
28/05/2025
Fordi Ecole de Légèreté er meget mere end en uddannelse 🥰
As Philippe Karl and High Noon retire from public performances I thought I would share my story and how I somehow became licensed to teach in his name.
Even after 10 years of being fully licenced I still find this hard to believe.
In 2010, I was accepted onto the first UK teacher training course for the School of Légèreté. I still remember reading that acceptance letter with a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and sheer terror. I had no idea how I was going to afford it. I didn’t have the “ideal” horse, and I had no transport to get my horse to Daventry three times a year. On paper, it looked impossible.
But something stronger than logic took over—faith. Caution was thrown to the wind, and I just knew deep down that I had to find a way.
In January 2011 the course began.
The first clinic was a whirlwind of emotions. I arrived not fully knowing what I had signed up for—excited, but completely unsure of myself. I was stripped of everything I thought I knew. The techniques, the mindset, and the entire approach were so different. It was overwhelming, and at times I felt like I simply wasn’t good enough. But beneath that fear was a spark—an excitement about what I was about to learn, and who I might become if I stayed the course.
To say the course took over my life is an understatement. I lived and breathed every moment for the School of Légèreté. Every waking thought revolved around it. My dreams were full of it. It became my entire life!
I remortgaged my house to buy a second horse and a horsebox. There were months I went without, (still do 😂) just to ensure my horses had what they needed —what they deserved. This wasn’t just education. It was devotion.
The journey was not without hardship. There were moments of doubt, exhaustion, and sacrifice. But every challenge was worth it for what I gained—not just in horsemanship, but in myself.
The proudest day of my life came when I received feedback from Philippe Karl after my ridden exam. His words are etched into my heart. I wish I could bottle the feeling of that moment—a tonic for all the difficult days I had faced along the way. That recognition, from someone I held in such high regard, meant more than I can ever express.
Training under Philippe Karl has been one of the greatest honours of my life. No words can truly describe what it’s like to learn from such a master—his clarity, his passion, his brilliance, and above all, his unwavering commitment to the dignity and well-being of the horse. It changed everything for me.
Today, as a teacher of the School of Légèreté, I carry his teachings forward with pride. What began as a dream against all odds became a lifelong path. And as Philippe Karl and High Noon take their well-earned bow, I feel even more inspired to share and preserve this incredible legacy.
I am living proof that when you follow your passion with all your heart, no obstacle is too great. And for that, I will always be grateful to you Sir, thank you.