Smart Rider Happy Horse

09/01/2025

A super piece by Georgina Ridal.

01/01/2025

14/12/2024

Blimey 🫡. After my lesson today with Josh Daly , I can confirm it is definitely the best decision I've made, but without doubt the hardest thing that I have ever done😏.

That's for sure.

Memories from 1 year ago.
⬇️
I've devoted my life to horses for what seems a million years🫣.
And in those years I've done a fair bit, and achieved a few things.
But I have to say that earning a place as a Student Teacher with Phillipe Karl's School of Legerete Foundation Instructor Course has been my biggest achievement to date.
Completing the initial 12 x 4 day clinics over the next few years will be the hardest, but the best thing I'll ever do.
Already done clinic 1 with the 2nd clinic beginning in just 7 weeks.
Can't bloody wait👊
Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté UK

07/12/2024

🔹️It's just 8 weeks until the next Phillipe Karl's School of Légèreté Foundation Instructor Course at
The Naturally Light Equitation Centre, Preston Capes
🔹️January 30th/31st February 1st/2nd.
🔹️Master Teacher Catherine Marshall will be teaching 9 students with our horses, over 4 days as we continue on our journey to become licensed teachers. Plus:
🔹️3 students will be taking their theory exams. Plus:
🔹️We will be welcoming guest riders as our pedagogy lessons begin.
🔹️So, 4 jam packed days to look forward too. Plus:
🔹️Cake 🎂
Please come and support us.
Click on the link to buy tickets:
https://www.legerete.co.uk/index.php/uk-foundation-clinic-dates-and-tickets

03/12/2024

The incredible gypsy cob Millie and mum, Liana Upton 😀

27/11/2024

You get what you train.

And that is with respect to the muscle groups you target, the emotions you practice and the nervous system state you operate from.

If you practice sitting hunched at your desk like a shrimp, you will lay down muscle to support you there.

If you are always operating from an upregulated nervous system, your body will try to adjust its physiology so that this becomes the new homeostasis.

If you spend your life practicing negative thoughts, this will become your default setting.

This means that you will develop into wherever you spend the longest time - irrespective of what you *think* you are working on.

-

"Tell me 3 things you love about your horse"

I was working with a lovely lady, who cares very deeply about her horse and was diligently helping him to feel better in his body. And yet every session started with all of the ways in which he still wasn't quite right, or was doing things she didn't want him to do.

Frustration was radiating from her body.

She looked at me, a little derailed by my question.

"Do you want me to tell you 3 things I love about your horse?"

She nodded

"I love the black tips on his ears. And the way the markings on his muzzle look like a love heart. And the way his black stockings make him look really classy"

And then she got excited and told me all the things she loved about him... as he stood there yawning, licking and chewing, releasing the tension in his neck.

And as her energy changed towards him, his energy changed towards her -

And in that session he moved like a totally different horse, flowing in a way that we had never seen before.

The exercises were the same, though the output was totally different.

-

My initial training taught me about targetting the musculoskeletal system and that, if you repeat the exercise enough, with an appropriate amount of progressive loading, you develop the body.

And this isn't wrong at all.

But I subsequently learned that the emotional and nervous systems run the show.

We can do all the right moves, but if the nervous system and emotional association to the work aren't in alignment then you will be perpetually putting a stick in your bicycle spokes.

This provokes topics for discussion -

How do you show up to your horse? They can feel that energy and it has an effect on how safe they feel.

If your horse does not feel safe, the quality of their movement will be compromised. And let me tell you that their own personal safety is their opinion based upon their perceptions - not yours.

Though we do need to give them coping strategies to feel safe in a chaotic human world.

What does your horse perceive of the work? The exercise might be appropriate for their muscles but if the emotional association is poor, the output will be too.

Whilst the body may benefit, if their amygdala-hippocampus relay is perpetually assigning the work with negative emotions, its never going to feel nice to them.

-

📸 before & after of stripping the tension out of this guy's neck by helping him to find safety in some very simple movement patterns combined with very gentle upper cervical mobilisations ❤️

26/11/2024

Philippe Karl will be at Horsemanship Showcase - The Horsemanship Event of The Year! at Bury farm this weekend.
My fellow Trainee Instructor Rosie Bensley Equine and her lovely horse Mico will be having a lesson with M.Karl on Sunday.
Have a great time,Rosie and Mico 😊

Why Légèreté in the context of horsemanship?

This coming weekend some of the Advanced Instructors will join Philippe Karl at the Horsemanship Showcase and you may be wondering why. What does French classical training have to do with horsemanship?

Well, a tradition of ‘horsemanship’ comes predominantly from the USA - borne out of the Californian horse working cultures which trace their roots all the way back to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors. And the French School has its history in the same place, a different trail ridden but the origins are very similar. There are books outlining this in more detail if you’re interested.

But more importantly than this, there is a set of shared principles, some of which you’ll hear Mr Karl discuss in person at the Showcase. These include;

- Understanding what kind of animal a horse is and playing to their physical and physiological strengths.
- Recognising their need for balance above all else, and not taking this away through restraining equipment or fixed physical positions.
- One aid for one response.
- No opposing aids.
- Position before action.
- Ensuring Balance, Relaxation and Impulsion are constantly recognised and played alongside each other.
- The belief that the only ‘position’ a horse can be asked for is one they can say no to.
- Being committed to interacting with a horses huge capacity for learning, rather than using force or constraint.
- Taking the time it takes in order that the horse feels really good about, understands, and can physically carry any requests
- Treating each horse as an individual and adapting our approach accordingly.
- Knowing that there is nothing other than ‘the basics’ - we just keep building on those foundations.
- First we go with the horse, then the horse goes with us, then we go together.

We hope you enjoy the many horse- human partnerships you’ll see next weekend and please do come to chat with us at the stand.

Photo shows Millie and Liana who will be participating in the demonstration of the foundational training.

06/11/2024

05/11/2024

01/11/2024

After seeing multiple videos posted by various breeders bragging about their 2 ½ year olds/recently turned 3 year olds and sharing videos of them cantering around in the arena, I have decided to once again circulate the below article.

First of all, breeders *should* have the knowledge to understand a horse’s fragile and slow maturing musculoskeletal system. Breeders should not condone their own horses let along anyone’s horses being cantered around under saddle at an incredibly young age. Period. This sets a terrible example and is quite honestly animal abuse. Just because a horse does not object does not mean it is right. And quite frankly, most of the videos posted show animals that are already in pain or developing pain…

As breeders, we should strive to produce healthy and sound animals. We should promote horsemanship that produces long term soundness. No, starting a horse later does not guarantee soundness. But it certainly helps.

I am a firm believer in scientifically backed approaches to horsemanship. You can’t argue with science that has been proven time and time again. Let’s dispel some stupid rumors:

1. There is no such thing as a (skeletally) slow maturing horse or one that is fast maturing. No horse is skeletally mature before the age of 6. And that is on the low estimate for age.

2. Growth plates are not just in the knee. Every bone behind the skull has a growth plate. Not every single one needs to be converted to bone before starting. There is a schedule of when bone fuses…this is the information needed to know when to start a horse. Not their outward appearance. It is a known fact that during growth, proprioceptive awareness can regress, greatly increasing the risk of injury.

3. Starting a horse is not the same thing as riding a horse. Starting a horse does not mean cantering it 3-4 days a week in an arena.

4. Injecting a horse that is in pain does not mean you fixed a problem. You masked it.

5. You can build correct muscle and teach a horse how to move their body from the ground. This creates a solid foundation to work from once your horse is ready to actually be backed. Teach a horse to use its body correctly before backing and you’ll save yourself a lot of vet bills down the line.

Hocks are “late” for maturity. The growth plates on the tibial and fibular tarsals do not fuse until a horse is 3-3 ½. Ever wonder why so many horses seem to have hocks issues?? Horses need to learn to carry themselves and their own weight well before adding a rider.

The growth plates that are LAST to close are at the base of the neck. This area is where we ask a horse to raise the base of their neck and come round. If under too much stress, the growth plates can fracture or be permanently damaged.

There are DOZENS of activities you can do with a young horse to build healthy muscular development. None of them involve a saddle or your weight on their back. Teaching a horse to carry themselves correctly BEFORE adding a rider is essential and cannot be done in a week. A 2 ½ year old horse is a baby. Mentally and physically. We see far too many injured performance horses at VERY young ages - broken down and/or sour from work. It’s wrong. Period. They need slow and steady work and need time to recover from even the slightest of injuries.

PLEASE, if you are considering when you should start your horse and what that work load should look like, please read the below. There are some wonderful things you can do with your young developing horse. Please don’t rush a year out of greed.

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

31/10/2024

Jen Mitchinson with Sylvia Stössel, showing that you can develop Flechi Droit away from the wall.

It can be an excellent way to help improve half pass, re-establishing bend as separate from shoulder balance.

30/10/2024

To see this in real time come and watch Master Teacher Sylvia Stössel and our Advanced Teachers next week, Nov 8th/9th/10th at the Naturally Light Equitation Centre, Preston Capes