After decades of training and teaching, I feel more committed than ever to my original belief, inspired by Mestre Nuno Oliveira, in keeping the horse happy and light: "la belle légèreté à la Française." AfterJean-Louis Sauvât is one of those rare individuals who feel the same commitment as myself. We are of the same school and share the same inspiration and I feel very fortunate to have met this wonderful artist.
The sketches in this book were all done by Jean-Louis during his visit to my ranch in Healdsburg in California. They are presented, together with my comments, in an order that follows, as closely as possible, the natural training progression.
Mestre Nuno Oliveira passed away over three decades ago. Years ago in Portugal, I met with Louis Valencia, one of Oliveira's closest friends, and in our conversation about the need to fully preserve the classical tradition, we realized that Oliveira's influence is even stronger and more relevant today. This book is dedicated to Mestre Nuno Oliveira. It is not only about horses, it is a book about life.
The demands of competition and the excessive drive to be a winner, sometimes make people forget the essentials. In this fast-moving world, too many people forget the calm and healing offered by the horse. They forget the magic of the centaur; the unity of man and horse. Fortunately all around the world and especially in California, many are returning to the essentials and are beginning to be more conscious that the well-being of their horse is as important as their own. What we call the New Age is a raised consciousness of the fact that we share the same world and that we must take an active part in building a better one. Without any doubt whatsoever, the horse will be an integral part of this better world. And if we treat him with love and respect, he will help and heal us.
Horses teach us how to ask without aggression, how to love without condition, and how to avoid the destructive side of perfection. They teach us to sublimate oneself through sharing, giving, and healing. They teach us to cherish every single moment for its novelty and wonder and to remain true to the best traditions of the past.
I hope this book will inspire and commit riders to establish between themselves and their horses a truly communicative relationship.