Philippe Karl mit High Noon –

only flying is more beautiful

Event article on the EdL Day in the Swiss horsemagazine «Passion» 3/2023

At the 4th Open Day of the Ecole de Légèrté (EdL) on June 25 at the Farmersplace Kleindöttingen, it was high noon. «Ethics and dressage – justice and correctness»: according to this principle, French riding Master Philippe Karl has been teaching and training horses in the riding instructor education of the EdL since 2004.

In a sold-out venue, the participants were able to listen to an instructive English theory lecture by Mr. Karl. Due to the slides translated into German, this was well understandable for all. The 76-year-old founder of the EdL showed the logic of his theory with his sympathetic manner and humor. It is based on the teachings of the old masters, but also includes current scientific evidence and studies.

Afterwards, commented, practical presentations showed and explained step by step how every horse, no matter if young or already older, can be trained in a species-appropriate way without coercion and resistance. The full day program included lungeing and handwork, ridden basics with lateral exercises, jumping was also presented. The higher level exercises were led and moderated by Philippe Karl him-self. Master Teacher Bea Borelle took time in the afternoon to answer questions from the audience.

But the great highlight of the day was the possibly last performance of Mr. Karl with his High Noon outside of France. The 10-minute music freestyle showed how he switched with ease from the highest exercises of dressage to jumps over flags and back to dressage exercises – all this in a jumping sa-ddle and the horse ridden on a simple snaffle without noseband.

Despite the almost 30° in the indoor arena, the day was a successful event with deep insights into the work of the Ecole de Légèreté and offered the opportunity to get to know the Swiss EdL teachers per-sonally.

All further information at: www.philippe-karl.com

Philippe Karl and his 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding High Noon in an extended trot. Only one of the elements of the high-class freestyle, which combined dressage at the highest level and jumping. Photo: Meike Wix 

Thunderous applause

for Philippe Karl and High Noon

Etelka Müller / Kavallo Magazine 08/2023

For the fourth time the Ecole de Légèreté presented itself to interested people at the Farmers-place equestrian facility. The event was completely sold out and the audience loved it.

Kleindöttingen/Switzerland

On June 25, the Farmersplace equestrian facility was all about Philippe Karl’s Ecole de Légèreté (EdL): Early on Sunday morning, the stands were filled with interested people who wanted to find out more about the horse-friendly training concept of the French riding master. None of the more than 200 places remained unoccupied.

The day started with a lecture by Philippe Karl entitled «Justice and Correctness». The riding master emphasized the importance of a gentle and efficient rider’s hand, which acts only on the corners of the mouth and never downwards or backwards: «Strong or prolonged pressure on the tongue or on the bars causes pain to the horse and has a traumatizing effect». He clearly refuted the dogma, horses of having to ride mechanically from behind over the back and through the poll, referring to two scientific studies. One of them comes from the Australian Andrew McLean. The study’s conclusion goes along with the EdL concept: «In fact, control of the forehand is crucial to gaining control of the hindquarters.»

The theory was followed by practice with explanations from various EdL Master Teachers and Philippe Karl. The path led from working at the lunge to in-hand training to basic riding education with lateral movements to high-level exercises. Jumping at the lunge and in the saddle was also part of it. The joy of work and the love for the horses is at the EdL trump card, as the day clearly showed: not only the eyes of the riders, but also those of the horses looked bright and satisfied because of the clear, gentle instructions peppered with humor. «It is our responsibility to train the horses on fine aids,» said Master Teacher Stéphanie Durand. The fact that EdL’s training concept can be applied to all breeds and types of horses was evident across all lessons. It was evident that training with respect and thus without coercion means leads to a horse that proudly presents its skills. The eyes of the animals left no doubt about it.

The final and at the same time the highlight of the day was the freestyle of Philippe Karl and his horse High Noon, which combined dressage at the highest level and jumping. A piaffe was followed by a jump, after a passage the riding master demonstrated flying canter changes before he set off for the next jump over a triple combination. Light on the aids and with a joyful expression, High Noon moved many a spectator to tears.

Philippe Karl proved what the School is all about: It’s not just about high lessons, but about broad-based education. And it’s about a trusting dialogue with the aim of making the horse shine. The audience was overwhelmed: The 76-year-old rider and his 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding caused thunderous applause. As Philippe Karl explained at the end, there is hope that it was not his last public appearance.

The School is now present on five continents and continues to expand. Five courses for riding instructors are currently running in Switzerland.

Further information: www.philippe-karl.com

Serious rethinking required

Interview: Etelka Müller with Philippe Karl

What are the most beautiful moments you experience when working with horses?

Philippe Karl: On the one hand, there were of course all the shows with the Cadre Noir of Saumur in many countries like Italy, Germany, Spain or Great Britain with Odin, Verdi and other horses – I showed high school and jumping on the double lunge, riding, was part of the quadrille of the Cadre Noir. Those were very emotional moments. On the other hand, when I am alone in the indoor arena in the early morning, in the silence, and my horse gives me exercises of better quality, then this is always very moving.

What is the essence of the Ecole de Légèreté (EdL)?

At EdL, we don’t just talk about respect for the horse: we also provide proof of it. We train every kind of horse and often to a remarkable level. In doing so, we never use tie-in reins – neither on the lunge line, nor in-hand work, nor in the saddle. When people gain the knowledge we are trying to impart, they don’t need coercion and it works better. Nose and flash straps are also taboo. If classical riding is a schooling of the horse – that’s what we call it – we can compare training with auxiliary reins to a teacher gagging a child and tying him to a chair to force obedience. I wonder: what kind of education is that?

What do you wish for the horses?

I wish there would be less talk about «happy athletes» and more was done for it. I have been working for this for over 30 years. We need strict rules that oblige riders to respect the nature of the horse. So that they stop forcing the horses into a shape. If people who specialize in dressage need fantastic horses, use various restraints and more coercive means, train horses in hyperflexion – are they really specialists? I proposed rules 13 years ago, without success. Riding has become big business: I first heard the word «horse industry» about 20 years ago. This term alone says a lot. When there is another scandal, there might be a small adjustment of the rules. But these are only superficial. Methods that were once considered terrible and forbidden are now considered normal. In the past, we used to be out with a horse behind the vertical after five seconds. That can happen, but today it has become a system. And everyone knows about the terrible consequences for the horses. I dream of a serious rethinking in the dressage scene. I wish for this to change!

Impressions

HansePferd 2018