James Riedeman of Albuquerque, New Mexico, became the second licensed instructor of the Ecole de Legerete in the United States. His journey to certification began in 2013 and included hundreds of hours of study and application with horses and students. He passed his three part exam earning his status as a Foundation Level instructor in 2018. This has been a welcome continuation of his lifelong study of the horse set in motion during his early years in his native state of Michigan.
James showing his horse in ramener, high and light with poll flexion. The poll is correctly the highest point.
Now James shows a longer neck with a clearly open poll. Changes of neck position are key to changing the balance of the horse.
He began his equestrian career in USDF dressage working his way up through Grand Prix and graduating the “L” judge’s program. Although these are significant accomplishments, James found something was still missing in his work with horses. His ultimate goal was a calm, supple, loose, and flexible horse that was a pleasure to ride but he began to question if he using the most effective methods to achieve this?
Curiosity about a book and some videos loaned to him by clients led him to the answers he was looking for in “The Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage” written by Philippe Karl, founder of the Ecole de Légèreté. Although James had sorted out some fo the issues he had discovered in the mainstream of dressage, Philippe Karl’s book explained more completely and clearly the problems and their solutions that remained ultimately respectful of the horse. Not long after, he joined the first US course in Santa Fe, NM with Master Instructor Bertrand Ravoux. Under Mr Ravoux’s guidance, James began to understand more and more that he could achieve his goal with the help and support of this method.
Looking to the future, James is building up his training facilities in Albuquerque and teaching lessons throughout New Mexico. He is available for clinics nationwide. You can contact him at (505) 453-1725, or email him at dressagejwr@aol.com.
“My goal has always been and will continue to be bringing horses and riders together. I want to help them connect and work collaboratively in a completely cooperative and beneficial way. Légèreté allows this and even creates a structure to support it. Why should I reinvent the wheel when it’s all here?”
Congratulations James! It is an arduous task to attain the Foundation licensure in the Ecole de Légèreté. The education process involves over 300 hours in session with Mr Ravoux (over 3 years), diligent practice and application both teaching students and developing one’s horse, independent study and review of the immense theoretical underpinning of the methodology, and the presentation of the exam.
The exam itself is presented in 3 phases: A 45 minute theory exam given after 30 minutes of preparation (without notes.) The topic is given by Mr Ravoux. A clear, thorough, and correct presentation is expected. Phase 2 is pedagogy (literally the method and practice of teaching.) A student is in attendance that has not been seen by the teacher in training. They have one hour to present a lesson to the standards set by the Ecole de Légèreté: observation of the student and the horse, evaluating or educating the horse by the teacher riding it briefly, and designing a suitable lesson plan to address the 1 or 2 top priorities for the growth of the horse/rider pair. Phase three is the presentation of the teacher’s own horse that they have been developing throughout the course. Of top priority is relaxation, correct and consistent contact with the horse in ramener (appropriate poll flexion with the poll as the highest point), mobility of the jaw, clear changes of neck position/gymnastics (ramener and extended neck), accurate lateral work and geometry, clarity and subtlety of the aids, purity of the gaits, balance, fluidity, and mobility throughout. Only after all of this things are in order are you presented a license by Philippe Karl to represent him as a licensed instructor.
