Keryn Legg: From South Africa to UK Dressage Success

Written by Everything Horse Magazine guest author, Donna Harrison

Stübben sponsored Dressage rider, Keryn Legg, has a long and rich history in the equestrian industry. Starting riding as a young child while living in South Africa, Keryn is now a well-respected coach and trainer here in the UK, earning her stripes over several years through the recognition of her natural ability in, and out of the saddle.

Keryn regularly trains with a number of coaches, two being Levi Hunt and Sue Cottrell (BD List 5 judge and BD coach for over 20 years). She attends clinics with Dane Rawlins and Stephen Clarke but has also trained with Peter Store, Marie Eilberg, Sarah Higgins, Alice Oppenheimer, Caroline Sparks and Diane Breeze. 

Sue says “Having known her [Keryn] for about 10 years as both a physiotherapist and talented rider, she seems to enjoy the adrenaline rush of riding the excitable horses!”. 

As a lifelong equestrian, owner and dressage rider, I was keen to learn about Keryn’s exciting journey into the industry, how opportunities have come about and (of course) more about the horses and people who have joined her along the way.

Early years

Keryn’s love for horses was founded while living in South Africa with her family as a child. She started riding ponies at four, before moving on to the South African Lippizzaner.

The South African Lipizzaners trace back to two individuals, both immigrants to South Africa, Count Elemér Janković-Bésán de Pribér-Vuchin of Hungary and horse trainer Major George Iwanowski of Poland. 

The Jankovics-Bésán family was long known as influential breeders of Lipizzaner horses. The breed was moved out of Europe at the time of the Great War to preserve its heritage and tradition, and since then, an outpost of the Spanish Riding School has been based in South Africa. They are still trained under the tuition of the Spanish Riding School and preserve the traditions, customs and methods. 

Before moving to the UK, Keryn progressed in her riding career competing up to seniors which is the equivalent of our UK Grand Prix level.

Taking the leap

In 2016 Keryn and her then-husband Matt, were offered a surgical internship and residency at Leahurst Equine Hospital (Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital – University of Liverpool), so they made the huge decision to move to the UK. They sold everything they owned, including their house, cars and horses and made the leap. For four years the couple lived next to the hospital on the Wirral while he completed his studies. 

On arriving in the UK Keryn knew nobody, her first job was working in St Helens for the NHS, doing home assessments and prescribing wheelchairs for people in need, being a fully qualified physiotherapist it’s needless to say that the UK wasn’t what Keryn expected as she wasn’t able to do what she loved most.

Eventually, Keryn managed to get a job at ProPhysio Clinic in Chester as a sports and orthopaedic physiotherapist. One of her first patients was a lady called Angie Raith, a fellow equestrian. Angie had been told by doctors that she needed back surgery and to retire her horses as she would likely never ride again. Angie’s symptoms, however, did not match the diagnosis and Keryn suggested physiotherapy and Pilates as a trial before the life-changing surgery. The ladies then worked together for many weeks of intense therapy and ultimately Angie regained both her strength and mobility with no need for an operation.  Angie is now riding and competing again and is a huge advocate for Pilates. 

When opportunity comes knocking

Soon after meeting Angie, she offered Keryn the ride of one of her horses, an opportunity she eagerly accepted. After witnessing Keryn’s equestrian abilities, Angie introduced her to Jacke Mathieson who had recently had an accident with one of her youngsters. Keryn then took on the ride of a wonderful big gelding called Wroyal Occasion, while Jacke healed. The pair hit it off immediately and Keryn started riding for Jacke regularly, backing youngsters and riding some of her more experienced horses.

Many hours were spent together taking horses around the country and abroad to auctions. Jacke gave Keryn the ride on her special competition horse, Wolkenderry, or “Wish” as he was affectionately known. The pair had a really good run for a number of years and formed a close relationship, and in 2023 won the PetPlan Area festival at Prix St George where he then retired from competition. Unfortunately, his health started to deteriorate and he was put to sleep, a heartbreaking and devastating loss for both Keryn and Jacke.

As time went on Keryn’s exposure increased amongst other equine owners. She was introduced to Kate Shone who asked Keryn to ride a much more challenging but beautiful horse called Roxie Royale. 

It is clear to see Keryn’s connection with Roxy and it brings a smile to my face as Keryn fondly jokes about Roxie being ‘very loosely attached to the ground’.  Keryn continually works hard to build up Roxie’s confidence both from the ground and during her ridden work, she exposes her to new environments on a regular basis, and her efforts are now paying off as Roxy’s feet are now on the ground a lot more than they used to be and the pair are regularly out competing together.

The ride of Sir Charlie Chaplin, a stunning bay gelding, was offered to Keryn by the Hewitt family from Kidderminster through Keryn’s other instructor, Levi. Charlie competed at GB level with his owner, Lily Hewitt a few years ago. Charlie and Keryn have been getting to know each other since December 2023 and went out competing for the first time in August 2024 at Kingswood (Telford). Levi, a Grand Prix rider who has represented GB internationally, rides and trains riders in the UK and now in Malta, and works closely with Keryn and her horses. The pair have a good friendship and he pushes her limits. He says of Keryn, “Her commitment to improving herself as an athlete is so rare to find. The only thing she seems to be more passionate about is the care of her horses. Above all of this, she makes a divine cake!”   

Teaching a mechanical horse new tricks …

Another string to Keryn’s bow is that she has worked closely with Racewood, helping enable a horse simulator to react and ‘behave’ more like a real horse. The project has led to the mechanical horse now being able to understand the aids to bend through its rib cage so that you can do half pass, passage, leg yield etc through specially adapted pads on its sides. 

Keryn describes the experience as like computer gaming, creating pressure points which give scores to improve the rider’s aids.  She also looked at the challenge from a physiotherapist’s point of view for rider symmetry, injury rehabilitation and prevention of recurring problems.

The new and improved mechanical horse helps the rider think of where their body is and where it should be whilst riding. Riders can find out why certain movements make your back hurt, where your hips should be etc. She explains it as a humbling experience for riders when they realise that their horses are far more forgiving than we give them credit for.

Sponsorship

As Keryn’s equine work, experience, and ability have developed, it didn’t go unnoticed. She was recently offered sponsorship by the prestigious saddle brand Stübben. The family-owned business comes with a rich history of crafting top-notch equestrian products used by many riders from the novice all the way up to the very top of the sport.

Based in Europe, Stübben have recently refreshed their products with an even deeper focus on the well-being of both horses and riders. They use patented innovations that support the biomechanics of the rider-horse partnership. The brand’s saddles and bridles now reflect a more up-to-date, look and feel and are ultimately kinder for the horses. 

You will no doubt hear more from Keryn as her equine career grows but for now, Everything Horse Magazine would like to wish Keryn and her horses all the best for the remainder of the 2024 season and a successful 2025.