Hawkesbury Junior Saddle Stars

09/06/2025

Proud coach moment!! 🤩🥹

A big congratulations to Sophie and Cricket who attended their first show today at the NSW Arabian Horse Assoc Inc. The Only Official Page dressage fun day! 🥳✨

Sophie and Cricket did amazing together, taking home 2nd place 🥈. But more importantly they both had fun and enjoyed the practicing, plaiting, and dressing up for their big day! They have made incredible progress with each other over the past year! 🤩🐴🌈

A big thank you to Stevanne Gratland who led Sophie around the ring for me as I’m out with an injury, and a big thank you to everyone who came out to watch and support Sophie! We have a lovely community 💖

28/05/2025

I have just returned home from a lovely trip to the International Open Day for the Ecole de Legerete, to pay homage to Philippe Karl and High Noon in their last public performance. Philippe’s retirement, alongside the immense losses earlier this year of Bettina Drummond and Charles de Kunffy, prompted me to wonder about who the next masters will be. Who will carry the torch of Classical Excellence? Who will share the shining truth of Masters past? Who will inspire the next generation to do the same?

Often in life, we realize no one is coming to the rescue; we must chart our own course. Now, more than ever, the onus falls on us to demonstrate our own ethics in our horsemanship practice, and bravely for the public eye. Philippe in his speech to his teachers assembled in the audience, urged us to the fore: now is our time. It is not enough just to make cogent arguments: but into the fray. Show the work, to the best of our ability. If we are lucky, one day a student of ours will rise to the occasion, following the beauty that harmony and balance create, and perpetuate in turn.

While there are very few who we might consider Masters among us, there are many unwilling to compromise on the ethics of training which respects and honors the horse. As we take up the mantle, we lift the torch, and simultaneously the burden from the generation before. And the most beautiful thing happens: the truth has a way of rippling out, sparking curiosity and growth in ways we cannot even imagine.

A few years ago I sold a horse to a young girl, it was a big step up for her. He had many good qualities, but could be as anxious as he was talented and kind. She saw in him her hopes and dreams, and as she got to know him, he guided her training and together they forged a path of kindness, mutual trust and respect. Other young people at her barn took notice. They began to ask questions, to follow the training she was doing. One by one they took off their nosebands. Somewhere far away, young girls who I have never met, are practicing more ethical training, changing their own lives and the lives of their horses, all because some years back I began learning about and practicing Legerete. How many others might have shifted in their paths in ways we cannot imagine? And if this has happened from my work, imagine the reach someone like Philippe Karl has had - across continents, across time.

This is how change happens. Not only from inspiring demonstrations of mastery, as we saw from Philippe Karl and High Noon in their farewell performance this past weekend, but also from the ripples of many imperfect messengers, doing the best they can in their small corners of the world. Uncompromising in their ethics and standards, but contagious in their empathy and generosity. Imagine the combined effect, not just of the one bolt of lightening that is true mastery, but of a million far flung floating sparks, waiting to ignite.

22/04/2025

VERONIKA BÜHN - TEACHER CLINIC 2025
Master Teacher - Ecole de Légèreté

COMING TO AUSTRALIA!!!
Sydney Teacher Clinic: 3rd - 6th of May

Rider and Spectator tickets available.

BOOK NOW !!! Spectator Tickets
$50 per day or
$150 for 4 days

If you have an interest in becoming a Qualified Légèreté Teacher and Trainee, please get in touch with us on the below details.

BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0400315947

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CLINIC OVERVIEW

Clear and effective training concepts are taught incorporating the latest scientific research based on anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, balance, psychology and ethology.

The philosophy of Légèreté excludes any use of force or coercive artificial aids (such as draw reins, running reins, tight nose bands etc) but is applicable to all breeds and all conformations of horses. It takes an interest in all equestrian disciplines. It provides an understandable and reliable training plan with clear principles, efficient methods and procedures that fully respect the horse. Riders also learn the theory underlying the training system and put together it allows any seriously motivated rider access to Higher school equitation, even with a perfectly ordinary horse.

This kind and respectful method of training horses promotes soundness of both body and mind and the longevity of horses. A strong emphasis is placed on preparing the body and mind of the horse so that it is in a position to naturally advance to the next stage of its education rather than pushing the horse’s boundaries which more often than not leads to fear and resistance.

Veronika has been taught by Monsieur Philippe Karl as an active participant of his "École de Légèreté" since 2007. In 2011 she was officially approved as a licensed teacher and in 2023 became a Master Légèreté Teacher.

The clinics cater for 9 Teachers and Riders maximum and are comprised of one on one lessons during the day and theory lessons on two evenings. These clinics are a great way to meet like minded riders and everyone supports and encourages each other. There are always lots of laughs and groups are sociable and friendly.

All levels of horses and riders are accepted and any breed or type of horse or pony is welcome. Whether you are an advanced dressage rider, show jumper, eventer, someone who just loves to ride and learn new things or someone who has perhaps had bad experiences of dressage lessons in the past, you will find Veronika able to help you. This is for anyone who wishes to improve their horse’s way of going using techniques that make sense to the horse.

Riders attend all lessons and theory sessions as the purpose is to learn as much as possible from all horse and rider combinations.
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We look forward to hearing from you!

Sydney EDL

22/04/2025

Some recent lessons! (Details under photos)
✨🐴🌈🦄

11/03/2025

07/03/2025

Mia got some lovely balanced halts from Sunny by working on her aids, set up (position before action), and position for halt!
Well done Mia and Sunny! 😊⭐️

05/03/2025

Sophie and Cricket practicing their steering, halting, and trotting on the obstacles to work towards riding off lead in more open areas! 🤩🌈🐴
And Pablo wanted to help choose Sophie’s stickers 😆

28/02/2025

Grace and Petal working on lunging and finishing with some fun on the obstacles! ✨

Lunging in this manner:
🐴 promotes balance
🐴 utilises straight lines, not just circles
🐴 encourages the horse to abduct the outside shoulder and not fall in
🐴 teaches self-carriage (rhythm, balance, straightness, posture)
🐴 creates a consistent contact to be transferred under saddle
🐴 and so much more!

24/02/2025

Riding schools for children -

I used to teach children riding lessons a lot. It was really fun and rewarding to instill in young people care and respect for the horse, and good riding skills. I found chikdren far more receptive and empathetic than many adults, because they hadn’t been taught to ignore horses expressions to get something done.

The pressure from parents to accelerate the kids skills to more fun stuff, or to prevent the child’s boredom, was a steady presence in teaching- along with maintaining the school horses soundness and mental well-being from being ridden by beginners. Keeping lessons good for both horse and rider was a job of creativity and constant adjustment. I believe it can be done, but the culture at large doesn’t typically make it profitable, as many parents struggle to want to pay for lessons on sound husbandry and good riding basics. The kids want to canter, by God!

I have some firm beliefs about good riding stables, and I realize the expense and strain and adjustment is an ever pressing reality, I stand by these beliefs:

-children should learn good riding fundamentals first, and not progress to trotting, cantering, jumping until they have a good understanding of a balanced seat and can demonstrate it

-children should learn care of and respect for the horse comes before their entertainment. Grooming, tacking, warming up and cooling down, quitting an activity or adjusting if the horse is stressed, learning groundwork, etc, should be a non negotiable

-children should learn to feel a balanced horse to the extent possible. A beginner horse should not simply be a lame horse that tolerates them, but one to teach th em how to ride- children should not be set up for a future of kicking and pulling to get a horse to do something, but learn to feel how to direct a horse with their body, and to feel movement that is balanced, setting them up for a lifetime of being able to balance future horses.

- children should learn to read accurately equine expression and well-being. Children should not be taught to describe horses as lazy, stubborn, etc- these are taught by adults and children learn to adapt these views. The adults are responsible for setting the culture and views of horses and their handling.

Many riders struggle with normalizing tight, crooked, and unhappy horses because this is what they learn to ride on. The instructor is responsible for setting the culture of what their program entails, and I believe this means setting firm boundaries on what the purchasing client can expect, instead of catering to unreasonable demands to keep business. That is a whole can of worms in itself, but one worth opening.

23/02/2025

The student becomes the teacher!! 😆

Abby’s lesson this week was to give me a lesson!

14/02/2025

SUSIE WALKER - 3 DAY LIGHTNESS CLINIC

When: 4th - 6th of April 2025
Where: Leaning Willow Lodge - Sydney
Time: 8am start

Tickets available. BOOK NOW!

Rider Fee $550 for the 3 days.
Spectator $50 per day or
$120 for 3 days.
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Learn the art of creating lightness by developing your horse’s balance, softness, alignment and attention through the art of correct classical movements and horse friendly methods, in hand and riding.

Susie's teaching is gentle and supportive and always for the horse. This clinic offers a chance to watch or participate in a range of lessons in both groundwork and riding. There will also be two additional theories in the evenings.

The philosophy of Ecole de Légèreté
(School of Lightness)

• Kind effective schooling.

• Logical aids that make sense to horses.

• Exercises to build balance and self-carriage.

• A mindset that creates calmness and confidence.

• Effective clever tools that work *for* the horse.

• Progressive training that respects nature's biomechanics, to develop strength and flexibility.

• Teaching with regard for equitation science.

A dedicated, thoughtful rider can find lightness, connection and joy on the Legerete path. Sensitivity and self-awareness enable relaxation, balance and expression in all paces - physically and emotionally.
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Susie will help you design practical solutions and gymnastic exercises specific to your horse's physical & emotional needs.

Légèreté is a philosophy of ease - a dialogue of shared understanding that teaches a 'language of aids'. It respects a horse's nature, how horses react, move and learn to predict what we want. Gaining consent is the key to willing cooperation to give horses a sense of control and freedom within agreed boundaries.

SUSIE’S QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed Level 1 Instructor with Philippe Karl's Ecole de Légèreté. (International School of Lightness).

• Accredited & Insured EA Coach.

• Clinical Ethologist in Equitation Science, and specialising in Classical Dressage, Balance bio-mechanics, Working Equitation & Behavioural problems.

• Other qualifications: BA, Grad Dip. in Adult Education, Dip. Sc. in Equine Management, 45yrs teaching and training with horses.

All horses are welcome. For details please see the attached event post. BOOK NOW!!!

08/02/2025

Grace working on her contact, following Sunny’s head, and rounding. ✨⭐️
These were great exercises to work on ba****ck, allowing Grace to feel the difference in Sunny’s back when he was hollow/inverting his neck, and when he was lifted and round.