Smart Rider Happy Horse

10/02/2025

Ecole de Légèreté Foundation Instructor Clinic #5 done ✔️.
A very busy 4 days as our Master Teacher Catherine explains below ⬇️

05/02/2025

Huge congratulations to my incredible friends and fellow Foundation Instructors who have worked so hard.
The process involved in the theory exam is beyond hard, as it should be, so this is an exceptional achievement 👏

Many congratulations to Anna Vickery-Wolfenden, Sarah Holland-Villa and Rosie Bensley from the Foundation group.
After several months of studying, they all passed their theory exams with flying colours.
Well done ladies 🎉🌟🐴

16/01/2025

My friends, and fellow Trainee Instructors, Becky and Zoë talking about what brought them to Ecole de Légèreté.

At our Foundation Instructor Clinic, January 30th to February 2nd, at Naturally Light Equitation you will be able to watch us all being taught by our fabulous Master Teacher Catherine Marshall.
We also have 3 teachers doing their first theory exams.
Plus 3 guest riders will be taught by our teachers under the watchful eye of Catherine.
Bring your warm clothes and we will have hot soup🥣, tea🫖 and coffee ☕️plus homemade cake🍰.
For tìckets please click on the link below⬇️
https://www.legerete.co.uk/index.php/uk-foundation-clinic-dates-and-tickets.

Two more foundation instructors tell us what drew them to the Ecole de Légèreté. I hope you feel a little inspiration from reading their stories. If you'd like to see them in action please join the Foundation course in a couple of weeks time (details at the bottom of the post)

"I have three beings to thank for my introduction to Légèreté, the first a good friend who invited me along to watch an advanced rider clinic, which if I’m being honest, went way over my head to begin with, especially the high and what looked like constant movement of the hands. Being from a showing background i was indoctrinated into what “an outline”‘should look but there was no denying the skill and “quietness” of the horse and rider combinations so I filed it away in my memory locker.

A year later I was having real difficulties with Ro, my Connemara, (No 2) I’d finish every lesson in tears as the corners of his mouth would be sore and my hands would be red from what felt like a battle as he’d lean so heavily, a martingale was added, different bits suggested but I spoke up and drew a hard line at the idea of flash noseband and side reins and made it my mission to find another way as this was not what I wanted for him, why would you do anything like that to someone you love!

Enter Josh Daly (number three) who was hosting a clinic locally, I booked on and finished my lesson in tears for a whole different reason. It was quite literally an epiphany and I’ve not looked back."
Rebecca Sayward

"I was teaching and training in a well known natural horsemanship programme, when I attended a large scale performance put together by the organisation and was blown away by the performance of one of the other instructors. I was transfixed by the lightness and ease with which he rode his spectacular horse in contact. “That is what I want it to look like when I ride!”, I said aloud for the first time in my life. “Oh, he trains with Philippe Karl”,
someone standing next to me told me and I filed that info away for future use.

A few months later I had a clip of PK riding Odin that came up in my social media feed and there it was again, this beautiful and light partnership. I made a promise to myself that I would study this method and learn to ride according to these principles. It took me 12 years to start my lessons, as life has a habit of getting in the way, but I remained determined to get here, telling anyone who would listen that this was my plan."
Zoe Williams

Join the upcoming foundation course by booking your tickets here
https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/uk-foundation-clinic-dates-and-tickets/

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