Anna Vickery Equitation

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Anna Vickery Equitation

I aim to be a bridge between excellent horsemanship skills & principles and true french classical training within the school of ecole de legerete.

Horse-centered ethical & effective. Holistic part or training Livery yard with a horse track system. Horse Psychology and behaviour is the basis of all training. Lessons aim to build better understanding between horse and rider/handler creating a partnership. Lessons are fun and relaxed and suitable for all ages and disciplines.

14/01/2025

Please Share!!
Weekend groom job / working livery for a pony…
General yard work.
Relaxed start times.
Friendly yard with calm happy horses.
Please only contact if u are available at weekends and are experienced enough to work solo.
Over 18s only
£15ph for the right person.
Nutley

We will consider job shares over the weekend if you can only do one end of the day or only a Saturday or Sunday

If u have a pony under 14hh and u need full livery/ assisted livery in the week but can work over the weekend I would look into a reduced livery package for the right person/pony

🙏

08/01/2025

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/

21/12/2024

Why do your Légèreté instructors choose this approach?

As Christmas draws close you may be taking a step away from riding, to give you and your horses a break. Or, you may be looking forwards to using this time to be with them - sneaking in rides between mince pies and sprouts.

However you're spending this time, it can be useful to reflect on why we do what we do. What do I love about having a horse, even when the weather is more than a little challenging?

And you may occasionally wonder your instructor has chosen the principles of Légèreté to train their own horses and share with you and your horse?

If you haven't already noticed, training to a high level in this school is hard. Well hard for the rider, and easy for the horse. It demands that riders pay attention to absolutely everything, not covering up how the horse really feels, or fudging what she truly understands. You cannot use 'pulling them in and kicking them on' to get through a problem. There are no bungees or contraptions to improve movement or 'resolve' issues. There is just you, the human - with your hands, legs, body and most importantly, your head and heart.

Your Légèreté instructor has not chosen this path because it's easy, or cheap (ha!!).

They have chosen it because they want ethical solutions for horses, which they can pass on to their riders.

They have studied it because they want to be able to explain in a logical and clear fashion why a horse needs certain things, and in what manner we can make best sense to them.

They have practiced it in order that they can show - as well as tell.

They have committed to it, because learning this art is not a quick fix. It requires years of study and practice and a serious studentship to the horse.

They have invested in it because they want solutions for their students - riders who care about their horses and want the best for them.

Time and time again Légèreté instructors are grateful that they have so many ideas for so many different horses to share with their students. There is a growing body of riders who want to do better by their horses, and we are happy to be a part of that community.

Merry almost Christmas!

13/12/2024

Job opportunity
We are looking for a weekend angel to come and help us look after 12 gorgeous horses of varying sizes and breeds.
This job would be suited to a person who truly loves horses and enjoys all things related to looking after them.
You will need to be over 18 and be able to get your self to Nutley 2 times a day.
Am and Pm shifts but flexible with start times.
Jobs included handling, feeding, haying, poo picking etc
Must be able to work alone and to a high standard.
Kind, reliable and committed an absolute
£13ph

Or a potential discounted full livery if you have a friendly pony and want to work on the yard over weekends...

Please get in contact.

02/10/2024

Shanti

01/10/2024

Another amazing 4 days of teacher training completed.
Thank you to everyone involved that made it such a success. Naturally Light Equitation
Shanti just got better and better and absolutely put everything she had into this clinic. Beyond the brilliant training, thank you Catherine Marshall, it really was so heart warming to see and feel Shanti so at ease in her body and mind. It has been a long and bumpy road with this mare and I can finally say that she truly feels amazing atm.
We have lots of homework to focus on over the next 4 months and I really hope with her increased mobility through lateral work we can continue to improve her strength, balance and relaxation, especially in the canter which is still very tricky.
Perhaps, there is now a sparkle of hope that she will be able to complete the course with me?! 🤞🙏
Rosie Bensley Equine
Rachel Scott Hayward
Sarah Holland-Villa
Jen Mitchinson
Rebecca Sayward

28/09/2024

Almost at the end of Day 3 teacher training.
It’s gone too quickly.
Inspiring to see the horses and the positive changes in them.
Shanti has exceeded all my expectations once again.

Feeling so lucky to have such a great team at home running the yard, keeping the horses safe and loved.
And to my gorgeous husband keeping the kids safe and loved so that I can pursue my dream of becoming a licensed instructor of the school I have been obsessed with for many, many years.

04/09/2024

UK Foundation Instructor Training is fast approaching! Book a spectator place!
26th-29th September
https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/product/book-a-spectator-place-foundation/

This will be my fourth clinic with Shanti, my 7-year-old, 16hh warmblood. I've owned Shanti for nearly two years.

Shanti has taught me the importance of trusting your instincts when buying a horse and not being swayed by a beautiful face. When I first saw her, Shanti seemed to tick all the boxes. After viewing numerous broken or over-schooled youngsters, hearing that Shanti had only been used for hacking by her elderly owner felt like music to my ears.

Although she appeared sound, I had some lingering concerns. Her back was incredibly tense to the touch, she rushed off at the mounting block, and was "girthy" when being tacked up. But did I mention her beautiful face?!

To be thorough, I decided on a full vetting, including a full set of X-rays, instructing the vet to vet her as if she were heading to Badminton next week. She passed with flying colours, and the X-rays were clear. I pushed my niggling concerns aside, convincing myself that her issues were likely due to a poorly fitting saddle and rushed training.

As soon as Shanti arrived, she completely shut down. After a week of being unusually quiet, ignoring other horses and barely noticing us humans, the aggression started. My grooms quickly became reluctant to handle her. Simple tasks became unsafe. We discovered she was riddled with pyloric ulcers, marking the beginning of a painful and costly journey. Three rounds of treatment followed by short remissions and severe rebound effects became the norm. We exhausted every diagnostic option—blood tests, genetic testing, scans—you name it, we checked it, but everything came back normal.

At the beginning of this year, after many lameness workups, my vet finally discovered osteoarthritis in her lumbar facet joints in four places (not visible on pre purchase X-rays), as well as in C6/C7 (X-ray taken from 45c angle) and very mild OA both front coffin joints (missed on pre purchase x-rays). Despite all this, she remained sound even with gait analysis. While heartbreaking, it was also a relief to finally identify the problem and know there were treatments available to help her.

Shanti is an intelligent powerful mare who has learned to run on the forehand to escape the pain in her lumbar spine. At the start, she was incredibly heavy in my hands, and working with her in-hand was almost impossible. Even the static flexions were a battle and once she was high and light she would then brace her neck and refuse to let go and extend. Her downward transitions were and still are her nemesis. Happy to trot around with a long neck but refusing to give her back and take the contact, neck extension has always felt like a somewhere and nowhere position for shanti. If I ever did get that magical feeling of release into true neck extension she would very quickly speed up after a few strides and run away with me, often by cantering the wall of death. Balance and relaxation as been our mantra.

The Legerete program has slowly and mindfully taught Shanti to be lighter and move with more balance, simply being in better balance has helped her anxiety about being ridden. Over the past year, her posture has completely transformed.

In the last few months, Shanti has been going from strength to strength. She lives out, follows a solid program of core stability stretches with lots of hacking. Slow, high, and light walk work combined with short and stead moments of neck extension in trot has undeniably helped her reprogram her basic movement patterns.

While there's still some resistance in canter, and especially the trot-to-canter transition, I am happy to say that we are cantering most days. There is still much work needed to be done with her canter. Her lateral work is also improving, she is less braced, less rushed and generally seems more mobile and flexible, rather than sitting on a block of wood!

It's taken a year to get where we are today, and in many ways, it feels like we're just beginning. But there's something very special about Shanti, which keeps me with her. We’re navigating this journey together, and I truly believe that the Legerete program is the only approach systematic and mindful enough to give Shanti the best chance for a strong, successful, and happy ridden life.

21/08/2024

Lessons resume on the 5th September 🙏

18/08/2024

Edit: Space taken.
Potential livery space available for laminitic pony or grass sensitive pony.

02/08/2024

I wrote this
I hope u all enjoy it and learn more about shoulder-in and its benefits for the horse.

22/07/2024

Save the date
26th - 29th Sept
Ecole de Legerete
UK Foundation Teacher Training

19/07/2024

# this slot has now been taken. Thanks to all who got in contact 😊

Rare Lesson slot available around Hickstead area and towards Wivelsfield green next Thursday 25th July.
Please contact me if you would like book in. 🙏

25/06/2024

Watch Freddie a 5 year old warmblood in for starting with his owner Ellie on board… it’s his 5th ride in the school and 2nd ever time off the lunge. How amazing is he?!
3 low flying helicopters and he wasn’t fazed in the slightest. I can’t take any praise for his incredible nature and grandpa attitude to life. Ellie has worked tirelessly on his ground work preparing him for this moment.
It is an absolute pleasure working with students who are dedicated to the emotional wellbeing of their horses just as much as their physical….

Freddie is a real dude! 😍

24/06/2024

Shoulder-In on my beautiful homebred Noah.
Time and patience has unlocked his mobility and suppleness.
Being over 18hh and loooong has made lateral work incredibly challenging for him.
Consistant, careful classical training has been our answer combined with a lot of hacking and fun to keep him feeling positive about being a riding horse.
There is no faking it on a horse of his size!
No gadgets, no harsh bits, no rushing, no skipping past essential steps.
It takes time….

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http://unityhorsemanship.co.uk/

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Super safe starter

Watch Freddie a 5 year old warmblood in for starting with his owner Ellie on board… it’s his 5th ride in the school and 2nd ever time off the lunge. How amazing is he?! 3 low flying helicopters and he wasn’t fazed in the slightest. I can’t take any praise for his incredible nature and grandpa attitude to life. Ellie has worked tirelessly on his ground work preparing him for this moment. It is an absolute pleasure working with students who are dedicated to the emotional wellbeing of their horses just as much as their physical…. Freddie is a real dude! 😍

Shoulder-In on my beautiful homebred Noah. Time and patience has unlocked his mobility and suppleness. Being over 18hh and loooong has made lateral work incredibly challenging for him. Consistant, careful classical training has been our answer combined with a lot of hacking and fun to keep him feeling positive about being a riding horse. There is no faking it on a horse of his size! No gadgets, no harsh bits, no rushing, no skipping past essential steps. It takes time…. #frenchclassicaldressage #ecoledelegerete

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Our Story

Separately from running my little yard that is designed around equine wellbeing, I am a passionate and dedicated freelance Equine Behaviourist and riding instructor. With many years of experience helping very challenging horses.

My work brings a holistic approach to horse training which takes into account the horses environment and innate physical and psychological needs. I combine the very best parts of both classical and 'natural" training methods.

Ethical, humane and evidenced-based training is my priority. I have a keen interest in biomechanics. I aim to build better understanding between horse and rider/handler creating a partnership based on mutual respect and trust. Lessons are empowering, enjoyable and relaxed and are suitable for all ages and disciplines.

Flatwork lessons are routed in a clear understanding of correct biomechanics, with the overall principle to “do no harm”. We mindfully work our horses with a focus towards strengthening, straightening and balancing. Specific exercises are individually tailored for your horse’s area of weaknesses.