Pip Easton with Overflow Don Bradman and Noblewood Park Just in Time. Pip Easton started riding at ten years of age, competing in Pony Club Eventing to National level in New Zealand until seventeen. She moved to Perth, Australia in 1989 and stopped riding when she got married, bought a house and started a family. She recommenced eventing in 1998, but decided to concentrate on Dressage and has been aiming for the high levels ever since.

Overflow Don Bradman (Donny) is four and a half years of age. Pip purchased Donny as a weanling from Overflow Sporthorse Stud who used to be in Western Australia, but relocated to Beechworth, Victoria in 2008. He is by Don Cavallo (Donnerhall/Weltmeyer) out of a Thoroughbred mare. Pip has no doubt Donny will find all Grand Prix movements very easy. She feels he is the softest horse she has ever had the pleasure to sit on. She likes him a LOT and wishes she never gelded him!

Donny arrived on a truck from Walpole (bottom of Western Australia) and Pip and her family fell in love with him on the walk up their driveway as he held (sniffed) her hand the whole way. He is the cheekiest, playfulest, funnest little horse she has ever ridden with a canter that sits naturally behind and plays in front. She is excited that everything they do together is building on all the foundations she put into him and Donny trusts Pip, listens, tries very hard and learns very quickly.

Noblewood Park Just in Time (Jana) is a stunning twelve year old Holsteiner mare by Jadalco (Imp) (Fabio I/Landgraf) out of a Barrabadeen Wildfeuer (Imp/Dec) (Waterman/Ganeff) mare. Jana is well established at Medium/Advanced level Dressage and has just come back under saddle after a two year break, having had a colt by Noblewood Park Casper (Noblewood Park Caretino's Boy/Cassini II). Jana is a very impressive mare with huge presence, a heart of gold and is a pleasure to be with. Pip is looking forward to Jana becoming very light and soft, hoping with quiet understanding they can come together in a harmonious and beautiful way.

Pip thinks hyperflexion, draw reins, whips in racing and double bridles for riders under twenty should all be banned!

How were you introduced to Philippe Karl's methods? Caren Robinson (FEI rider from Zimbabwe, living in Perth) gave me a 'rider alignment' lesson eighteen months ago and showed me some things from the ground with the bit and self carriage. Caren mentioned the style was Philippe Karl's so I bought his first DVD, understood instantly his clear, quiet approach and went to Germany to follow him around Stuttgart and Zurich for two clinics in July, 2008. 

After riding horses trained in Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté, bringing Nicole Weinauge out to Perth for a clinic and working with Caren every week for eighteen months, I believe that once you've really ridden lightness, you never go back to forceful pressure!  It's the deep truth for me and I can't WAIT for Philippe Karl to be here teaching us himself!!!

What do you hope to gain out of Philippe Karl's Teachers Clinic? A deep understanding of Philippe Karl's methods and to get the 'feel' of it all to soak into my bones. So I can apply the training to my horses to improve them in such a way that we can move in harmony together with respect and honesty.

What is your dream? My dream has always been to ride Grand Prix. Now I know HOW to with lightness and logical understanding with Philippe Karl. I am very excited to get out of Novice!

Website of Pip Easton: www.dressageworld.com.au

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