Cynthia Hodges

Monsieur Baucher and His Arts Cynthia Hodges

Modern day dressage is split between adherents of the Classical School and those who are "competition" riders. Some techniques meant for competition derive from the training system of Francois Baucher. Louis Seeger, a contemporary of Baucher, was a dressage master in Berlin who trained with Max Ritter von Weyrother of the Spanish Riding School. He was also the instructor of Gustav Steinbrecht, author of "Gymnasium of the Horse." Seeger was compelled to write "Herr Baucher und seine Kuenste. Ein ernstes Wort an Deutschlands Reiter" in 1852 after witnessing what he considered to be incorrect training techniques used by Baucher. He tried to warn riders that these methods would be very destructive to horses' training, and that the Classical principles were to be preferred. Seeger predicted some of the problems that can now be seen in high levels of competitive dressage. Seeger's classic book, once only available to an elite group of European experts, is now available in English. Cynthia Hodges, JD, LLM, MA has translated this pillar of equestrian literature into an easy-to-read document that offers dressage theory that is as pertinent today as it was in Seeger's time. Foreword by Karl Mikolka, former Oberbereiter at the Spanish Riding School.