Philippe Karl

Classical Dressage Master

from France

School of Légèreté Teachers' Course

Offered for the first time in North America

Chase, BC, Canada

commencing in 2011

Being touted by many as 'the best rider in the world', Philippe Karl is taking the equestrian world by storm and holds clinics for his 3 - year Teachers' Course in Switzerland, UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, and NOW North America.

Philippe Karl's Teachers' Course for riding instructors will be held at ForTheHorse Equestrian Centre in Chase, BC, Canada.

Biography

Philippe Karl was born in 1947. In 1968, he dropped his medical studies to dedicate himself to working with horses. From 1968 to 1971, he studied breeding, first at the Zootechnical Studies Centre (Centre d´Enseignement Zootechnique) in Rambouillet, then at the French national stud Haras National du Pin. He obtained his national riding instructor's certificate in 1971.

From 1972 to 1979, he was head of the riding department at the Centre d´Enseignement Zootechnique in Rambouillet, where he was in charge of various branches of professional training. From 1980 to 1985, he ran his own stables. During all these years, he was regularly competing in eventing and show jumping.

In 1985, General Pierre Durand appointed him as a member of the French national riding school Ecole Nationale d´Equitation in Saumur, and he became an Ecuyer at the prestigious Cadre Noir. Being especially dedicated to the shows of the Cadre Noir, he created two historical shows, presentations at the long reins – both in jumping and High School – and participated in the shows of the Ecuyers. For thirteen years, he took part in all the gala shows of the Cadre Noir in France and all over Europe.

In 1998, he left the Ecole Nationale d´Equitation to devote himself to the clinics he is giving in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States. Since 2004, he has been especially dedicated to the training of riding instructors within his School of Légèreté.

General information

The basic training course to become a riding instructor of the School of Légèreté lasts three years and comprises three four-day clinics per year. The final exam will be held during the tenth clinic at the beginning of the fourth year. The students attend the course with their own horses. It is strongly recommended to continuously promote the training of one of the horses over the whole duration of the course, in order to judge the progress in the best possible way.

Program 

• individual dressage training 
• work in hand, at the longe and on long reins
• jumping
• quadrille 
• theory
• pedagogical training
• final exam

                                                                                 

Final exam

The students will be judged on:

• their theoretical knowledge,
• the training level reached by their horses and
• their pedagogical competence.

The successful students will receive a certificate as “Riding instructor of the School of Légèreté”, which will allow them to officially teach this riding philosophy in the name of Philippe Karl. As this training concept is legally protected by patent against plagiarism, distortions or arbitrary, unauthorized use, no one may refer to the School of Légèreté or the lessons of Philippe Karl without having received the corresponding certificate.
Note that the certificate may be withdrawn on grounds of violations against the ethical principles of the School of Légèreté (see “Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage”).

Detailed information on the requirements for the final exam and the five obtainable levels can be found here.   

Applications for the Teachers' Course starting in 2011

Application deadline:  August 31, 2010 

We recommend that serious riders send in their applications as soon as possible.  Once all positions are selected a short waiting list will be established.

Please contact Chris@ForTheHorse.com to notify us of your interest and if you are sending your application to Philippe Karl.

The application documents (for riders) for the Teachers' Courses of the School of Légèreté should be sent to Philippe Karl (see address below).  People interested in following the Teachers' Course as Auditors should contact Chris@ForTheHorse.com to register.

Application documents:
(Please note: exclusively in English or French!)

• curriculum vitae including a passport photograph
• letter explaining your motivation  
• completed questionnaire on your teaching experience (see below) 
• DVD showing your work with your horses and demonstrating your riding skills
• Do not forget to clearly indicate ForTheHorse as your course location

Please note that one of the conditions for a successful application is that you should already have some experience in teaching, even if only part-time. Please describe your teaching experience in detail by filling out the following questionnaire.

Questionnaire on your teaching experience

• Are you a riding teacher? Since when?
• Do you give lessons regularly?
• How many riding students do you have per week? Per month?
• Are you teaching in a riding club? If yes, in which one?
• Are you salaried? Self-employed?
• Do you give clinics? If yes, where?
• Do you have owners' horses to ride?
• Do you train horses?
• Do you take riding lessons yourself? If yes, with whom? how often?

Ideally, you should have several horses at your disposal, in case one of them falls ill.

With the signature of the training contract, you commit yourself to following the Teachers' Course for the whole of its duration (i.e. three years).

Please send your application to the following address (not as registered mail!):

Philippe Karl
Hameau Le Mallein
Rue du Vieux Moulin
F - 38630 Corbelin
France

The names of the selected riders will be published both here and on Philippe Karl’s website.

Advanced training courses

If they wish, the licensed instructors of the School of Légèreté can improve their knowledge beyond the basic training by participating in advanced training courses. These take place as three-day clinics three times a year (currently in Germany and Switzerland). Instructors who follow all three clinics per year will be awarded a yearly certification, which will be published on Philippe Karl’s website. 

Whereas the auditors/listeners of the three-year teachers' course have to commit themselves for the whole three years, just like the riders, the advanced traning courses for the licensed instructors are open for auditors/listeners at any time.

The program includes the training of the riders in dressage, work in hand, longeing, jumping and giving lessons, both to their own students and to unknown guest riders. The practical lessons in the riding hall are complemented by a comprehensive theory lecture which leaves room for questions and comments.  

It is our intention to offer these continued education advanced training courses at ForTheHorse in Chase, BC, Canada.

ForTheHorse Equestrian Centre Location

We are conveniently located within a day's driving distance from major cities of Vancouver, BC, Kamloops, BC, Victoria, BC, Calgary, AB, Edmonton, AB, Seattle WA, Spokane, WA and Portland, OR.  Driving access is from the major #1 highway.

Airport access is connecting from Vancouver or Calgary airports to Kamloops airport.  We are an easy 40 minute drive from the Kamloops airport. 

Several accommodations for riders are available at our centre or there is a choice of several hotel/motels, B&Bs, or a world class resort on the lake - all within a 10 minute drive from our centre.

We look forward to meeting all of you and working towards lightness and ease, ForTheHorse!

For more information about rider/auditor and horse accommodation, please contact us

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Offsite Accommodation Options

Talking Rock at Quaaout Lodge Hotel – 250 679-3090 www.quaaout.com - a fabulous resort on the lake