20/03/2026
Neck extension!!!!
Or in the case of a very ‘tucked in’ posture (that the Friesian breed is so likely to produce) a rider needs to teach the horse how to;
Open the gullet…
My student is a dedicated classical rider, horse breeder & all round star in my eyes… so we met for some progress lessons on Thursday 🌟 first we work with her Gyspsy Cob, who is really coming on 💖 we’ve move onto introducing posture to help with her shortened poll (nose poking out) which blocks her lumbar. Adding posture requests within exercises like correctly flowing reinback, walk to canter transitions (& all transitions)… suddenly all of the difficulties have melted away 😌😍
Secondly, we work with her pure bred Friesian, who has blossomed over the last year, despite pre disposed ‘issues’ from her history… and again the focus for her progress brings us to her upper neck - but this one is really unique 🧐
As a Legerete (trainee) teacher, we work with so many horses, with VERY specific, individual needs… & this gets me thinking… how many coaches really know how to help the riders train tricky horses? In my experience, not any outside of Legerete… because I use to be that rider! With a very difficult horse that no trainer could give me answers to. I was Always seeking, always hoping, that my horse would one day, progress.
And nothing did, in conventional riding… until I found Legerete.
… so I was feeling that vibe, before we even got started, I recognised it… the energy my student was carrying… frustration.
Because until we know better, we just do our best. That’s all we can do. And for that, all riders should give themselves grace!
And my approach, calm, knowing & eager… because I knew the starting point, the areas of concern - like a well travelled map - I now know the very logical answers & pathway… why? Because I’ve travelled this road a few times now. With my own exceedingly difficult horses, but also many students (difficult) horses too.
And meeting the space with this knowing, that everything has a clear pathway forward, towards the desired outcome, means I’m calm, I’m patient & I’m also excited 🤩 because I can’t wait for my student to know the same, feel the result & celebrate the outcome (a horse who we help to move in balance, with strength) because there is no better feeling in this world than to float around in harmony, riding our horses 💞
Which bring me to:
Opening the gullet!! Which is really where the main focus is for Anneke.
Also known as neck extension (to name the specific exercise), but to look at the gullet to start the process, based on this horse’s individual needs, is key.
With our gorgeous example Anneke (pictured), who didn’t even accept a bit prior to learning Legerete… we’ve built trust, a clear understood dialogue, we’ve established some stability (as she’s naturally hyper flexible) to now with neck extension to start ‘opening’ her body, because her mind in now confident too…
And the outcome is evident even in her every day life 🤩
The photo below, when she arrived home to greet her friends after her lesson…
It’s the little messages of glee from my students who then know, the pathway towards everything they’ve ever wanted to do with your horse, can be achieved logically through training the Legerete way 🥰
And there no better feeling in the world than being able to share this knowledge.
Why we ❤️ Legerete
