Philippe Karl on the Problems of Modern Dressage and the Essence of French Classical Riding

Philippe Karl, renowned rider and teacher of French classical riding, shares his passionate critiques of modern dressage riding, and discusses how we can train according to the nature of the horse, and what differentiates the French classical tradition.Philippe Karl has been riding and teaching for over 50 years, and was a rider of the famous Cadre Noir in Saumur, France for 13 years. Having started his own school called the School of Lightness, or l’École de Légèreté, he has taught students and instructors around the world. A vocal advocate for kind and logical horse training, he has debated with dressage authorities such as Christoph Hess on the current state of dressage training and suggested making changes for the future of the sport.In this episode, he shares:◼️ How some common training techniques do not correspond to the nature of the horse◼️ Why hyperflexion isn’t healthy and where modern dressage has become distorted◼️ What defines French classical riding◼️ How he gets a heavy horse light in the mouthTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:14 Defining What Classical Means and the Horse’s Nature03:11 Is Modern Dressage a Positive Evolution?06:34 How to Educate a Horse Differently10:50 The Modern German Influence on the Dressage World14:59 Changing Misconceptions of Training and Baucherism25:05 Principles of Baucher and the French Tradition31:35 The Myth of Uniform Bend Through the Whole Spine37:24 Why is Riding in a Low and Hyperflexed Position Unhealthy?44:15 Why Dressage Horses Break Down50:59 Debating with Christoph Hess and Working the Horse at the Walk or Halt57:49 What are Flexions and How to Make the Horse Light in the Mouth1:10:00 Breaking The Learning Process into Small Pieces1:11:32 What Would You Recommend for Riders Listening?🐎 Learn more about Philippe Karl’s Work and the School of Lightness:Website: https://www.philippe-karl.com/Facebook: https://www.philippe-karl.com/social-media🎠 Follow Inside the Manège:Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariacequestrian/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariacookeequestrian Website/Blog: https://mariacooke.com/ 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with classical riders🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.