This past weekend I audited a Pippa Callanan clinic at a local dressage barn, and WOW. Seeing the lightness and gentle aids but the serious gymnastic progress of each horse in an hour was eye opening. So much so, that I signed up for an in-hand lesson with the host barn’s instructor, using a school horse, this coming Saturday. If things go well, I’ll haul in Cruise in the next couple of weeks after that.
I looked around on YouTube to find something close to the clinic exercises and found this GEM. We’ve been playing with versions of the flexions, in-hand work, and counter-bending all summer, but when I followed this exact progression of exercises, Cruise and I had the lightest, most free, gaits and ride we’ve ever accomplished. Much to learn, but I’m so excited to explore the School of Legerete!
Is this the one where you lift your hands really high? I’ve never been sure how thst works exactly.
ReplyDeleteYes, in this style of riding sometimes your hands do go temporarily higher to get an effect. I've always kind of found it off putting but now that I've learned more, I understand that it is a technique for some horses some of the time and that generally in the school of Legerete the hands are at a "normal" height. See the video link for an example of Legerete that shows minimal lifted hand but the flexions and counter ends that are integral to this type of training.
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