Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté UK

27/08/2024

In a few weeks time you can join the Foundation Instructors as they learn the principles and practice of Legerete with master teach Catherine Marshall..

The variety of horses is always inspiring and interesting, and you will undoubtedly find something in each lesson relevant to you and your horse.

The riders are going to introduce their horses, to provide some insights into why they have chosen Legerete. Link to buy tickets is in the comments.

First up is the glorious horse of Georgina Ridal. This is what she says.

'I will be bringing Podrick. He’s an 8yr old Anglo Arab, who has been with me since he was a yearling. He was originally bought to event; and whilst my dreams and aims have changed since then. We do still jump and cross country.

Somewhat of an emotional, wiggly worm, he hasn’t been a straightforward horse to produce. He’s mega athletic (I.e. very gifted at running away fast and impressively), but was always very weak. We’ve had to put a lot of work into the balance of both his body and his mind with a lot of slow, strengthening work.

But he is incredibly clever, and once his body is ordered he is a very athletically able horse and a real joy to work with.

He is just the nicest person, with a really fun outlook on life. And he does give the very best kisses on his very soft nose.

It’s our first clinic and I cannot wait to have Catherine’s eye on us. I expect we’ll be working on the basics and very likely more straightening!'

14/08/2024

Due to a change in the organiser of the foundation clinics, we are having a few technical problems with the website and booking tickets. If you have any problems, please get in touch with Sarah on 07860585505 or via email [email protected]

14/08/2024

To complement the three-part series on the Flexions, here is a video to provide visual support.
It features a combination of some of our licensed teachers, their students, and our trainee teachers of the school.
Please join us to spectate either the advanced clinics or the foundation clinics. We love to welcome new faces and somebody will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Details can be found on www.legerete.co.uk

13/08/2024

The Flexions – Part 3. Adapting to the needs of different horses.

It is clearly illogical to believe that all horses need the same thing from their rider. They are so obviously all different and individual. And yet, in most of the modern equestrian world, we see the same suggestion made for all horses – pull them in from the front, and drive them forwards with the legs. Low backwards acting hands (even when riders believe they don’t use their hands) which bring the bit back on to the bars and tongue, causing the horse to defend himself.

Depending on the kind of horse he is, he will either lean on the bit, sit behind it, or try to pull his head up and away (which then results in the martingale being brought out…). When we look at the whole horse we can see that while his nose may be being pulled in, his shoulders are low, his back is dropped and his hind legs trail out behind him. And that’s not to speak of the worried eye, drooling mouth and compressed neck.

In the Ecole de Legerete the Flexions provide us with a range of solutions which relate to the individual horse. Our aim, after all, is to help the horse with the task of carrying us. They did not evolve to carry a rider, so it is our responsibility to help them develop the strength, flexibility and mobility to do this. And none of those things are truly possible if we start from a place of tension. A horse must allow us ‘in’ - both emotionally and physically - if we are to show them how to move in a way which supports both us and them. Relaxation has to come first. And of course, last. That is where the flexions can really work their magic.

And alongside that, we must look at the actual horse in front of us – an Arab is going to need something different from a Clydesdale; a Gypsy cob from a Thoroughbred. A horse whose previous rider has pulled their nose in with ‘washing machine hands’ is going to have a very different understanding of the bit than a horse who has been allowed to waller along leaning on the reins. There are conformation, postural and cognitive considerations we have to take into account when making the choice as to how to introduce and develop the flexions.

As an example. A horse who contracts and sits behind the bit, not daring to take the contact may benefit from being taught ‘Action-Reaction’ - what Philippe Karl calls a corrective flexion. But nonetheless, an invaluable one to keep in your back pocket and draw out when required.

There are many posts on this page explaining Action-Reaction, and attending a Legerete instructor training course will best demonstrate how this is taught to a rider and a horse. It is a truly incredible means of showing a horse how to open the angle of his poll, take his nose forwards and ‘dare’ to tighten the reins. It can de-contract and open up the whole spine which in turn improves his ability to move his limbs. Relax, lengthen, move forwards. In the photos you can see how we teach this in hand to begin with, with an upwards acting hand so as not to provoke defensiveness, but with a firm, sustained feeling which the horse can learn to push towards.

If, however, a horse really falls to the shoulders and leans on the hands then we need to show them how to rebalance and carry their own weight first. This is where we can use the ‘Demi Arret’, an upwards acting hand again, but this time with a lightening, even vibrating feeling from the rider encouraging the horse to use their own muscles to balance.

And then there may be a horse who is so inverted, with a low base of neck and stargazing head, that we have to move to poll flexion earlier than we usually would. This requires great tact and skill as the rider will combine two different rein aids in order to show a horse how to release this tension in the upper lines of their neck.

The genius of the flexions - as taught through the Ecole de Legerete - is their adaptability for different horses and different stages of their education. And even different days according to how they feel in that moment! We assume this is an ongoing conversation which becomes more subtle over time.

To finish this sequence of posts we will share a video demonstrating the range of flexions. Watch out for that! And please do join us as a spectator at one of the Advanced or Foundation instructor training clinic.

11/08/2024

The Flexions – Part 2. Practical application

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In Part 1 we looked at a little of the historical context of the flexions, and the broad principles behind their application. When done well, they have far reaching implications for your horse at both an emotional and physical level. While they appear to be primarily addressing the head, neck and thoracic sling, they actually impact all the way to your horse’s tail and hind feet.

Where would you start if you went out today to explore this with your horse? How would you know what to do?

Well, the other beautiful thing about the flexions is they are a diagnostic as well as a solution. They can tell you a lot about what your horse is going to need from you under saddle, before you even sit on his back. When you stand in front of your horse and put your hands on the bit you will be able to feel the whole horse right there. His mouth and response to the bit act as a barometer for how he feels about many things.

You will feel here what he knows about the riders’ hands. You will learn what he has been taught about balance (or lack of) relaxation (or tension) and his level of flexibility (or brace). And from here you can begin a different conversation - one which makes promises not to act backwards on his sensitive tongue and bars. One which prioritises relaxation over dominance. One which makes the bit part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

In the Ecole de Legerete there is a progression we teach which we consider ‘a starting point’. In Part 3 we will look at adapting this progression to meet the needs of different horses, but it is useful to have a blue print to work from, which you can then develop and modify accordingly.

The basic progression looks like this:

1. The mouth. By lifting the bit into the corner of the horse’s lips we want to say first ‘Hello, and could you relax?’. If this action from you produces mobilisation of the horse’s lower jaw and tongue then we are in a wonderful place to proceed. It’s why Baucher knew this to ‘Dissolve all resistances’.
2. The neck. We can then ask the horse to raise their neck in order to change their balance. In nature a horse raises his neck in order to lighten his front end and a take a little weight to the hindquarters. In this position - with us on the ground rather than on his back - we can begin to show a horse how to use his own muscles (rather than ours) to balance his front end. This is helped initially by opening the angle of the poll, which again is easy to show a horse from here.
3. Bend. With our horse in a helpful balance (and with us in a helpful position) we can explore his ability to bend laterally. The intimate link between the poll and the mouth means that when the horse is already mobile in his mouth, bend will be much easier - and vice versa. And without his weight on his shoulders, he is free to do this from higher up his neck rather than from in front of his withers.
4. Extension of the neck. The natural response from a horse who has truly released into the bend is the desire to then extend their neck. Taking their nose forwards and out, rather than round and down. Your horse maintains the excellent balance you have shown him, but then reaches his neck away from his body. A true gymnastic – in halt.
5. The poll. And finally, right at the end (rather than the very first thing, as is so often and so damagingly taught) longitudinal flexion or rounding of the poll. For most horses this will be a gift which comes all on its own - as Philippe Karl says ‘Like a ripe apple falling from the tree’. For some horses we may have to support this.

The Flexions are an art, a science and a training tool. If you are a body worker you may read that list and see where they all fit into to the work you do. If you are a trainer you may see how these could help with so many problems horses face. If you are a rider you may realise that you and your horse have never been taught any of this, and what a revelation it would be for you both to understand this better.

In Part 3 we will look at how the flexions may be best used to suit the needs of different horses.

All photos have captions.

09/08/2024

Part 1 in a 3 part series on The Flexions.

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One of the keystone practices of the Ecole de Légèreté are ‘The Flexions’. These are a series of exercises performed first from the ground and then the saddle, using the bit to create both a means of education, and a form of communication.

They are seemingly simple, but incredibly subtle and precise. They can appear to be purely mechanical, but when done well can result in profound changes to a horse at an emotional as well as a physical level.

To be understood they require us to develop a knowledge of the principles and theory. And then - with the help of an informed teacher (your horse being top of that list) - the tact, skill and feeling to talk with your horse about relaxation, balance, mobility and healthy movement. And of course, to teach US what it means to communicate with a horse without force or restriction. They require us to use our hands with dexterity, gentleness, nuance and tact. As Phillipe Karl says, 'You must have the fingers of a concert pianist'.

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‘They are a precious means to school a horse without pulling on the reins’ – Nuno Oliveira

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The Flexions have undoubtedly been explored by horsemen throughout the ages, but were most (in)famously systematised and immortalised by Francois Baucher and his students. Moving from his controversial and unfortunately better known ‘First Manner’ to the evolution of the ‘Second Manner'; Baucher recognised that using opposing forces on horses was less than sensible, calling for, 'Legs without hands, hands without legs’. He also refined his teachings regarding the use of the hands, and demonstrated how the flexions could be a significant act of physiotherapy for horses, as well as integral to training. Teaching the horse to release tension in their jaw and neck has a transformative impact on their whole body, and their mind.

“Long and conscientious observations have shown me that, whatever be the fault of formation that in the horse prevents a just distribution of his forces, it is always in the neck that the most immediate effect is felt. There is no improper movement, no resistance that is not preceded by the contraction of this part of the animal; and as the jaw is intimately connected with the neck, the stiffness of the one is instantly communicated to the other.” Baucher

One of the last true Masters, Philippe Karl has extensively studied the flexions as they have been shared and taught in the French tradition. He has then developed an efficient and adaptable programme of flexions which any dedicated rider can come to understand. Teachers and Students in the Ecole de Legerete are taught these in great detail and can use them as a both a diagnostic tool, and the solution for many issues that horse and riders face. They are an invaluable element of an ethical training system.

Several of the teachers in the school are also trained in bodywork and consider the flexions to be a vital means of helping horses feel better in their bodies. With a greater understanding in modern times of equine anatomy, what people such as Baucher suspected, we now know to be true. Dissections and studies reveal many details of the intimate relationship between the tongue, hyoid and neck, and the horses ability to move in balance. The mouth, poll and neck hugely influence the hind quarters and hind legs. It really is the key to the kingdom.

When the horse is defending themselves - either through fear of the hands, or a loss of balance, or moving in a crooked and dysfunctional way - then this invariably reveals itself through resistances and contractions in the horse’s mouth, neck and shoulders. With an educated use of the hands we as riders can perform moving bodywork – riding itself can be the therapy.

The flexions also enable us to communicate with the horse through our sensitive and tactile hands to their sensitive and tactile mouth. We can ‘learn to school a horse without pulling on the reins’. Once you have understood quite what this level of conversation can feel like, it seems impossible to imagine riding without being able to draw on them.

In the 2nd and 3rd part of this series on the flexions we will look at the progression from the ground to under saddle and how practically we can utilise the flexions to help horses in so many ways.

All photos have captions.

02/08/2024

The Many Benefits of the Gymnastic Exercise Shoulder-In from a Legerete Perspective

The shoulder-in is a fundamental gymnastic exercise in dressage, renowned for its ability to enhance a horse's flexibility, balance, and strength. From a Legerete perspective, this exercise embodies the principles of lightness, suppleness, and harmony between horse and rider.

It is know as the king of exercises!

Here are a few of the many benefits of shoulder-in:

Improves Suppleness and Flexibility

Enhances Balance and Coordination
Executing a correct shoulder-in requires the horse to balance its weight more evenly across all four legs. This balancing act promotes better coordination and helps the horse learn to carry more weight on its hindquarters, which is crucial for developing collection and impulsion.

Builds Strength and Engagement
While not a collection movement, shoulder-in is the building block for collection. As the horse moves in shoulder-in, it engages its hind legs more actively, particularly the inside hind leg. This engagement strengthens the muscles of the hindquarters and promotes the carrying power necessary for advanced dressage movements. The exercise also encourages the horse to step under its body, enhancing overall power and propulsion.

Fosters Connection and Communication
From a Legerete perspective, shoulder-in is not just a physical exercise but also a mental one. It fosters a deeper connection between horse and rider, requiring subtle aids and clear communication. This exercise teaches the horse to respond to the rider’s leg, seat, and rein aids with precision, promoting trust and mutual understanding.

Refines Straightness and Alignment
One of the key benefits of shoulder-in is its ability to address and correct issues of straightness and alignment. By asking the horse to bend correctly and working on strengthening one side of the horse at a time, shoulder-in helps eliminate crookedness. This improvement in straightness leads to more effective and healthy movement.

Enhances Collection and Self-Carriage
Shoulder-in is a precursor to more advanced collected work. The exercise encourages the horse to shift more weight onto its hindquarters, promoting greater collection. This increased collection enhances the horse’s ability to carry itself with lightness and grace, a hallmark of Legerete training.

Promotes Mental Relaxation and Focus
Beyond physical benefits, shoulder-in also aids in the mental relaxation and focus of the horse. The exercise requires concentration and cooperation, helping to calm and engage the horse’s mind. This mental engagement is crucial for building a willing and attentive partner.

Why not try incorporating shoulder-in into your training routine. As you can see it offers a multitude of benefits.

This versatile exercise not only improves physical attributes like suppleness, balance, and strength but also fosters a deeper connection and better communication between horse and rider.

By focusing on the principles of lightness and harmony, shoulder-in helps develop a horse that is not only athletic but also responsive, relaxed, and willing, epitomizing the art and philosophy of Legerete.

come and see some beautiful shoulder-in live at our next foundation clinic!

September 26th-29th

Tickets can be bought at https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/product/book-a-spectator-place-foundation/

photos: Rosie with Rico at the last foundation clinic (captured by Zoe Williams)
Ellie and Buggy

29/07/2024

We place a strong emphasis on tailoring our training program to meet the needs of each individual horse and rider.
We will be sharing detailed videos of specific exercises, ranging from foundational to advanced movements, in the near future.
For now, here's a brief compilation of exercises performed by our licensed instructors and their beautiful horses.

Music by uppbeat
License code: 87GENDZ7XRDYOPDZ

17/07/2024

We really hope to see many of you at this years Horsemanship Showcase.

Philippe Karl will be joining us in person, and while he won’t be riding he will be teaching and sharing a wealth of information about the Ecole de Legerete.

On both days he will be giving theory lectures which are always utterly fascinating and he loves a question!

On the Saturday you can see him teaching a number of Advanced Legerete instructors who will be showing the foundations of the work on a wide variety of horses.

On Sunday Mr Karl will teach a foundation instructor who is new to the school and has never received any in-person tuition from PK.

So, although you won’t see Mr Karl astride High Noon you will see an interesting variety of partnerships demonstrating the beauty of this work under his eagle eye and tutelage. He is a fascinating and truly revolutionary master of his art and this will be a rare treat to see him on British soil.

See you there!

🌟PHILIPPE KARL AND HIS HANOVERIAN HIGH NOON🌟

High Noon came to Philippe Karl at age five, a sensitive and easily excitable horse. Philippe Karl summarised in one sentence the actual meaning of any effort towards what one would call the “true art of riding”.

In 2018, Philippe preformed an exclusive solo show at HansePferd combining high school dressage and jumping, Philippe Karl and his Hanoverian High Noon moved the audience to tears! Passage and piaffe, extended trot and half-pass, two-tempi flying changes on a circle, flying changes a tempi almost casually performed on a straight line, then a jump over a flag held level by a helper, followed by a feather-light canter, then again a jump over a combination of three flags. As a farewell, a noble school walk. No one was left unimpressed. At HansePferd, the 13-year-old gelding was able to demonstrate his full potential. “It is my task as a rider to develop the nobility of the horse”....

Horsemanship Showcase - The Horsemanship Event of The Year

30th November - 1st December 2024 at Bury Farm Equestrian Village

Grab your tickets now:

www.horsemanshipshowcase.com

09/07/2024

In light of the excellent news from NZ I thought it might be worth revisiting one of the key Principles from Philippe Karl's 2016 letter to UNESCO, regarding the preservation of French Classical Equitation.

Principle 4. Nosebands, if not removed altogether, are never tight

08/07/2024

What a fantastic clinic we had!

It's not uncommon to leave Naturally Light Equestrian in high spirits, but this clinic was particularly special.

All the horses and their riders showed significant improvement.

While each rider will share their own personal achievements, here are a few photos in the meantime.

It was interesting to watch Sylvia teach two of the foundation riders, serving as a reminder of how challenging it can be, especially at the beginning.

Sylvia had fantastic ideas and exercises to assist each horse and rider, and every partnership gained confidence as a result.

We also had a surprise visit from Derek and Jo Clarke, and it was lovely to see them both looking so well.

Unfortunately, Kate Sandel was unable to make it, and she was sorely missed. We hope she can join us in November

04/07/2024

The next 'Open rider space' has been taken by Kate with her horse Fuego. Here is his intro...

"Fuego is a 12 year old PRE x Welsh. He may also be part cat, as he on life #7 now by my calculations…

I was on the Advanced instructor course with my Lusitano Des until last year, but for a variety of reasons we stepped out. I am delighted to have been welcomed back as an ‘open place’ rider with Fuego - the horse who really shouldn’t be here!

I bought Fuego as a 5-year-old to act as second in command to Des. He had a somewhat ropey start in life but was scooped up by a wonderful horsewoman who began to show him people weren’t too bad; I am very grateful to her that she entrusted him to me. Fuego moved to Devon and proved himself to be a kind - if somewhat worried horse - and one who loved to explore the world. We have enjoyed many, many hours together out on the moors, at the beach, in the woods – he has been an excellent companion. If the NHS could prescribe ‘good feelings;’ It would look like Fuego on Dartmoor.

However, I suspect Des whispered in his ear about his reign as the horse with the ‘weirdest ailments in the valley’ and Fuego took that challenge on and ran with it. He has had more things which have made vets and specialists various scratch their head than anyone could have foreseen, and blew up his insurance by the end of year two. If I marked up all the areas on his body that Fuego has damaged or had something ‘odd’ appear in – there would not be much grey hide left…

In light of this, I decided to stop doing anything with him – I would just let him be. He collapsed rather dramatically…Tactic 2, I decided to just hack him but not really ask anything of him. While he was fitter he was also saggy, crooked and out of balance - body workers and farriers told me so too. Tactic 3, eek, we have to try something to help him physically .So I began to school again but with a different focus, and here we are - desperate for some advice and guidance from Sylvia!

He can still be a bit concerned about people and is still very wonky. Plus, he NEVER knowingly misses a dinner. But he is one of the sweetest, gentlest horses and I hope Sylvia will enjoy trying to work out how to help him become stronger, straighter and more wonderful.

03/07/2024

Next up we have the two 'open slot riders' the first of whom is Rebbeca Sayward with the incredibly good looking Icharo. This is Becky's introduction.

"I’m Becky, some may recognise me from the Foundation Student Course. I’m usually partnered by my Connemara pony Ro-Ro. However, sadly over enthusiasm in the field has temporarily stopped play, thankfully the prognosis is positive! I am incredibly lucky to have the pick of classically trained horses at my place of work, Historic Equitation so this time I’ll be bringing along the very handsome Icaro.

Icharo is a Carthusian Cartujano Bocado stallion, the bloodline is ancient, preserved from the 15th Century and there are less than 1000 horses of this line alive today. I’ve chosen him specifically as firstly he is a very seasoned traveller, whether that be performing Haute Ecole at the Riding House at Bolsover or jousting for English Heritage all over the country (not with me onboard incase you were wondering) and as such has meticulous manners and is well accustomed to an audience!

Secondly, for selfish reasons, as I do have my own “second pony” but I felt, having the opportunity to ride at the advanced clinic, personally I would gain more from the experience with an Iberian as although it is commonly thought Connemaras’ have Spanish Blood in their veins from the days of the Armada when the horses escaped the ship wrecks on Ireland’s Atlantic Coast (and there are undoubtedly shared traits) Ro-Ro is not in any way bendy or naturally inclined to be light in the hands, in stark contrast to Icharo and the majority of the horses I ride, so I would love to further my own education by receiving instruction from Sylvia on riding this type of horse.

Thirdly, Icharo was poorly last year with a mystery illness, he was throughly investigated but no real answers were found, he is now in recovery but his illness resulted in him suffering loss of condition and substantial muscle wastage, you’ll notice at the clinic he is still rather a strange shape and obviously I’d like to do everything I can do to help him back to his magnificent self. Icharo would very much prefer that his rider works hard to assist in maintaining his balance and not unlike Ro-Ro he has a busy brain so relaxation is also difficult to establish so I wouldn’t say I’ve found him easy to ride in the year or so I’ve been trying. He is also used to being ridden in a Portugese Curb so using a simple Fulmer snaffle will be an experience for both of us!

I will apologise in advance for any tricks we accidentally perform. He likes to pull out his Spanish Walk among other things for an audience! Icharo has a wonderful expressive character, he piaffes behind his door at meal times (although I’m yet to unlock a good ridden version) and has a full on chat with you at turn out time, I’ve never known a horse with so much nuance to their Whinny! Icharo potentially has very exciting times ahead of him as it is very much hoped he will become a daddy for the first time next year and continue his rare lineage in the UK (I’ve already called dibs on the first foal to become available for sale!) I’m very much looking forward to the clinic, I am sure it will be an educational and enjoyable experience for us both as we explore this way of working together and I am honoured that Dominic is trusting me with this very special horse."

03/07/2024

Probably the most famous Legerete horse in the U.K - the fabulously feathered Millie! Owned by Liana Upton who tells us a bit about her here...

"Millie is a 14 year old traditional cob. I bought Millie in 2018 after I lost my 17.1hh Lusitano x TB gelding. I was looking for a safe little horse for my three boys to ride but one that had enough ‘go’ that I could enjoy riding too. Millie fitted the bill perfectly, she had been a much loved mother and daughter share, she was described in her advert as ‘Beautiful, kind pony inside and out, sweetest temperament, so easy to love and always tries her best’- all absolutely true.

As with a lot of cobs, the main difficulty I have had is lightness! Teaching a horse who has been bred to pull a cart with her big heavy shoulders has taken a long time and is still on going! She would always lean on her right shoulder, causing big problems picking up the right canter lead. After she had been with me a couple of years, the chiropractor discovered a big hole in her left pectoral muscle, which explained a lot. This must have been caused when she was a lot younger, it’s quite a significant tear/hole in the muscle. Of course, this causes her difficulties to stabilise on that left fore and paired with her big heavy shoulders makes lifting the thoracic sling and forehand hard for her.

We have recently started to come to some collected work, which has helped her hugely. The canter is finally enjoyable – on both leads! Working with a horse who is not in the traditional sense a dressage horse, has taught me a lot. We cannot get by on spectacular gaits but the systematic approach of Legerete has transformed my much loved little pony into a lighter, more agile, more enjoyable one to ride.'

We ALL love you Millie!