Necks, Lies and Video Tape---Rollkur continued.

Necks, Lies and Video Tape

　

By: Julie Taylor and Luise Thomsen

Epona TV

EDITORIAL: Right now, the world is rising up against rollkur, because a lolling, blue tongue got caught on video in Denmark. Ban it, is the message to the FEI. But how can something be banned, when it hasn’t been defined? And why should it be banned, when no adverse long term effects have been documented? Is hyperflexion even the problem?

What if I taught my horse – using treats or carefully timed pressure and release – to bend its neck extremely for a brief moment? That would be hyperflexion. But would it be evil? Should it be banned?

We propose that hyperflexion is not the biggest problem. Not where the welfare of horses is concerned. In terms of good dressage, there is little doubt that a short neck will detract from the quality of movement. But it in itself may not necessarily constitute abuse.

What is abusive is the way this hyperflexion is achieved and perpetuated through prolonged periods of time by insensitive and relentless pressure from the bit and spurs. The proponents of the technique will tell you that they never pull or force the horse into the frame and that they only ask it to stay there for brief spells at a time. This is a lie. The reins are used to pull - sometimes from side to side – on the horse’s mouth until it assumes the hyperflexed position. Then some of the pressure is sometimes released, although the reins remain short. If the horse tries to stretch its neck, it is harshly corrected by means of the curb and the spurs. We have seen this over and over and captured it on film. Horses go in the hyperflexed position – not for a few moments as officially claimed - but for several minutes at a time. Anky van Grunsven admits that she herself has not actually "a clue" how long these "brief spells" are. She doesn’t know. She thinks perhaps it’s less than fifteen minutes, although she isn’t sure. As Anky says: "Time flies when you’re having fun." We have this on film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svOBsSdjUvU

It is unthinkable that the FEI is not aware that hyperflexion of the neck is obtained by insensitive use of the bits. It is unthinkable that the FEI does not know that horses are subjected to several minutes of rollkur at a time. But still, the federation states that the technique is allowable "when used by professionals", because officially, spells of hyperflexion last no longer than 20 seconds (Sjef Janssen, Rollkur workshop Lausanne, 2006).

It is a bit of a pickle for the FEI. To ban hyperflexion of the neck, the FEI would have to not only admit that its most prolific trainer told a big, fat lie to the delegates of the 2006 workshop. A ban would also be the same as a confession to years of systematic animal cruelty on an unbelievable scale. And to a complete failure of the FEI to live up to its own Code of Conduct, which states that the welfare of the horse must be paramount at all times.

On the other hand, to ignore and allow the not so spectator friendly aspects of the sport is an invitation to animal rights groups to come and join the party. Having secured a third place in the freestyle in Odense, a grinning Patrik Kittel posed with Anky van Grunsven and Edward Gal in mink coats from a fur-factory which sponsored the show. There’s a lovely photo of the three of them looking very happy and completely oblivious to how they couldn’t really possibly – even if they tried – constitute a redder rag in the face of animal lovers everywhere.

So what can be done? Where is the FEI to turn? It would seem there is no way out of this for the sport of dressage. The FEI is damned if it does and it’s damned if it doesn’t. Except that, happily, it is now possible to measure rein tension electronically and thus introduce objective scores for lightness and submission. By introducing electronic rein tensiometry in all FEI sports, the federation can kill two birds (and hopefully, no more horses) with one stone. There will be no need to ban hyperflexion and tread on anyone’s toes. And nobody will ever win a ribbon on a horse which has been drilled through several hours of rollkur, habituating its mouth to relentless pressure and making it nearly impossible to halt.

Politically, this is the best thing that could happen to the FEI, although they probably don’t know it yet. The federation is caught between demanding superstars who rule the roost and the imminent threat of PETA picking up the phone and telling Rolex they have three and a half minutes to get the Hell out of horsesport before the poop hits the fan.

In doubt as to whether rein tensiometry is enough? Australian researchers have identified a method to use telemetric (wireless) accelerometry to chart the horse’s rhythm, straightness and stride length. They can even measure the nasal plane, making it impossible for judges to overlook when a horse is behind the vertical. We are not suggesting that we replace judges with robots, tempting as the notion might appear at this time. But by having objective measures for all to see, takes the pressure off the judges to do what they do best: Appraise the artistic value of the ride. At the same time, riders will be forced to prepare their horses correctly and sympathetically, as it is not possible to coerce a horse to comply with the FEI rules for dressage. Go and read the rules on www.fei.org - they constitute a small literary miracle. First authored in 1921 – that’s before Disney – it is a work of such compassionate, patient and insightful horsemanship as to never be paralleled before or since. If dressage is abusive, it’s because the FEI is not enforcing these rules.

It is understandable that the video clip of Watermill Scandic has caused grief and outrage in the horse loving community. The zombie-like resignation with which the stallion accepts the pain of whatever makes his tongue loll out. The seeming indifference of the rider, who doesn’t even give his horse a break upon noticing the problem. The fact that the Chief Steward didn’t think it pertinent to act. And the knowledge that this is the way to ride today, if one has any hope of making it to stardom. But this is not dressage. This is an imitation of dressage. Perhaps only sporadic fits of true dressage have ever existed through history – we may stand on the brink of a new golden age. If you want to make a change, don’t accuse, don’t despair, don’t look back. If you want to make a change, look forward – embrace the science and technology which alone can save equestrian sport from extinction. Unless you have a better idea.