A hydraulic circuit for lifting and lowering a load, the hydraulic circuit comprising: (a) a hydraulic pump, a fluid reservoir, and a hydraulic actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber; (b) a first control valve assembly disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic actuator; and (c) a second control valve assembly disposed between the first control valve assembly and the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator, the second control valve assembly having: i. a first position in which hydraulic fluid is blocked from exiting the first chamber, but is allowed to flow into the first chamber; ii. a second position in which hydraulic fluid is allowed to enter or exit the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator; (d) the first control valve assembly being movable to a first and a second lowering position wherein the second control valve assembly is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir through the first control valve assembly; (e) wherein the load can be selectively lowered by the hydraulic circuit with gravity alone when the first control valve assembly is in the first lowering position and the second control valve assembly is in the second position without requiring the hydraulic pump to provide output pressure, output fluid flow, or both output pressure and output fluid flow; the hydraulic circuit further comprising an electronic control system configured to operate the first control valve assembly and the second control valve assembly, characterized in that the control system includes a first chamber pressure sensor located between the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator and the second control valve assembly; the control system includes a load-sense valve in communication with the control system via a pressure sensor for measuring a load-sense pressure, and the control system is configured to selectively command the first valve assembly between the first and second lowering positions based upon the relationship between the load-sense pressure and the first chamber pressure. (a) a hydraulic pump, a fluid reservoir, and a hydraulic actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber; (b) a first control valve assembly disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic actuator; and (c) a second control valve assembly disposed between the first control valve assembly and the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator, the second control valve assembly having: i. a first position in which hydraulic fluid is blocked from exiting the first chamber, but is allowed to flow into the first chamber; ii. a second position in which hydraulic fluid is allowed to enter or exit the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator; i. a first position in which hydraulic fluid is blocked from exiting the first chamber, but is allowed to flow into the first chamber; ii. a second position in which hydraulic fluid is allowed to enter or exit the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator; (d) the first control valve assembly being movable to a first and a second lowering position wherein the second control valve assembly is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir through the first control valve assembly; (e) wherein the load can be selectively lowered by the hydraulic circuit with gravity alone when the first control valve assembly is in the first lowering position and the second control valve assembly is in the second position without requiring the hydraulic pump to provide output pressure, output fluid flow, or both output pressure and output fluid flow;