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FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne (SUI), 9 February 2010
FEI ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE RESOLVES ROLLKUR CONTROVERSY
Following constructive debate at the FEI round-table conference at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne today (9 February), the consensus of the group was that any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable. The group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable. The technique known as Low, Deep and Round (LDR), which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable.
The group unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must be sanctioned. The FEI will establish a working group, headed by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman, to expand the current guidelines for stewards to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The group agreed that no changes are required to the current FEI Rules.
The FEI Management is currently studying a range of additional measures, including the use of closed circuit television for warm-up arenas at selected shows.
The group also emphasised that the main responsibility for the welfare of the horse rests with the rider.
The FEI President HRH Princess Haya accepted a petition of 41,000 signatories against Rollkur presented by Dr Gerd Heuschman.
The participants in the FEI round-table conference were:
HRH Princess Haya, FEI President
Alex McLin, FEI Secretary General
Margit Otto-Crépin, International Dressage Riders Club Representative
Linda Keenan, International Dressage Trainers Club Representative
Sjef Janssen, Dressage Representative
Frank Kemperman, Chairman, FEI Dressage Committee (by conference call)
François Mathy, International Jumping Riders Club Representative
David Broome, Jumping Representative
Jonathan Chapman, Eventing Representative
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Representative
Tony Tyler, World Horse Welfare Representative
Ulf Helgstrand, President, Danish Equestrian Federation
John McEwen, Chairman, FEI Veterinary Committee
Dr Sue Dyson, Veterinary Representative
Dr Gerd Heuschman, Veterinary Representative
Prof. René van Weeren, Veterinary Representative
Jacques van Daele, FEI Honorary Steward General Dressage
Graeme Cooke, FEI Veterinary Director
Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage
John Roche, FEI Director Jumping and Stewarding
Catrin Norinder, FEI Director Eventing
Carsten Couchouron, FEI Executive Director Commercial
Richard Johnson, FEI Communications Director
41 thousand people.... what an excellent result !!!
AntwortenLöschenWords... only words....
AntwortenLöschenWell, let's be positive. There seems to be a redefinition, emphasizing the LDR-training method (accepted) and the hyperflex/rollkur (condemned). This means that those two single subjects must be described precisely, in order to make clear what is what.
And that may (what ever you may think of a LDR-based training) be a first step in preventing and avoiding all that terrible horse abuse as can be seen on all those awful pictures and video's, with heads pressed and pulled up to the chest.
But the question remains... where are the limits of both....? And will this be interpreted similarly everywhere, by every steward and judge ?
This might result in a same discussion as we have seen here on H&D about before-at-behind the vertical. With the same varieties and nuances. But with the only difference that the edges of those two entities "LDR" and "Hyperflex/Rollkur" are the edges of severe horse abuse....
And therefore the whole discussion about allowing anything in this working field remains very risky... and nontransparent.
Here's is a link from Eurodressage with a statement from the German Equestrian Federation:
AntwortenLöschenhttp://eurodressage.com/news/dressage/germany/2010/fn-rollkur.html
Their definitions are much better than the FEI's and appear to be enforceable. Hopefully we'll get a clearer statement from the FEI in the near future.
This is good news, indeed! Although I share Atjan's caution, I am hoping this is a substantial move in the right direction--one that improves the lives of these horses.
AntwortenLöschenYes Atjan, and dear Elaine, I completely agree with you both, there is alot for the FEI to do in defining that border between training and cruelty but what we have done, in raising the matter of Hyperflexion to them is a good start. Let's hope they see sense and say no to LDR too.
AntwortenLöschenThe trouble is, the FEI discussed rollkur several years ago, and released a similar wishy-washy statement saying rollkur was bad, but hyperflexion was ok in professional hands. Now they have simply renamed hyperflexion (previously rollkur) as LDR. What will the next name be? Because you can be sure that under these rules, the torture will continue.
AntwortenLöschenThere needs to be clear definition of what is and what isn't acceptable. And a ruling committee with the balls to start to punish people who flout the rules.