By Pip Easton.
Philippe Karl will be in Australia for the first time this September to hold a unique 'open' clinic for eight riders in Perth and eight riders in Sydney only who wish to continue on and become teachers in his School of Légèreté (School of Lightness).
This is very exciting news for Australian dressage and for those who have wished for years that Philippe Karl would come 'Down Under' to share with us his logical and systematic training, as only a true Master can. We are very lucky that Philippe Karl will travel half way around the world to promote his respect to the horse theme in non-forced classical dressage with harmony and lightness, as it is meant to be to maintain dressage as an art and a thing of beauty – not a sport just for professional success.
In the future Australian development of Philippe Karl's clinics, the Teachers' Course is a three year commitment with a strict examination processes designed to give his instructors a broad, diverse understanding of horse behaviour and anatomy. Based on natural crookedness and varying postures of each individual horse, e.g.: ewe necks, short necks, hollow and stiff horses, we learn how to correct different body types to have all horses straight, flexible, light off the forehand and working correctly over the back. Picture (left): Philippe Karl clinic held at Susannah Lohas' property in Stuttgart, Germany in August of 2008. Photo © Pip Easton.
Teachers learn his in-hand work, correct lunging, correct double bridle training and jumping, which is so important for any horse. Philippe Karl trains the high school movements of piaffe, passage, clean flying changes, half pass and the Spanish walk. (It is noted with intrigue that the Spanish walk is trained before passage which loosens up the shoulders and forehand immensely so the horse learns to be very free in front while building his strength and carrying capacity behind).
In his four DVD series, Philippe Karl shows the training processes to enable 'even ordinary horses' the skills to reach the Grand Prix movements, which not only makes dressage very exciting for the amateur rider, it opens up riders understanding for bringing true and tried classical methods back into fashion. Dressage movements become clear to the rider and the horse based on working quietly at walk, using correct weight aids in the lateral movements and progressing in a natural manner with no need for draw reins, excessively tight nosebands, stronger bits and bigger spurs!
Philippe Karl’s Philosophy of Ease epitomises what dressage really means in the whole truth of the word.
Further information and requirements for candidates of the School of Légèreté Teachers Course are on Philippe Karl's website.
Date: Monday 14th of September, 2009.
Time: 6pm to 9pm.
Location: State Equestrian Centre, Brigadoon.
Cost: $50 per person (20% discount for groups of 10, Pony Club members and NCAS instructors).
Contact: Pip Easton or phone 0407 08 77 99.
Philippe Karl will be conducting an Open Forum Introductory Evening prior to the commencement of his Perth clinic. The OFIE will be held at the State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon in the indoor arena.
There will be three demonstration horses who will be assessed and ridden by Philippe Karl and he will clearly explain the details of his work for each individual horse and rider, with audience participation encouraged. Philippe Karl will answer important questions and show examples of the logistics of his techniques for all to understand.
This is an event not to be missed and there will be an opportunity to meet Philippe Karl afterwards. His latest book Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage and his series of four DVD's will be available on the night to purchase and have signed personally.
From amateurs to professionals and Pony Clubbers to Olympians, Philippe Karl loves passionate riders and has the eloquence and grace to welcome all in an open environment of learning. He dissects common dressage beliefs and explains why everything comes down to balance and lightness. All are encouraged to join in the discussions with Philippe Karl at the Open Forum Introductory Evening by completing the attendance form.
Classical Dressage Master Philippe Karl and his Philosophy of Ease
Philippe Karl is conducting his first Australian clinic in September 2009!
Perth Clinic: Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th September, 2009.
Location: Brookleigh Equestrian Estate, Upper Swan, WA, 6069.
Contact: Pip Easton or phone 0407 08 77 99.
Sydney Clinic: Tuesday 22nd to Friday 25th September, 2009.
Location: Kellosheil Park, Bathurst, NSW, 2795.
Contact: email Cath McDowell or phone 0428 387 000.
Spectators are welcome to attend the clinic by completing the attendance form. Spectators MUST be registered in order to attend and spectator fees are $100 per day with payment plans available. If possible, spectators should participate in all four days of clinics in order to be able to consistently follow and judge the progress of horses and riders.
The clinic begins at 8.30am each day with a two hour lunch break. Ridden components conclude at 6.30pm followed by a two hour theory lesson commencing at 7pm, concluding at 9pm for three out of the four evenings of the clinic. The final evening is spent summarising with conclusion conversations with the riders. Each theory lesson is vitally important in the understanding of what, why, how and when in the fundamental basics of classical dressage. The intelligence with which Philippe Karl imparts his knowledge leaves you with a very clear and precise idea of the deep basics required to bring any horse to lightness. The evenings are fully interactive - YOU can ask Philippe Karl for explanations, detailed examples and really discuss the nitty gritty and the wonders of dressage.
Philippe Karl was an active member of the Cadre Noir de Samur (French Riding School) for thirteen years. Philippe Karl studied the philosophies of masters before him, La Guérinière, Baucher and others and in his School of Légèreté makes the very strong point that first and foremost when training horses, it is all about respect for the horse. Those passionate about treating their loyal friends with honour will notice that Philippe Karl's nosebands are loose to allow the horse to swallow and chew gently with the bit and to stay light in the hand of the rider at all times.
Classically, Philippe Karl re-examines the mother of all gaits, the walk and teaches all of the lateral movements from a very slow, deliberate walk to define understanding in a calm, relaxed manner with every horse. Step by step building blocks of clear repetition enable the movements to be gymnastically strengthened gradually from walk into trot and on into canter. Philippe Karl raises the neck so that the poll is the highest point to therefore confirm that the horse remains either on or in front of the vertical. Philippe Karl teaches neck and poll flexions to create ultimate suppleness and a crucial understanding for the horse to communicate with a light contact via the hand aids.
These are very exciting times ahead indeed for like minded riders who know that dressage is about harmony, logic, common sense and compassion. To have a horse light in the hand and light to the leg gives the intended vision of elegance and grace. Ultimate collection is achieved when the horse remains calm, carrying the rider with ease and doing all of the movements seemingly effortlessly. When one has ridden a horse in ultimate lightness, riding becomes an absolute pleasure and a joy for all to see. Picture (above): Philippe Karl. Photo © Alain Laurioux.
:: Philippe Karl - School of Légèreté ::
The Classical Alternative
Philippe Karl has released four amazing DVD's which can be purchased through Thomas Vogel's German store, Pferdia TV along with Philippe Karl's book Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative. Philippe Karl's DVD's are worth their weight in gold, demonstrating examples under saddle in full detail with drawings and explanations of where a rider's body weight needs to be for the horse to perform correct shoulder in, travers, renvers and half pass. Philippe Karl has also written Long Reining: The Samur Method.
Philippe Karl also contributed to the DVD, Classical vs Classique, a DVD produced by Thomas Vogel of Pferdia TV and Dressur-Studien. This DVD highlights the differences in German Riding Principles and the School of Légèreté. In June 2007, Philippe Karl met Christoph Hess (head of the instruction department of the German Equestrian Federation). Philippe Karl and Christoph Hess discussed their respective view points openly in an animated debate followed by practical demonstrations on different horses and riders in the arena. This DVD provides an impartial account of this meeting, which was initiated by Claudia Sanders (editor of the magazine Dressur-Studien).
:: Pt 1: School of Aids :: Pt 2 - School of Gymnastics :: Pt 3 - School of Dance :: Pt 4 - Training Progress 1 Yr Later ::
Learn more about Philippe Karl and Ecole de Légèreté.
On the 27th of March, 2009, Philippe Karl wrote a letter to the German Equestrian Federation (FN) in which Philippe Karl proposed a number of changes of the FN rules. To date, Philippe Karl has not received any response from the German FN. Due to the lack of response by the German FN, Philippe Karl has made his letter and the propositions it contains accessible to the public by way of the magazine Dressur-Studien and the internet. Philippe Karl proposed that the German FN incorporate the following concrete points into their rules:
- Auxiliary reins connected to the bit are forbidden, whether on the lunge or under saddle. The lunge should always be attached to a cavesson;
- Tight nosebands are forbidden, both in daily training and competition. In addition, it is permissible to present a horse without a noseband;
- The horse's mouth must be checked immediately prior to every test or performance. Any injury leads to disqualification;
- Any horse showing injury from spurs to be disqualified;
- Overflexion (nose behind the vertical) in any movement to be punished with a mark of at most 3;
- Blocked jaws, tongues pulled up or hanging out and grinding of teeth in any exercise to be punished with a mark of at most 4;
- Neck extension (long position in which the mane is nearly horizontal, the nose keeping in front of the vertical) becomes a part of every dressage test, in all three gaits and on both reins;
- The walk is reinstated as a fully-fledged part of each dressage test, representing up to 30% of total marks possible, at least in tests on E, A, L and M level;
- The lateralisation of the walk (horse comes close to ambling) leads to disqualification;
- In tests for young horses as well as auctions, young horses must be presented in neck extension in all three gaits, with the rider rising to the trot.
All people involved with horses who are willing to endorse such reforms are invited to express their support by adding their name to Philippe Karl's petition. To support such reforms, please register at Philippe Karl's website.
