Where to Start with Baucher
Who was François Baucher?
François Baucher (1796–1863) was one of the most revolutionary and controversial figures in the history of equestrian art. A French circus rider and trainer, he introduced ideas that transformed classical dressage — most notably the one-tempi flying changes, the concept of ramener, and his famous "effects in hand." His methods evolved significantly over his lifetime, giving rise to what scholars call his "first manner" and "second manner," the latter considered his most refined and influential work.
Baucher's ideas were fiercely debated in his lifetime and remain so today. Yet his influence is everywhere — in the work of Faverot de Kerbrech, James Fillis, Nuno Oliveira, and Manuel Jorge de Oliveira. To study Baucher is to go to the very root of lightness in riding.
Recommended Reading
1. Method of Riding Based on New Principles by François Baucher — Translated by Mangaiti Equine. Go straight to the source with this landmark text of classical dressage.
2. The Last Teachings of Baucher — Faverot de Kerbrech's account of Baucher's final methods, translated by Dressage Master Einar Schmit-Jensen.
3. Racinet Explains Baucher by Jean-Claude Racinet — The clearest modern introduction to Baucherism. Includes a translation of Baucher's second manner.
4. Another Horsemanship by Jean-Claude Racinet — A practical companion putting the principles of French lightness into everyday riding.
5. Riding in Release — A deeper understanding of lightness in practice.
6. French Equitation: A Baucherist in America by Henry de Bussigny — The science behind the method, from a French cavalry officer trained in the Baucher tradition.
Want a bit of historical context before you begin? Read on!
Baucher: A Brief History (1)
Baucher was born in 1793 and began his equestrian education, like his predecessors la Broue and Pluvinel, in Italy. This is the first in our series tracing the life and ideas of the most revolutionary figure in classical dressage.