Enlightened Riding - anyone heard of this 'new method?

[FannyPriceless]

Opinions please. I had my first lesson at new stables. When I arrived they told me they only teach a 'completely new method' called Enlighted Riding.

The position involves no lower leg contact at all, with knees turned inwards on to the horse. To achieve this they got me to take each leg off the horse, rotate it forward, turn my knee into the horse, and turn my heels out and away. This had the effect of making me sit on the front of my pelvis, gripping with my knees and perched like a bird.

This is apparently 'correct' as they said I had the leg position really well, and when I did sit down and ride through my seat they told me to stop driving with my seat.

The explanation for the method is that traditional riding involves constantly nagging the horse with your legs which is 'cruel'.

Would you go back there? I don't want to ride like this, but I would mainly use the stable for hacking so it's not a big deal I suppose. But I want somewhere for DD to learn, and in many ways this is ideal. They welcome young children on the yard (DD is 2.5), they are very friendly and inclusive, they have a perfect little Shetland for her, and they are a pony club centre. But I don't really want her to learn to ride this method!

Has anyone heard of it / have any views? The 'guru' is named Anne Parker but when I tired to view her website it apparently doesn't exist yet.

Would you go back to these stables?

That's a bit harsh charlottexsometimes! Enlighteneduk didn't slag anyone off, she just pointed out that her method is different to the one OP came across. To be honest the names are very similar and I also thought of Enlightened Equitation when I first saw the OP, so it's reasonable to draw attention to the distinction.

I had some RWYM lessons and hated them. Maybe the instructor didn't tell me to grip with my knees, but she definitely told me to push them inwards. She also told me to grip with my thighs. I much prefer a more classical seat where you don't attempt to "grip" with your thighs, but as said above, your legs drape over your horse.

If you look at the RWYM and the EE websites there are photos that clearly show how the positions taught differ.
I have to say, HM didn't "slag" anyone's methods here. She just made it very clear that she had no association with "Enlightened Riding", and I don't blameher.

HM has been putting various things about enlightend riding on the internet and facebook, causing much upset to one of Annes clients after she was told that her methods and the way she treated her horse was cruel. There is alot more to this debate than meets the eye sadly.

I ride using Anne's method and she is an amazing teacher and rider. My horse is going better that ever and I feel confident and secure all of the time. It is difficult when you first start, however the benefits are quickly apparent and I ride much more 'in tune' with my horse now with much lighter aids. The method involves turning your thighs into the saddle - not gripping with your knees. It makes much more sense to have security in your thighs than your lower leg - if the horse bolts and you grip with your lower leg - you are surely telling the horse to go forwards? Also 'driving with your seat' is not effective - you don't see any really good dressage or classical riders (including HM) constantly digging their heels in, pushing their horse along with their pelvis or stopping by leaning back and pulling on the reins? I think if riding centres are embracing new and less agressive ways of riding that has to be a good thing but I understand that it is hard to re-learn if you have been taught a different way as I have done it myself. It was well worth the effort though.

It is a long time since I rode - but I went on an RWYM course with Mary Wanless, and it in no way resembled the OPs description of "enlightened riding".

Gripping with the knees and perching on the front of the pelvis was definitely NOT what she had us doing...., nor keeping the lower leg off the horses side.