Lessons in Lightness: The Art of Educating the Horse

The Lyons Press, Published 2004. Hardcover, 184 pp.; 26 cm; illustrated with black-and-white photographs, line drawings, and arena diagrams. In Very Good condition with a Very Good dust jacket. Green paper over boards, gold lettering on spine, with mild shelf and edge wear and some light fading along the top edge. Binding tight. A hint of waviness to top edge of text block, without discoloration or staining. Pages clean and unmarked. Pictorial dust jacket shows light bumping and creasing to edges and corners, mild edge and surface wear, and mild dampstaining to verso. Not price clipped. Now in an archival quality (removable) Brodart cover. Veteran trainer Mark Russell sets out a step-by-step program for schooling the horse in lightness, drawn from the French and Iberian riding masters and from his own study with the Portuguese master Nuno Oliveira. Work proceeds in three phases, beginning with relaxation and release of the jaw, then in-hand exercises and longeing, and finally lateral work and flying changes under saddle. Chapters cover body mechanics of horse and rider, tack, and the half-halt. Photographs by Ellen Leffingwell; line drawings and arena diagrams by Andrea Steele. Foreword by Bettina Drummond, who also trained under Oliveira. Contents: Understanding Lightness; Meet the Horses/How to Use This Book; Teaching Lightness; The Three Phases of Training; Working In Hand; Longeing; Body Mechanics of Horse and Rider; Tack and Accessories; Phase I: Beginning the Circle; Phase II: Building a Working Frame; Phase II: Lateral Work Under Saddle; The Half-Halt; Rein-Back; Developing the Canter; Transitions; Phase III: Counter-Canter; Phase III: Flying Changes; Afterword; Key Terms; Recommended Reading; About the Authors; Index.…