Re: Philippe Karl

I was fortunate enough to have attended the Philippe Karl clinic 2 yrs ago and I must say I think it was the best clinic I have ever attended (... and I've been to many!) I love the philosophy of his teaching and the harmonious intention that is paramount with all his teaching! I also attended this year, a clinic with one of his graduate student from his School of Lightness and she was fantastic as well! We need more clinicians like this! And we need our "top rider" to attend them!! I'm just not sure how we manage that because there seems to be a resistance overall from the "competitive" community to learn anything new!! I have spent many years trying to support and encourage and effect change within the Dressage community all to no apparent avail! ... I know I am not the only frustrated one! I don't even bother going to watch "Dressage Night" any more at the Royal, because nothing ever changes ... it is the same riders and the same mediocre performances year after year!! Doesn't "inspiration" mean anything to any of these riders any more!!?? But don't get me started ... we'll be here a while ...

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Comment by ramna botma on March 24, 2012 at 7:19pm: I think it's harsh to say 'same riders and same mediocre performances year after year'. I know a couple of those girls out there, particularly one of the riders in the demonstration, and I can tell you she is NOT Mediocre nor does she lack inspiration. She is an excellent trainer and rider, and can take almost any horse, and not in a harsh or un-fair way make him/her better. She had a horse of mine that had a problem with the connection, when he 'hit' the bit, and please don't read anything into this because I think I know what most would say, he would really resist. It was a connection problem and she fixed it. he wasn't fancy or even a WB but after 4 months he was doing the full 2nd level and schooling 3rd. No he wasn't overtaxed, over-bitted or over-worked-he was happy and no, I am not a novice rider-nor do I lack knowledge in what "Dressage" is. I have ridden and shown Friesians for 20some years, and have cliniced and trained with quite a few people over the years. The ones who do those demonstrations do so mostly at their own expense both money and time wise. It is difficult to get everyone together for practises-and as such I think they do a pretty good job. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and turn up our noses at others. At the very least they are out there willing to put in the effort, and as such deserve to be applauded.

Comment by E. Allan Buck on December 4, 2011 at 6:36pm: FEI will not listen to PK or others who so desperately want competitive dressage to be the correct art of dressage.

Comment by E. Allan Buck on December 1, 2011 at 12:22pm: Egads......don't get me started. FEI flat out refuses to listen to the trainers, riders and clinicians who are able to correctly educate and ride the dressage horse. Instead they choose to listen to the gutter rif raf that abuse the horses in schooling and in performing.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 30, 2011 at 3:52pm: There are several people here who agree with you.

I ride Forward Seat, since I have MS this is the only safe way for me to ride. I am also working on lightness just in the normal gaits, not collected. Due to my handicaps I am too unsteady to do proper dressage, and I refuse to do what passes for dressage nowadays. I have my pride. The horses I ride thank me for not torturing them trying to do things I am not capable of doing right.

And it isn't just dressage.