Blue Tongues at World Cup Qualifier
Watermill Scandic
I am angry and sick at this video. Rollkur is abuse, pure and simple.
Swedish rider Patrick Kittel, warming up for at least 2 hours under the eye of his trainer, Sjef Janssen
http://www.youtube.com/user/eponatv#p/u
Article from Epona--
Blue Tongues at World Cup Qualifier
By: Luise Thomsen and Julie Taylor
A quick glance at the warm up arena at the World Cup dressage qualifier of the season in Odense, Denmark, revealed hyperflexed horses and blue tongues.
For a minimum of two hours, Swedish Olympic rider Patrik Kittel trained his stallion, Watermill Scandic, in various degrees of hyperflexion, on Friday ahead of Saturday's Grand Prix Special. EPONA.tv was passing by the warm up at 3.45 pm, and at this time, the rider was well into his session. At circa 5.45, the session ended.
During the first part of the training session, the horse's tongue was briefly showing. The tongue was clearly blue, and flopped limply from the horse's mouth. However, Patrik Kittel was quick to notice, and halted the horse before reaching for the muzzle with the hand furthest away from the camera. Afterwards, the tongue did not reappear. EPONA.tv's caught the revealing moment on film.
During the training session, EPONA.tv spoke to a spectator who claimed to have notified one of the show's officials of the prolonged hyperflexion. Odense's Chief Steward confirms to EPONA.tv that a complaint was lodged against Patrik Kittel's riding, but it was not deemed necessary to comment or take action, because Kittel was no worse than other riders using the same method.
EPONA.tv has spoken to Patrik Kittel, and asked him if he thinks he is riding in accordance with the FEI Code of Conduct.
"I think you should send the questions in an email along with the footage, so I can give it to my lawyers," said Patrik Kittel. EPONA.tv follows up by asking whether he himself is unaware of whether he rides in accordance with the FEI Code of Conduct.
"Of course I do. Otherwise a steward would do something about it. But I don't want to discuss it with you now. Have a good day," concludes the rider.
According to the website of Anky van Grunsven, Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic are trained by Dutch chef d'equipe Sjef Janssen, and the pair finished third in Sunday's freestyle, which was the first World Cup qualifier of the season.
Blue tongue due to ischaemia
"When we see dressage horses with blue tongues, it's because blood circulation is reduced in the tongue. When the blood supply is reduced, tissue hypoxia ensues in the tongue, and it turns blue," says Marianne Dahl, DVM, a Danish equine welfare specialist. She elaborates:
"The explanation is in the horse's mouth and it's the curb bit and rein tension which cause the problem. As long as a horse is not bitted, the tongue is relaxed and takes up the entire oral cavity. The tongue is a very dextrous and sensitive organ. In a well fitted curb, the tongue can still be relaxed and fill out the oral cavity as long as there is no rein tension. The moment the rider puts tension into the reins, the angle of the curb to the mouth is altered, and pressure on the tongue is increased. The tongue, which consists of muscle tissue, becomes tense and may be flattened."
"If the tension is high - which is to say that there is a marked change in the angle between the shank of the bit and the bars of the horse's mouth - and if the pressure is held for a prolonged period, ischaemia and hypoxia may follow. The tongue will become discoloured and turn blue or purple. If the chain on the curb is tight, the pressure on the tongue will be stronger, and if the nose band is tight, so the horse can't open its mouth, the pressure on the tongue will be even stronger still."
"Hypoxic muscle tissue is extremely painful. So therefore, it's completely unacceptable to subject a horse to riding techniques which causes hypoxic discolouration of the tongue," believes Marianne Dahl Jensen.
This is so terribly sad--it just breaks my heart. Unfortunately, it seems to happen in so many forms of competition--where winning is more important than the welfare of the horse.
AntwortenLöschenwhy isn't this issue brought to the attention of the Princess in charge of the FEI. What good is a princess or queen if she has not authority over the FEI? If someone knew how to do an email petition, and circulate it worldwide, we could submit this petition through one of the awareness groups like Xenophon Classical or even annonimously signed by 10,000 people it might get the attention. We are watching CIRCUS RIDING take over the FEI Dressage. This is not a matter of opinion. It is fact. This kind of Charlatainism has been around for centuries and was written about by Seeger (160 years ago) and many others. So the tendancy to take short cuts and subjugate the horse to servitude has always been present. It is in the realm of human nature, just as being kind, patient, and empathetic is in the realm of human nature.
AntwortenLöschenWhat is alarming it that the lack of authority in the FEI. And hence the rise of the lowest of the lowly riders to the surface, Turning what could be an art into a FREAK show where animals are mistreated.
The process of the errosion of the standards has been gradual since the 1980s. I cite the retirement of Ahlerich as the beginning of the decline. Tracing how this actually happened a study of recent history that is not as urgent as stopping the immediate insanity.
Fascinating information I had no idea. Thank heavens I only use a snaffle, and learned not to get behind the bit!
AntwortenLöschenShame, I've always loved dressage, because I was under the idea that it was unity between rider and horse.. and that it couldn't be achieved through abuse.
AntwortenLöschenI hope there are consequences for that abusive rider.
please take the time to read Dr. Ritter's comments. He is very right in every way. We must be organized. Xenophon Press is soliciting book manuscripts that expose Rollkur and logically, scientifically explain the reasons why rollkur is so bad for horses.
AntwortenLöschenPlease submit to
Richard Williams
Xenophon Press
rfwilliams37@hotmail.com
www.XenophonPress.com
There are abuses in every discipline....power and greed lead humans to do horrible things to animals and other people. I'm glad to see some really good ideas of to bring an end to this abuse.
AntwortenLöschenI was at the FEI Windsor Europeans in August and I saw this sort of riding in the training ring, with riders using draw reins to achieve the Rollkur position, including one person I believe to be a Dutch rider (I won't name names because I don't know the circuit riders well enough to be sure of my identifications). It wasn't Gal who I did see working Tortilas for about 10 minutes. The entire time he was occupied drawing the horse's head right round, first one way, then another. He was still doing it when I left. Tortilas did his test two hours later and entered the ring soaked in sweat (and it was by no means hot in Windsor). The standard of the riding I saw there ensured I won't be going to any dressage tests in future - it's just too infuriating and depressing to see marks thrown at people despite wretched riding and desperately miserable horses. I especially deplore this "braced" seat which seems to be in fashion now - forgive my ignorance of the technical terms - where the rider is constantly leaning back behind the vertical with a death grip on the reins, lower legs more often in front of the girth than not, and thighs braced under the knee rolls of the saddle, to improve their pulling power, I suppose. Virtually every horse was being ridden on a *tight* curb rein, so the cheek piece of the curb bit was nearly horizontal to the ground. Consequently, virtually every horse there was constantly behind the vertical themselves, going on the forehand with hocks trailing out behind. There were plenty of extravagant goose-stepping extended trots, but the half passes were the meanest little mincing things you ever saw, as the horses' natural trot in many cases seemed to be reduced to a scuttle.
AntwortenLöschenIn future I'll save my money for training and shows at the Spanish Riding School. I visited in September and saw better riding than anything I saw at Windsor, with horses who worked with great willingness and spirit. No dragging on the curb reins there - I watched horses performing beautifully in shows where their curb rein was lying virtually loose against their neck. In training I saw horses wearing the Fulmer snaffle producing all the steps and movements of the classical school including piaffe and passage. It was wonderful to see horses moving forward freely with their heads high in the natural position so you could admire their handsome faces - unlike their poor competitive colleagues, consistently overbent with their chins rivetted to their chests. It was a pleasure to see riders sitting upright and flexible with wonderful independent seats which didn't require hanging on by the mouth or bracing against the saddle. It was also a pleasure to see that see the only time horses were required to turn their heads right round was to accept a lump of sugar from their riders :-)
The results of this sane and humane approach were apparent: consistently good performances and moments when dressage went beyond technical accuracy and became true art: a work of beauty, grace, and harmony between horse and rider. Thank goodness there is still riding like this in the world. Long may it continue!
Ermine,
AntwortenLöschenYour post really points out the absolute importance of the continuance of places like the Spanische Hofreitschule. The art of Dressage is preserved and celebrated as a true union between horse and rider. The stallions are happy in their work and it shows in the beauty of their movements, the expression in their eyes. They are athletes who have been taught, trained and encouraged to be at the very top of their art. Their muscles, bodies and minds are developed slowly to enable them to perform the most demanding of movements without pain, force or fear. They continue to perform happily into their 20's, sound, healthy and very, very much loved by their riders.
Romy
Yet another example of the torture and abuse that horses suffer in the name of "dressage". This is not uncommon, Patrik Kittel is just unfortunate in that he was filmed at the moment that the blue tongue was protruding. He is going to be the subject of a backlash I fear, when the backlash ought to be directed at the body in charge who is permitting this abuse to take place.
AntwortenLöschenI watched a "dressage demo" this week by a rider who is aspiring to be on our English Paralympic team in 2012. Most disappointing was the way the poor horse assumed the overbent position the second the rein contact was taken up.
Surely things have to change in competitive dressage soon? It's just abuse in the name of money, why is it allowed to happen? Totilas is case in point - a beautiful and talented horse, but one which will be permanently lame in a few years due to training techniques. I would be willing to put money on that. But who cares, because he's already achieved his record-breaking GP scores at only nine years old, so his future career as a cash cow, oops, I mean breeding stallion is assured...
I watched the video and it just made my heart sink. Why anyone thinks they have a right to do this to another living creature is beyond me and to be regularly subjected to this treatment is criminal, literally. And then to be praised for it in the international dressage community is a shocker - this looks so obviously abusive and coerced, how can it be rewarded? Even on a gut level, it just so clearly seems harmful. It is not beautiful or harmonious or inspiring. It does not demonstrate a partnership or sense of trust between horse and rider. It leaves me feeling sick to my stomach and wanting to rescue the horse.
AntwortenLöschenI love to see horses ridden that are joyful in their work, light on on the aids, confident, and even maybe slightly cheeky sometimes! Maybe I am just overly sentimental and naive but I consider my horses to be my friends and teachers. I do not feel the need to try and annihilate their spirits.
There is a petition addressed to the FEI against hyperflexion linked from this discussion board:
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.ultimatedressage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=171711
I think Dr Ritter is wholly right and makes some very useful suggestions about other actions riders and spectators can take against Rollkur. I wish the SRS could take a lead in this and show the dressage world what in some places seems to have become a distant memory - well-trained horses performing at the highest level without mental or physical torture. Perhaps the forthcoming US tour in 2010 will be an opportunity for the School to demonstrate the true standards of classical dressage, and to encourage a return to them among dressage riders at all levels. I can't imagine why anyone would *want* to watch extreme circus-riding and miserable horses once they have seen dressage as it should be: beautiful; harmonious - and very moving. Unfortunately there seem to be precious few chances to see riding like that these days.
In the past, the SRS had training programs in place for people who were not planning to stay at the school, but who wanted to learn true classical dressage. These people went out after their time at the school and taught others what they had learned. Maybe it is time to begin this again.
AntwortenLöschenRomy
That would be amazing if they would reinstitute the training programs. The above video is truly frightening and disheartening. It is really sad to see dressage turned into the antithesis of what it is supposed to be. Having more instructors/clinicians armed with the kind of knowledge and expertise these programs would teach would be a way to help counter-balance where the sport seems to be headed.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo8W2fUjdM4
AntwortenLöschenThis is the uncut version of the video sequence, which shows the KWPN stallion, Watermill Scandic, being ridden in the hyperflexed/rollkur position with its blue tongue lolling out at the World Cup dressage qualifier in Odense, Denmark in October 2009.
It has been stated that the original video did not accurately represent events because part of the footage had been slowed, and part had been edited out. Whilst editing ones footage is a normal part of a journalistic process, and by no means devalues ones work, here is the entire sequence in its uncut state. For good measure.
Sorry about the shaky bits this is what unedited footage sometimes looks like :)
Luise & Julie, Epona.tv
This is AvG's "non-answer" when questioned about hyper-flexion and rollkur. Basically she justifies it's use by herself and others because they are "upper level" riders.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svOBsSdjUvU
That's AvG alway's say in her clinic's "don't try this at home". And i thinking than why you give a clinic to people ? The will learn something !!! And the basic riders do wat she is doing .They will copy their favirit because AvG won's 3 x gold !!!
AntwortenLöschenLast weekend we 're stable manager at a Friesian horse show. And our place was next the prakitice arena. I saw one training her horse hyperflex /rollkur or somethings look like i don't know. But the basic rider was fixing the horse it was not nice to see poor horse !!! So we asked a official but they doing nothing ???? I don't know why yeah the rider was a favorit i believe ?
Sometime i shame that i come from the Netherlands. Because they call it the Hollandse school ?
yes it is becoming know as 'the Dutch Way' perhaps the Dutch people should take a stand and just say NO to Rollkur. Furthermore that the Dutch people dont want AVG and her tribe representing their method to the world.
AntwortenLöschenthe horse behind the bit, the wig wagging of the head past the shoulder blades, the wooden seat. this is a "style" that abuses the horse. many of these unknowing professionals receive kudos from the amateurs and nonriders that think this roundness of the neck is "pretty". yanking on the reins, riding with wide reins should be stopped altogether. if horses could talk.....
AntwortenLöschenhere's a really 'nice' explanation of Rollkur
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UwqyMCr_7c
watch and learn,
we need to collect all of these sources
one day we will look back on this controversy
once it is put to rest
I think it is time for all four schools, Le Cadre Noir de Saumur,
AntwortenLöschenReal Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, Escola Portuguesa d' Arte Equestre and
Spanische Hofreitschule, to take a stand. Displaying a united front would give them much more impact. But such a move would take, as the spanish say, "Cojones". Given the atmosphere of international competition, such a stand would be unwelcome (to say the least) by the competitive dressage world, including the FEI and could be seen as politically incorrect to denounce practices in other countries. A very strong personality is needed, such as Podhajsky was, to stand up to those who practice this abuse and those in authority who turn a blind eye to it.
Trouble is, the competition riders see themselves as a world apart from the classical schools. They think dressage has "moved on" from the classical principles. Richard Davison, who I believe is a former SRS pupil, actually said in public recently that he thinks the SRS is "old-fashioned", and all but said that rollkur is good.
AntwortenLöschenThe only way this can change is for the FEI to take a stand. But that means growing some cojones and facing up to the big money and hot shot lawyers who would be against it. A certain well-know Dutch lady's husband is all too quick to call in his legal team, after all....
What we all can do as seriously concerned and outraged horse-people is to follow the ideas of Dr. Thomas Ritter, as I posted in an earlier comment. Let the sponsors of these riders know you have had enough, write to magazines, tell manufacturers you don't want any products that are associated with trainers/riders that use this practice. All of his ideas are good, and we can all follow as many as apply to each of us. Let sponsors start pulling their money and riders will have a major incentive to stop.
AntwortenLöschenRomy
Exactly. The professional dressage riders know full well that riding a test in SRS style will not win them anything (hollow laugh), so they have no desire to learn the School's methods - the methods of classical dressage, in other words. Until the FEI actually judges by its own rule book, that won't change.
AntwortenLöschenIronically the amateur riders are far more likely to benefit from the School's teachings, through the clinics run by individual SRS Bereiter during their holidays. I think these are a great way to promote correct and humane riding and training methods. You would think that professional riders would jump at a chance to learn from the Bereiter but sadly it seems the School's methods and traditions are regarded as irrelevant by many. "Irrelevant" in the sense of, not turning my horse into a flailing octopus as per the current fashion. I am reminded of Podhajsky's comment that horses do not change, so new methods need to be scrutinized very carefully.
Related to the original subject of this item, please find the own reaction of that Swedish rider to this matter.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/patrik-kittel-interview
Related to the discussion above, please allow me to offer a different perspective.
AntwortenLöschenLet's state, that a human can train for and perform in 3 different directions:
-Athletics
-Ballet
-Circus acrobatics
And let's state then, that for all these directions of physical performances comparable -or even the same- physical training is needed. Only the end goals in performance are different. Therefore, after a certain basic level of common comparable training, the specialism towards the specific goal will be different. But nevertheless all within the limits of the physical possibility of the human body. In order to get old properly...
Up till now, I think everybody could agree with this.
Let's pick up my diversion into the equestrian world now.
Let's state, that a horse can be trained for and perform in 3 different directions: (beside others, of course)
-Dressage sport
-Classical dressage
-Circus dressage
And let's state then, that for all these directions of physical performances comparable -or even the same- physical training is needed. Only the end goals in performance are different. Therefore, after a certain basic level of common comparable training, the specialism towards the specific goal will be different. But nevertheless all within the limits of the physical possibility of the equine body. In order to get old properly...
I think, when I put it like this, everybody could agree with this.
But.. what goes wrong (severely wrong sometimes....) in daily practice? The limits of possibilities of the (human or equine) body are not respected. And/or the demands of the specific discipline are increasing, beyond the limits of the possible. The 2- or 4-legged athlete/dancer/performer will be overloaded. Physically but also mentally. And won't get old in a healthy way...
For me there is not such a thing as "dressage sport" or "circus" is bad, and "classical" is the ideal.... During the last decades I have seen too much, in all disciplines...
My conclusion: I fully agree with the ancient statement "there is only such a thing as "good riding" or "bad riding".
I really can enjoy the athletic games, a ballet theater, a circus performance
I really can enjoy the dressage competition, a classical riding performance, a circus show.
But only when it is good. And with that I mean: an outstanding performance with full respect towards the limits of the physical (and mental) possibilities.
And I judge the performances from the perspective of the end goals of the specific discipline.
So please do not compare a solo of the SRS "auf blanker Kandare" with a Lipizzaner, with a free style dressage performance with a warmblood. Or a solo performance of a circus rider, with Spanish walk and kneeling. That is no use. Different disciplines, different end goals.
Just judge if it is good riding or bad riding. If the horse is fully respected. If there is a synergy between rider and horse. If the highest thinkable performance for thát specific combination within thát specific discipline has been reached.
And yes, all 3 disciplines could learn from each other. (and from all other thinkable equine disciplines ;-). Comparing the basics of their goals, and finding the similarities of their training methods in order to achieve their goals. Or even achieve cross-overs (many Russian athletes continued their careers in the circus)
So....
I do not like those juvenile athletes from the former eastern European, or Asiatic countries, fully performing on the age of 14 - fully crippled at the age of 20.
And I do not like 8 year old horses, performing in Grandprix-championships with unbalanced unnatural gaits.
And I do not like skinny, tight up 5 year old horses with an inside look and ears in the neck, trampling in a circus piste....
For me it is (just) a matter of good riding or bad riding....
I would like to recommend a book: "Medizinische Reitlehre" by Dr. Robert Stodulka - unfortunately it´s probably still not available in English, but for me at the moment the greatest book about biomechanic, anatomy and rehabilitation medicine for horses...
AntwortenLöschenI agree with all you say, Atjan. That said, I feel the only way to stop any abuse as it is uncovered is to stop rewarding it with winning. There is room for different types of dressage in the world, each with its own end goal. But there is no room for abusive training or riding, neither horse nor rider should suffer in any way, at any time, even if as the proponents of rollkur state "It is only done for a short time."
AntwortenLöschenYes it is a matter of good vs. bad riding; what I want is for judges/stewards to stop rewarding bad. Carding does not really work that well. The riders make a huge protest and judges/stewards back off. But in the ring, the judge must know the difference between good and bad riding and reward appropriately. Constantly losing is what will change bad riding from being seen as the ideal.
Some negative key-items related to this:
AntwortenLöschenIgnorance, a lack of knowledge, but also indifference towards the horse and his capabilities. As a living creature, not an instrument for personal success.
And don't underestimate the stream and influence of the silent majority.... if "everybody" is doing it to "perform", why should not I do it likewise....? Without knowledge or common sense.
So for me the real solution is to improve the knowledge about the physical and mental possibilities of the horse.
I agree with Brigitta that "Medizinische Reitlehre" is a very informative book about this subject (although I was not so impressed by Mr. Studolka's video's). And there is a lot of literature (in German, anyway) about correct training principals nowadays.
And fortunately there is a contra-wave going on against roll-kur and other training methods which may lead towards horse-abuse. But be aware: the difference between use and abuse should be found in a most objective way, without (false) sentiments!
Knowledge - knowing what we are really doing, that is the basic matter.
You are the personal trainer and coach of your horse! Learn about him-learn from him.
I agree atjanh that knowledge is the key. But I still lay the blame for this disgraceful riding firmly at the door of the FEI for not upholding their own judging standards. Whilst people are winning using this bad riding, then the uneducated will be looking to the competition winners for their "education", believing that what wins competitions must be right. And so it perpetuates.
AntwortenLöschenIf the FEI were coming down hard on bad riding, and only rewarding correct classical training and riding, then that is what would spread out to the masses, people would be clamouring to learn all about this "new" wonderful method of riding.
Whilst competition riding is so high profile and powerful within the horse world, the FEI should be doing all it can to promote the very best standards of riding, not the very worst.
You and I both know enough to turn our backs on riding like this, but there are many, many more who don't know enough. They don't understand about biomechanics and gymnastic work and correct training, and don't see it as relevant because it does not win competitions. Like it or not, that's the society we live in today.
We need the FEI to promote the very best riding as that which wins competitions. That's the only way you will persuade the general riding and competing public that knowledge of the physical and mental possibilities of the horse is necessary and desirable. Until then, they will remain convinced that harsh bits, tight nosebands, water ski-ing position and heavy hands is the way to dominate the horse to success.
you are right. we need a real leader of the FEI that has actually READ the rules and guidelines of the FEI and is not using it as a status symbol. but look back to Dr. Ritter's comments. The problem is the corruption that is rampant within the FEI. This is why nothing has been done and nothing will be done unless we get the press involved. Thank god for EPONA TV and their polite but probing questions and video coverage posts.
AntwortenLöschenYou are right about the amateurs looking to the winners. I have students that are new to dressage and are all fired up about going to the WEG in Lexington. How do I tell them that they are participating in a sport that is split apart? and that they will not see what I am teaching at the WEG or if they do, it will be the odd rider here and there, not placing. I think we need to organize media exposure of this issue with USA TODAY alerting them to the issue ahead of time.
Yes, I fully agree, that the responsibility in accepting these extremities is laying with the FEI. But.... within all involved groups of people (trainers, riders, owners, officials) there are so many people who agree with those who claim that the roll kur system can not harm the horse. And they have so much influence...
AntwortenLöschenWhat I tried to state in my earlier explanations is, that for me the present way in which the dressage sport is developing, is so far away from the "classical" that it can be seen as a totally different discipline. In every thinkable equestrian discipline you can determine abuse. But within the present fashionable wave within the present dressage sports circuit, the physical and mental limits of the horse are to often not respected (indifference) or seen (ignorance/lack of knowledge).
Those from the sports circuit who claim that the SRS is "old-fashioned" are not aware of the fact, that they are commenting a category that is not theirs... They could state likewise about western, endurance, eventing etc... or the circus...
Apparently they are so vane, that they assume that they bear all wisdom and the key to progression. But what do they want to reach in "their" world? The description of the almost 90-years old FEI-regulations is quite clear. The goals of the modern dressage sport seem to be goals of extremity.
Their vanity blockades the possibility to exchange knowledge with other, well (or even better..) experienced equestrian categories. Like the "classical", with the SRS in front. The strange thing is that they think that they are renewing, refreshing, modern in their way of riding.... But nothing is new... the same stream we can determine in the beginning of the 19th century, with "re-newer" Baucher in front....
Again... the keyword in order to turn this "renewal" wave is knowledge. Knowledge for the people within the FEI-board, the judges, the common audience.
">
AntwortenLöschenThis is a scintigraphy showing the areas of pain in a horse after using the Rollkur training. The picture is of the horses back towards his neck and head. His head is looking to the right. The red coloration shows the areas of very high pain experienced by the horse.
Thank you Romy!
AntwortenLöschenPerfect proof of long term rollkur traning!
What a shame that scintigraphy doesn't show the whole of the neck. More concerning than the red area at the wither is the apparent white area at the poll - is the white area worse than red? I'm guessing so, as there is the beginnings of white in the middle of the red area at the wither, but then LOADS of white at the head/top of neck.
AntwortenLöschenI'd be very interested to see a series of these scintigraphy scans on rollkured horses, and see if there is any correlation between the areas of pain revealed, and the most common areas for kissing spine problems in dressage horses....
Thank you Thamar, for you contribution and cry-out. :-(
AntwortenLöschenhanneke815 wrote on Oct 27: Sometime i shame that i come from the Netherlands.
I know that feeling....
AntwortenLöschenAtjan, Thamar, Hanneke,
The Netherlands is not to blame for this abuse. It is everywhere. It simply happens that some of the riders/trainers from the Netherlands who practice this are very high profile and attract a lot of attention. The beautiful way you three interact with your horses, the concern and love you have for all horses, and the deep knowledge you all have as horse-people shows that this is not the norm in your country but an abberation of abuse surfacing everywhere.
Romy
This is a great site, with good information, Specific Injuries to Dressage Horses From Being Ridden Behind the Vertical for Prolonged Periods:
AntwortenLöschenhttp://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechonthebit3.html
I was just about to post a link and you beat me to it! I'm so proud to be a member of the BHS today, they are the first organisation, nationally or internationally, to speak out in this way since this incident. I believe Patrick Print has received overwhelming support from members and the dressage community since writing this letter.
AntwortenLöschenAnd don't you just love the "no comment" comment in the last paragraph?! Very well written :-)
Here is a statement, albeit a brief one, from FEI Sport Director David Holmes on the controversy surrounding Patrik Kittel and Scandic. This was made during the 2009 Global Dressage Forum.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://eurodressage.com/reports/shows/2009/09gdf/rep1.html
Es ist immer der Geist, der dahintersteckt. Wenn die Menschen verrohen und das Pferd als "Gerät" sehen, das zu funktionieren hat "Gas und Bremse müssen eingestellt werden", ein Pferd hat "bedienerfreundlich" zu sein (habe ich alles gelesen!), wenn keiner aufmerkt, dass das Pferd in Sklavenhaltung zusammengezogen wird, anstatt durch sensible Gymnastizierung schöner zu werden und zu strahlen, wenn in der Handy- und PC-Welt alles auf Knopfdruck abrufbar sein soll, dann betrügt sich der Mensch selbst um eines der schönsten
AntwortenLöschenMomente und um eigene Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Das aber heißt einen langen Weg zu gehen, wie es für jedes Menschsein überhaupt gilt, und dabei helfen uns auch die Pferde, sie haben uns so viel zu sagen...doch wenige hören noch zu....
Und wenn nun Verbote zum Tragen kommen, dann wird der unreflektierte, erfogsbesessene Mensch nur neue Tricks erfinden, wie er diese umgehen kann.
Jeder, der ernsthaft sucht, bekommt Antworten.
Es sprechen Bände die große Zahl der "austherapierten" Pferde, die glücklichen kommen in Hände, die helfen....aber die Aufgabe des Pferdes auf der Welt ist die
unglaublich große Liebe und Geduld, den Menschen zu begleiten und zu helfen
auf dem Erdenweg. Und dabei zeigen sie eine unendliche Bereitschaft, alles mitzumachen, und davor habe ich großen Respekt, welcher Mensch ist für den anderen so voller Liebe hingegeben, dass er all die Schmach gedultig erträgt.
Manch Pferdeauge gerade älterer Pferde haben mir erzählt....
AntwortenLöschenFor what it is worth this is the FEI response. Seems like a generic response to any problem.
Response from FEI:
FEI Launches Investigation into Odense Dressage Warm-Up 26/10/2009
The FEI is aware of the video filmed at the FEI World CupTM Dressage qualifier at Odense (DEN) and posted on YouTube. FEI’s main concern has always been and will always be the welfare of the horse. We are taking the issues raised in the video and in the comments made by members of the public on social media and by email very seriously and have opened a full investigation. The conclusions of this investigation will be made public in due course
"FEI’s main concern has always been and will always be the welfare of the horse."
AntwortenLöschenPah.
I thought this was an interesting article on Rollkur with some quotes from Klaus Balkenhol.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.sustainabledressage.com/rollkur/how.php
Event: Heuschmann meets Philippe Karl Verdener Halle on Saturday 21.11.
AntwortenLöschenanimare=beleben, atmen
AntwortenLöschenanimus=die Seele, der Geist (Herz, Gefühl,Gemüt etc.)
anima= der Lufthauch, der Wind, der Atem, die Seele
ANIMAL= das beseelte Wesen-Tier
Keine Achtung, kein Respekt, keine Liebe....was bleibt, ist dann so etwas!!
A year ago at Donaueschingen, Scandic bit his tongue while being ridden in deep rollkur. That time, Kittel had to stop riding. The URL is for the whole article (in German) from St.Georg magazine, I have posted the relevant part here, with translation.
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.st-georg.de/blog/detail.php?objectID=3382&class=61
>Das Blut in den Adern gefrieren ließ allerdings die Trainingseinheit, die Kittel seinem Fuchs am Donnerstag angedeihen ließ: Kopf auf die Brust gezogen. Immer ordentlich eng und feste (!!) links und rechts "gestellt". So lange, bis der Fuchs selbst die Notebremse zog. Er biss sich wohl auf die Zunge, zumindest lief dem Pferd Blut aus dem Maul. Kein Steward war da, dem das hätte auffallen können. Als der Blutstrom nicht zu stoppen war, selbst als die Pflegerin zum zweiten Mal mit einem Lappen routiniert das Maul sauber wischte, hörte Kittel auf. <
The writer talks first about the frigid temperatures, just above freezing in the morning. Then s/he goes on to say that "one training session that Kittel did to his chestnut on Thursday made the blood freeze in the veins: head pulled onto the chest. Constantly and firmly (!!) "positioned" tightly left and right. Until the chestnut pulled the emergency brake himself. He bit his tongue. There was blood running out of the horse's mouth, anyway. There was no steward who could have noticed it. When the bloodflow couldn't be stopped, even after the groom wiped the mouth clean with a rag the second time, Kittel stopped." The writer adds the adverb "routiniert" to qualify the verb "to wipe", which suggests experience, practice, as if the groom was used to having to wipe the horse's mouth.
Thomas Ritter
AvG triumphant in World Cup Final in Hertogenbosch 2008.
AntwortenLöschenA close up of her horse, Salinero. He is most definitely not happy or celebrating. Less triumphant: Salinero’s tongue is purple, and he’s trying to suck it up away from the bits. His jaw and poll are locked in defence, and he’s locked on the forehand.
You know what y'Anky says (quotable quotes)
AntwortenLöschen"Time flies when you are having fun!"
and
"I haven't got a clue!"
right, that is very apparent, at least her ego is intact with her special medal around her neck.
Remember Ahlerich and Dr. Klimke? back then Ahlerich (the horse) was the world champion, now y'Anky (the rider) is the world champion.
Notice the shift in whom we are celebrating.
Thanks to the "kick, y'Ank and jerk" school of charlatainism.
AntwortenLöschenLove that description. I think that is the new name of modern competitive dressage.
I really like your writing style, its not generic and extremly long and tedious like a lot of blog posts I read, you get to the point and I really enjoy reading your articles! Thanks for sharing..
AntwortenLöschenarticles
Your blog is very nice, I like it very much.
AntwortenLöschenjump higher