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Mandeigh
29 Oct 2009 13:07
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I wondered if everyone knows about the petition to have hyperflexion/rollkur banned by the FEI?
Although there have been discusssions and outrage at the users of this practice, so far the FEI have declined to ban it.
But, a video released by epona tv on YouTube recently showed a competitor riding his horse in a hyperflexed frame for around 2 hours......the horse's tongue can be seen lolling out of the side of its mouth having turned blue.....the rider spots this and then leans forward puts the horses tongue back in and then proceeds to continue riding in hyperflexion. This video has sparked outrage in the equestrian community, and a group has been formed to petition the FEI.
A facebook group has been set up and in just a few short days gained over 2000 members, the petition itself has already gained over 3000 signatures including, Bea Borrell, Jane Savoie, Jane Bartle Wilson, Philipe Karl, Gerd Hauschmann to name but a few.
the petition reads....
To: Federation Equestre Internationale
As per your own Code of Conduct, "The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) expects all those involved in international equestrian sport to adhere to the FEI's Code of Conduct and to acknowledge and accept that at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount and must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences."
I would like to respectfully request that the FEI stop the excessive and abundant use of the hyperflexion or "Rollkur" technique, especially during the warm-up and on the grounds of FEI competitions.
This technique, which was once only seen used by a few riders for a few strides here and there has progressed into a sustained and long-lasting method and basis for training.
Horses with mouths gaping open, necks in extreme positions for extended amounts of time, and blue tongues should not be acceptable in our sport and is an injustice to the beautiful and willing spirit of the horse.
This method is not in line with a "happy athlete". What will become of our sport if the general public sees this image of how some of our most visible athletes treat their horses? Surely animal activists will begin to attack our sport, which when done correctly, and without these contortions, enhances the beauty and physical well-being of our beautiful and kind horses.
Please, we demand you take this opportunity to consider the well-being of the horses and the image of dressage. The time to act and eliminate this method of training from our beloved sport is now. Take a stand as THE voice of international dressage. It is your job and your responsibility.
We await your action on this issue.
Respectfully,
The Undersigned
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peaches
29 Oct 2009 20:31
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I have only just watched the video of this poor horse being ridden in rollkur with it's tongue lolling out of it's mouth. This is not training, or warming up, it's a demonstration of how to degrade the horse in public.
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Diana
30 Oct 2009 08:31
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I am so glad that something is really being done about this issue, it is so sad, and I hope that more sanctions will be put in place. The problem is though you can't stop what people do at home. I have visited a few yards in Holland and Germany where all the horses are ridden so tightly in the neck and overbent it is also incorrect and very sad.
We are so lucky that horses allow us to ride them considering how some horses are treated.
Diana
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Mandeigh
30 Oct 2009 08:38
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The chairman of the BHS has now written to Princess Haya....and Sylvia Loch and Tanya Larrigan have both joined the facebook group.
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DressageSpain
30 Oct 2009 10:11
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Blimey, thats not on. You can actually see most other people riding around "normally".
Something needs to be done and then it will trickle down from the FEI to national federations as I would love to see some of the abusive riding that I witness stopped.
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Bibbett
30 Oct 2009 18:14
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I am shocked by how many equestrians are turning a blind eye to this issue, please for the sake of the horse, take a stand and sign and spread the word!
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DressageSpain
31 Oct 2009 08:50
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The rider should be banned from competition, I mean the German federation made an example of the WHOLE german team due to doping issues. This is FAR worse than doping in my opinion. Its just downright cruel.
I fail to see how anyone can say they love horses and treat them like this.
I do admire the people who made the video, they have not made an attempt to hide who it is and why should they. I think that a highly publisied international outrage at this will be the way to make the federation stand up and take notice.
I also do not like the way that it seems to be mostly stories associated with a particular dutch rider/trainer that are hitting the international news as in this case as well. Not good at all and I am seriously changing my opinion that as it has been said many times "simply the best dressage rider in the world". If rollkur is being condoned, excused and used as a training method as the press coverage and you tube videos seem to be telling us, then how can we continue to hold her in such high esteem.
It is an inexcusable way to train a horse for prolonged periods - ie more than a few steps/seconds. How can we be getting so far away from what dressage SHOULD be - beautiful and elegant and a natural enhancement of our magnificent equine partners.
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peaches
02 Nov 2009 07:28
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Well said, 'dressage in spain'. I too live in Spain, I teach dressage locally to me. It would be nice to have a 'email pal' who is into dressage also?.
There is a incredible lack of knowledge around here as to how a horse should be trained. I made my pupils watch videos of Rollkur, said nothing, and asked thier opinions as to what they had just seen, I just said "what do you think of these riders and their horses". They had no prior knowledge of Rollkur... they were horrified, it was nice to see thier reactions, they could see 'even in innocence' that it was a severe way of training, with the horse looking very stressed and uncomfortable, and they asked 'surely this could damage the horse's neck and back?' If young people can see this without prior knowldege of Rollkur, why can't the professionals see it? Or have have they just got blind to the damage mentally and physically that this method of training can cause? Maybe they don't know any other way or training?
I'm worried that all their pupils will copy this system of training and not learn a sympathetic, understanding and 'correct' way to train a horse without unecessary strain and force.
I'm afraid that prizes and medals are taking over from the love you should have for the horse and his/her training.
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DressageSpain
02 Nov 2009 08:39
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I think you are absolutely right peaches, there is too much money and greed involved in dressage now, with animals fetching such high prices that it is putting more pressure on riders to get the results.
Having looked at the facebook page, there was a comment from the FEI and they have opened an investigation.
Yes would be lovely to email, I will contact you now! Great to know other horsey people in Spain.
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JowAngel
02 Nov 2009 12:52
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That particular video reached me over here in the US just last month. It was posted on another large horse-related forum that I frequent. I could not watch the entire video, but only saw the first 2 minutes or less.
That was my first good look at Rolkur in practice I would say. I've seen a handful of videos, but they were compilations of multiple riders in training sessions mostly at their private riding areas. This was out in public with a lot of eyewitnesses. And to see that horse's tongue was also a real eye opener to the subject.
I don't show and I train at a very small barn where everyone else just trail rides. So I thankfully, do not see this kind of riding in my day to day life. But I agree that the issue should at least be looked into further as there seems to be a lot of information to backup each side of the debate. I can understand not wanting to take a firm stance on certain training methods, but when the health and well being of the horse is being questioned, they should step up to prove or disprove that claim at the very least. And if something is proven to be harmful, then they should take a stand.
Enforcing the rules must be difficult. But it will be the key to their success. I hear all too often of abuse and neglect (overly thin horses being shown) being reported to the show ground offices yet nothing being done. And of course I've heard stories the other way too, but it's the latter that are upsetting.
It is simply amazing that horses can simply allow people to be so aggressive in their training styles and still be cooperative. I can't think of another animal in my experience that would allow a lot of the stuff I hear about. Over here in the US there are a lot of stories going around about big name western trainers and owners finding their horses in training with bloody sides from spurs, bloody mouths from harsh bits being overused, etc. And it's the people who turn their heads that are allowing this to go on. There are some things you just can't turn a blind eye to! I find it hard enough to not mention it to someone when I see them get overly frustrated with their horse for whatever reason or are using a bit that is just a tad too much for their level of riding. I can't imagine not speaking up when there is flat-out abuse in progress.
I hope to keep updated on this issue!
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An American in Copenhagen
02 Nov 2009 13:00
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What i can't figure out is, why is the tongue blue? It looks like the tongue is over the bit in which case I can't understand why it would have a lack of blood flow. If it is under the bit, having the circulation cut off by pressure from the bit, then why don't we see this sort of thing more often with x-country and jumping horses who are often ridden with very heavy hands? I would have been horified by the video regardless of the blue tongue but now I want to understand what I saw.
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Diana
02 Nov 2009 14:28
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Hi
The tongue would be blue because of the lack of oxygen that the horse can breathe in during the RK practice. This is because it supresses the airway (wind pipe). It is a wholly barbaric practice.
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Giovanni
02 Nov 2009 16:48
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Why i don't see any harmony in riding that way and the horse shows his tension in a variety of ways, why is his tongue blue when i am sure that the fei investigated a few years ago and found that it was not detrimental to the horse or could not be proved so at that time. So if his tongue is blue and therefore circulation is being restricted how is this not detrimental. I indeed agree that it should be banned but to what degree and how another matter. I feel that it is a shame that people have taken it as far as they have to mean that intervention is necessary, it ruins our sport at the very essence that people would treat a horse in that way. They are noble creature that have served us well through centuries and are to be respected. I would love to do Grand Prix but not at that expense.
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An American in Copenhagen
02 Nov 2009 18:38
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Thanks for the response, Diana. But if his tongue was blue from lack of oxygen due to his lungs not taking in enough air I find it difficult to understand how the rest of his body and brain managed to function fairly normally at the time. It just doesn't make sense to me yet.
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TinkerBell
03 Nov 2009 17:50
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Hopefully FEI will ban the Rollkur, but I think the implications of it would not be too far-reaching. Noone would be able to enforce this ban in private yards and behind the closed doors of schools. As long as there is a lot of money involved, I am afraid, people will use all means to arrive to their ends. Rollkur is not the only barbaric practice out there. I think there is so much bad treatment of horses going on around, that I sincerely hope that Rollkur will be only the first step. We need to find other ways to improve horses lives on top of simple bans.
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joallan
03 Nov 2009 19:44
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Horrendous: for years, some professionals, in all disciplines, have gone to extremes for financial reasons and to get a competitive edge; its almost impossible to police, but action must be taken to stop this cruelty, a return to natural classical dressage might help.
If I can find the petition I will sign it.
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Mandeigh
03 Nov 2009 21:51
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The petition is here.. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/antiHF/index.html
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bocelli
15 Dec 2009 12:13
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The first paragraph of the FEI Code of Conduct states that:
"At all stages during the preparation and training of competition horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands. This includes good horse managements, training methods, farriery and tack, and transportation."
If FEI does not ban rollkur, if FEI does not abide by its own Code of Conduct, then who will??
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