Georgina Ridal - Comprehensive Equine Podiatry and Equitation

23/12/2025

Looking forward to sharing our resolutions and the next clinic 😊

🎄✨ Merry Christmas & and a very happy new year to you all from all of us at École de Légèreté.✨🎄

As we come to the end of the year, we’d like to wish you all a peaceful and reflective festive season.

Over the next five weeks, each of us will be sharing our personal École de Légèreté–themed New Year’s resolutions…. insights, intentions, and areas of focus that are guiding our work and practice as we step into the new year.

Our NEXT teacher training clinic will be running from January 29th to February 1st, 2026.

We are very much looking forward to seeing many of you there!

It’s always a pleasure to come together, learn, and deepen our shared understanding.
We can’t wait to reconnect with you all …. see you soon ✨

13/12/2025

We snuck out bright and early this morning.

He’s such a jolly fellow to hack. Happy ears. Spring in his step. Striding out. Just my kind of horse.

Led all the trots and canters with a smile on his face.

His fitness is building. He used to come out with gusto and then tire quickly, I keep the hacks fairly short at the beginning, but he’s now finishing like he set off.

His footwork is getting better over the roots and ruts. He’s understanding how to shift his weight onto his hind legs to come down a hill safely.

And he’s well on his way to being an expert dog wrangler, I think every hack he’s been on he’s had at least one dog come haring up to him barking - some pretty persistent 🙈

Clever boy 💙

09/12/2025

Sometimes, when there aren’t enough hours in the day or the weather is too vile to take off our big coats, we just take a little time.

Helping a horse to just “be” in their own skin is a skill. Leo is quite busy brained, and is quite happy to creep on top of you. Left to his own devices he’s a bit of a weeping angel. Would get in my coat with me if I let him.

And so we take time, just standing. In our own bubbles, just being. Quietly, unemotionally correcting him if he starts to creep.

It’s also how I start my own horses off being trimmed. They all just park up for me. But to do that they need to be able to stand still, with nobody at their head, whilst I’m at their feet. No lick. No Haynets. Just me. And them. No distractions.

Most horses don’t have a trimming issue. They have a standing still issue. And it’s a skill we quite often forget to teach.

08/12/2025

He had his first ridden canter in a school 👏

He’s been doing canter transitions on the lunge; but he finds it a challenge to hold the balance in the canter on a circle. That’s fair enough, he isn’t that strong yet and it’s a work in progress.

He’s had several canters out hacking where he’s following Mickey up a nice gentle hill. Following takes care of the forwards and the hill helps the balance. And because it’s a nice straight line it all feels easy and natural to them.

I know the school we usually use will be a bit tight for him whilst he’s learning and so today we hired a local arena that’s much bigger.

He also shared the school for the first time, with his best mate Popcorn.

Now that was a bit of a question in its own right - he hasn’t shared the school with another horse yet. He normally goes with Popcorn, they go in the same direction at the same pace out hacking. But today I was asking him to go in a different direction at a different pace.

So he practised his lunging whilst Popcorn moved around the school. He practised standing still whilst Popcorn cantered around him. And he practised passing him in different paces, in different directions in the lunge. All useful life skills - and skills I like to teach before they find themselves in a chaotic warm up arena.

And when it got to cantering I figured we’d use Popcorn to help us out, as opposed to hinder us.

So we parked Popcorn up at the far end. Leo went for a trot and then I asked for canter heading towards him. We sort of boomeranged around him, kept moving forwards and then went for a rest at the end we’d started at.

In walk and trot, which I wouldn’t say are are established (he really hasn’t got that many hours under saddle in the school- this was only the second time since his holiday) but we have a clear line of communication. In canter we don’t. And so I can’t expect it to ride as established.

He picked up the canter really nicely, off the voice and canter aid and stayed forward thinking on the straight. And then he thought he’d quite like to stop with Popcorn. And why wouldn’t he. So we just quietly kept going. And went for our break, back where we started.

He did complain that I was quite unreasonable expecting him not to collapse in a heap at Popcorn. And he did attempt a bit of a protest. He’s a horse you have to quietly, but firmly, explain the plan. He’d quite like to be in a more senior decision making role than he is.

And so I was quite unsurprised when his heels flicked up in protest, and I got a huffety tail swish and some muttering under his breath. But we kept our forward momentum and had our break where I said we were having it.

And repeat. The canter transition got easier, the boomerang around Popcorn got less huffety. And he got a scratch, and told he was jolly clever when he had his break.

Work in progress, but a clever little soul, and we sort have canter installed 👏

05/12/2025

Some musings of a horse geek.

When we know better we do better.

15 year ago me would say now me was a horse hippy. She had big dreams. Thought she knew a lot. And the holes were covered up with extra tack.

10 year ago me would ask how big we were dreaming. What goals we were chasing.

8yr ago me would be crying cantering towards a jump. Wondering who she even was if she couldn’t jump big jumps.

7yr ago me had an existential crisis. Decided she knew nothing, and that perhaps we shouldn’t even get on a horse. And decided to start again. From the bottom. But better.

7.5yr ago me discovered a new, lighter way. But it felt uncomfortable. It felt weird. It felt exposing. It was completely different. I had to learn to be a beginner again.

6yr ago me was muddling. Taking most of it, but holding onto some of what she knew. Thankful for a good trainer to keep me straight. I was very dependant, not yet able to think for myself in this new strange system. But I knew one thing it felt better.

5yr ago me was a bit at sea. Good trainer had moved. Deciphering training issues from pain issues sent me on a whole new path. Off came the shoes.

4yr ago me accidentally became an equine podiatrist. And I threw myself back into learning Legerete. Mostly through watching. It forced me to really grasp the basics.

3yr ago me fell pregnant. If you hadn’t guessed I’m a little obsessive by nature. And I had to learn a new way, where I couldn’t give anything 💯. I think the horses prefer the less intense version.

2yr ago me had the opportunity to throw myself into the training. I took it with open arms. At the precipice of knowing I know very little. But knowing that I trusted this system to guide me.

Current me knows a lot more than even one year ago me. But is well aware that 10 years in the future me will know even more. She knows that she doesn’t have all of the answers.

I’ve had to retrain my eye. Retrain my feel. Retrain my wants and desires. And retrain my priorities.

10yr ago me would have been horrified that current me has very little interest in competing. Current me is only interested in my horses judgement.

But I know that current me is a much better horsewoman than past me. And that as long as future me keeps gathering information and learning. She will be a much better horsewoman again.

That is to say that we should try not to judge others. We’re all on a journey, we’re all at different stages, and I think most of us are in it for the horse. If you’re here, you almost certainly are.

I’d like to revisit a lot of what has come before. I still love jumping. Galloping across the country. Riding asside. Dancing with my best mate.

I’d just like to do it all with more finesse, with lightness.

27/11/2025

Pod was a funny little horse, cheeky, sharp sensitive. Featherlight.

He taught me many lessons. Humbled me plenty. Gave me back my wings over a fence. And insisted on the utmost patience and immaculate emotional control - it was never my turn to not be okay.

We learned quite quickly to never leave a headcollar on the yard with Pod about, and many a coat met its demise to his teeth.

But lord will I miss him staring over the fence into the window for his dinner. Or over the gate when he thought he’d really like to be doing something. And that soft, soft nose. No horse has ever been as kissable and cuddly as Pod.

And throughout all of this, he has been so so good. No drama. Through pen rest, endless prodding, in hand walking. He hasn’t put a foot wrong. I am so proud of the well adjusted and all round good boy he has been.

I am thrilled that I was able to give him a chance to be a horse again. To have the mud on his back, a chance to kick up his heels and to hang out with his mates.

But it became clear to me, that my friend and dancing partner had lost his spark. The cheeky glint had gone out. His movements calculated, economical in extreme. His once loose paces, stilted.

If you didn’t know him, you’d probably say he was fine. But he was less. The fire was going out.

And as I quietly watched, when he didn’t know I was watching, when he wasn’t putting on a brave face for me - I knew. The words that I have said to friends and clients so many times before rung true. “You will know”. And I did.

It was time. And whilst making the decision is always hellish, once made I always find relief. Relief that this glorious, noble animal, who is designed to move just for the sheer joy of it, will not be reduced to a shadow of silent suffering.

Being able to make that decision for them, to ease their suffering is a gift and an honour.

It doesn’t make it any easier. Never does. And for now I will grieve. And I will cry. And I will mourn the adventures we never got to have. And for his friends who will miss their herd mate just as much, if not more than me. And for the fact that I won’t get to blow raspberries on that super soft nose again.

To my clients that have lent an ear, my friends that have been so supportive and the professionals that have all tried so hard to fix him and to the family that will pick me back up again. Thank you 🙏

Sleep tight little man. I am sorry we couldn’t fix you. I hope you are back to your athletic, exuberant and fabulous self up there 💔

13/11/2025

And we’re back into mud season 🌧️

Just my annual plea to be presented with clean, dry legs and feet 🙏

I know that everyone is working with the facilities they have got, and that mud is the reality for some.

However, I cannot do a good job if I’m working on wet, dirty legs and equally dirty feet.

A clean spot to work (could be as simple as some clean old carpet, or a swept area of mats or slabs) makes my life much easier (I am realistic).

And a simple towelling off of legs. I don’t need them washing - that just makes me wet too. But get the mud off them and get those feet picked out.

I really, really don’t want to add a dirty leg charge, or have to walk away with a full charge. But mud destroys my tools, makes for unsafe working conditions. And it makes me sad 😞

The vast majority are fabulous - and I really do appreciate your efforts 👏

Thank you 😊

10/11/2025

Felt we were lacking some hoof content 🐴

A dinky little pony hoof, belonging to a lovely little older lady.

I really enjoy watching how hooves, that are healthy enough, are still able to improve and change with the right gentle nudging ❤️

I’ve been trimming this lovely lady for a couple of months, and whilst we haven’t done anything drastic - a trim to encourage her to stand into her heels and lots of hacking out with her little rider - she is developing really nice little feet.

There’s more structure at the back of her feet now, stronger digital cushions, and more supportive heels.

There is never a one trim fits all approach, but that’s the fun part.

08/11/2025

He’s back home and we’re cracking back on 💙

03/11/2025

This is a really positive, horse friendly step forwards.

Once I’ve got Leo up and running properly, I will be looking into British Riding Club membership.

Good on them for leading change 👏👏

Vocal aids and no nosebands: British Riding Clubs introduce new rules to promote horse welfare.

Riders are now permitted to use their voices during tests, provided they are discreet do not distract others, and nosebands are no longer compulsory for competitors.

Many have praised the change and really welcomed it. Read the full story via the link in comments.

27/10/2025

This has been my podcast of choice today.

I know I am biased, but this one is well worth a listen 😊

Philippe Karl, renowned rider and teacher of French classical riding, shares his passionate critiques of modern dressage riding, and discusses how we can tra...

11/10/2025

There are guest rider slots available at upcoming Légèretè clinics.

- Advanced Course 7th-9th Nov 2025
- Foundation Course 29th Jan - 1st Feb 2026

This means you get a free lesson with one of the Instructors, as well as a free nights stabling and two days free spectating.

If you’re interested have a nosey at the links below, and I’m happy to have a chat with you about it when I’m out and about if you’re interested 😊

-Are you wondering if Légèreté might be for you, and would like to dip your toe in?

-Do you have a horse you would like to understand better and help more through your riding and training?"

-Or are you someone who is already learning about this principled approach and would like more input?

Well then, join us as a guest rider!

At each of the Advanced instructor training clinics we welcome 'guest riders' for a one time free lesson with a qualified instructors, under the expert eye of Master Teacher Sylvia Stössel. This is a chance for you to get an insight into the elements of training we believe will best help your individual horse. No two lessons as the same as each is tailored for the specific needs of that horse and rider.

This is also a way to ensure quality instruction from our qualified and trainee instructors - the Ecole de Légèreté insists on a high level of ongoing CPD.

You can join us for a free lesson, one nights free livery and two complimentary days spectating. Please either fill in the application page here https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/uk-clinics-and-tickets/apply-to-be-a-guest-rider/

Or if you would more information please contact us on https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/uk-clinics-and-tickets/apply-to-be-a-guest-rider/

The next Advanced course is on November 7th-9th and is held at Naturally Light Equitation near Daventry.