite their constant use, many riders are confused by the exact meanings and implications of numerous terms and approaches. What does it really mean, for instance, to drive the horse "onto the bit?" Does a stronger application of the rider’s aids really encourage the horse to place its hind legs further under its body? Is the term collection” really synonymous with the increased forward engagement of the hind legs under the center of balance? This complete review of every aspect of dressage provides a thorough investigation and a critical analysis of the anatomical and biomechanical aspects of riding. It offers a long-overdue explanation of the sense and nonsense of commonly-used training doctrines and reveals prejudices in order to support the art of horse-orientated equitation.

Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions of Dressage Riding

Cadmos Books

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Books by RACINET, JEAN-CLAUDE

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by RACINET, JEAN-CLAUDE. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Racinet Explains Baucher

Total Horsemanship: A recipe for riding in absolute balance

Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions of Dressage Riding