In French in the text: Effet d'ensemble

Hello Michel,

"Hand without legs and legs without hand" means only "don't use your aids simultaneously".

Of course you are quite right.
But legs and hand are often used simultaneously to balance the horse, as Baucher did it himself in his first method by the 'effet d'ensemble'. In my post, I wanted to say that "Hand without legs and legs without hand" means above all this : don't
use simultaneously hand and legs to balance the horse.

Do you wish me to post some excerpts of the original text in the French forum?

Yes please.
May I say something before you do it ? It is very difficult to understand Baucher's books (and by the way quite impossible in a translation). So it is not only Baucher that you have to quote, but also his students who was often more easy to understand, as Gerhardt for the first method and Faverot de Kerbrech for the 2nd method.

Best regards,
Hervé

Hello Hervé,

Thank you! I understand your words of caution about reading Baucher.
Fortunately, I read only his book explaining the second method. So my mind isn't confused by his first method, that he confesses - was an error.

Actually I bought the 12th edition of his book because I couldn't understand clearly Baucher's teachings through his disciples, Faverot de Kerbech included. Practically all of them can't detach themselves from the damages Baucher's first method imprinted in their minds. General L'Hotte being an exception.

IMO, the true legacy of Baucher emanates from his discovery of "invariable lightness" described explicitely in the 12th edition of his method. Then, he doesn't use his aids simultaneously, anymore. He uses them successively, with success, to obtain "perfect balance" and not at all ("no legs, mo hand") when he reachs "sustained lightness".
That is the essence of Baucher's genius, something horses understand, far from Baucher à la manière de...

MK

Hello Michel,
Are you saying then, that in his 2nd. manner Baucher would bring the use of his hands and legs closer and closer together as his horse expressed more and more lightness,until the horse was light all the time (? Invariable Lightness)after which he would release the hands and legs together (descent de mains et des jambes)?.Is this the French definition of self carriage?
With thanks,
Sandy.

Yes Sandy, I believe you have the right idea.

Have you read my essay on "Invariable Lightness"? It's posted in "dossiers AI" I think. It gives a more elaborate description of my idea of a progression to self-carriage.

Best rides!
MK