Samstag, 6. Februar 2010

Klaus Balkenhol Letter to The FEI for the February 9th Meeting

(Translated)
Originally Sent Feb. 3 2010
Federation Equestre International
Avenue Rumine 37
CH – 1005 Lausanne Rosendahl
SWITZERLAND

February 3, 2010

Dear Sirs and Madames:

We submit herewith some comments concerning your upcoming roundtable discussion, scheduled for February 9th, at which you will be establishing a final plan for the handling of the topic of Rollkur/Hyperflexion.

Those of us who have signed this letter wish to point out sharply that new or amended rules with regard to the accepted classical precepts of riding, which are contained in the guidelines written down in your Handbook, are absolutely superfluous and therefore unnecessary. These precepts, which the FEI has up until now felt obliged to uphold, are already fully developed, tried and tested! They are already recognized world-wide as authoritative, and as fair to the horse. Based on centuries of experience, they offer a stable and secure foundation even for today’s riding.

No changes may be made that constitute a burden to the well-being of the horse, either physically or mentally. If you accept riding in hyperflexion as a permissible training method, you legitimize aggressive riding. We protest that in the strongest possible terms!

As horse people, we expect the FEI to maintain unaltered their regulations, which have until now been valid, resting as they do upon the classical precepts of riding – for the good of the horses and the continued good repute of international equestrian sport.

The undersigned support this statement:

Klaus Balkenhol (Olympic medalist)

(Joined by, in alphabetical order)
- Laura Bechtolsheimer (British Record Holder, 3. Europameisterschaften 2009)
- Wilfried Bechtolsheimer (Trainer)
- Ingrid Klimke (Olympic medalist)
- Ruth Klimke (Vice President of the German Riders Union)
- Beezie Madden (Olympic medalist)
- John Madden (Trainer)
- Debbie McDonald (Olympic Bronze medalist)
- Susanne Miesner (Trainer)
- George Morris (Chef d’equipe USEF show jumping team, Olympic silver medalist)
- Martin Plewa (former German national Three-Day Event trainer, Director of the Riding and Driving School of Westfalia)
- Michael Putz (Trainer and judge)
- Klaus-Martin Rath (Trainer, member of the Dressage Committee of the German Olympic
Committee)
- Matthias Alexander Rath (German Meister 2009)
- Hinrich Romeike (Olympic medalist)
- Hubertus Schmidt (Olympic medalist)
- Günter Seidel (Olympic bronze medalist)
- Christine Stückelberger (Olympiic medalist)
- Paul Stecken (Trainer)
- Hans Günter Winkler (Olympic medalist)
- Harry Boldt, Dressur. Doppel-Olympiasieger, früherer Bundestrainer Dressur, GBR
- Beatrice Büchler-Keller, Swiss, FEI O-Richter
- Nadine Capellmann, Dressur, Olympiasiegrin
- Carsten Huck, Springen, Olympia Bronze-Gewinner
- Michael Klimke, Deuscther Meister, Dressur
- Ann Kathrinne Linsenhoff, Olympiasiegerin, WElt- und Europameisterin, Mitglied im FN-Präsidium
- Michael Robert, Olympia-Gewinner Bronze, Trainer

2 Kommentare:

  1. I know many of us were wondering what the meeting truly was about, since we hadn't seen an official announcement. So for those who might be wondering this is what they wrote to us.
    __________________________________________________________________________________


    Thank you for your email and your input.

    As announced last week, a Round Table conference will take place on 9 February 2010 in Lausanne. The meeting will deal with the issue of hyperflexion and interests groups from all sides of the debate such as riders, trainers, veterinarians, stewards, National Federations, welfare organisations and the FEI will be represented. FEI President HRH Princess Haya will also be in attendance.

    The objective of the meeting is, by taking into consideration all perspectives, to provide guidance for all those competing in the sport on what is and what is not allowed, what the implications for horse welfare are and to ensure the image of the sport is protected. Any guidance or statement that may result from this meeting will be applicable to all FEI disciplines.

    Kind regards,
    Malina Gueorguiev
    Communications Manager

    Fédération Equestre Internationale
    Avenue Rumine 37 NEW
    1005 Lausanne
    Switzerland

    AntwortenLöschen
  2. An open letter from Colonel Christian Carde, formerly Chief Rider of the Cadre Noir:

    http://www.ultimatedressage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=179426

    AntwortenLöschen