Please Help Spread This Message For Change
Recording of teleseminar with CAROLYN RESNICK
where Carolyn discusses why Rollkur is anti-dressage! – Carolyn Resnick to listen.
Recording of teleseminar with KLAUS FERDINAND HEMPFLING
where Klaus discusses the use of Rollkur now available – click KFH to listen.
The following video is very disturbing, heartbreaking even. It was taken at the World Cup dressage qualifier in Odense, Denmark during a warm-up of over two hours, with this horse being ridden in various stages of hyperflexion. Although the horse suffered so severely here, he was ridden for a futher 90 minutes. There was a complaint from one of the spectators but shockingly, the FEI steward chose not to react.
Video shown with permission of EPONA.tv – Read their accompanying article here
CLICK THIS LINE TO READ HOW YOU CAN HELP SPREAD THE MESSAGE
We know that a horse in hyperflexion has problems breathing, cannot see where he is going, is in a psychological state of learned helplessness, can end up with ossification of the poll and a number of other physical problems brought and yet because “everyone” is doing it, the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale – the equestrian sports governing body), refuses to take a stand.
This site has been put together by people who want to see an end to the often barbaric way horses are treated in modern dressage and we need your help…
The film is quite shocking and we wouldn’t blame you if you did not want to watch. However, by facing up to the uncomfortable truth, we hope you will be sufficiently horrified and saddened by the suffering of these horses, that you feel compelled to take action. In which case you have come to the right place.
There is astounding scientific evidence of the damage this type of training does to horses and it doesn’t have to be like this. We must use our collective voice for those who cannot speak to enlighten the authorities and trainers responsible.
We want to make this message go viral to alert as many people as possible and to catch the attention of the media.
You can lend your support by first commenting below and then by going to the How To Help page to find out what you can do next. Thank you so much.
Very upsetting…rider should be ashamed and have been asked to leave the ring…PERMANENTLY. Clearly the rider has no idea of what dressage is…
I couldn’t finish the video it was so long. I can’t believe there isn’t more protest to this BS and that NO ONE aside from intelligent horse people seem to be able to see how disgusting this brutal technique is. Uneducated people that have nothing to do with horses but watch the sport occasionaly get angry when they see a rider carrying a whip when riding in public, yet they look at this and think it’s fine? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Big Ego’s are everywhere in competition and for sure there is one riding this beautiful horse!! I wonder if this stallion is ever allowed to come up for air or stretch out his neck!!!
Having people like Carolyn and Klaus speaking on this subject can only do good. Go Natural,go Classical, keep the paces pure.
I agree with Ingar: “If practicing Natural Horsemanship no artificial aids will be needed, period. My horse side passes, backs, half halts, turn on the haunches, etc. brideless. People, get real about your horse. There is only one way to be with you horse…Natural!!!!!”.
Dr Gerd Heuschmann is attending a meeting at FEI to investigate rollkur/hyperflexion. He is hoping to take this petitionwithhim with as many sinatures as possible so please sign.
http://www.wu-wei-verlag.com/neu/ua.php?Aktion=ChangeLang&LANG=en&DIR=gleiche
Thank you for all the good work that you and all the contributors do with this site for a great cause. I will keep a positive attitude towards positive change, and hope that the madness will end.
This is so disgraceful, the riding is disgraceful and cold with no feeling, you only have to look at the guy’s face to see that he has no love for this horse.
FEI take note!!!!
I agree, we should be booing those riders out of the ring who choose-(and it is their choice)-to train and compete their horses in this barbaric way.
Go Natural,go Classical, keep the paces pure.
This video is HORRIFIC! Besides this, many other forms of horse’sport’ are a disgrace to te horse. Check the videos on my hyves page:
http://www.ikhaatdierenbeulen.hyves.nl
This is a prime example of what not to do to your horse ever !!!!
Everyone interested should watch the DVD … IF HORSES COULD SPEAK !!!
I would like to see these people doing a dressage test in a bitless bridle , and then we might be able to see whos in control .
That is the most disgraceful example of animal abuse that I have seen. Putting an animal – any animal – through this sort of entertainment/sport based torture is cruelty beyond words. The man riding the horse should never be allowed near another animal again.
I was lucky that my eyes were opened up to how bad some training methods are before any real damage was done to my best friend, my beautiful horse. But I was inexperienced and relied on my riding instructor to teach me the right ways. Even my new riding instructor (whom I adore and teaches dressage in the classic Portuguese method which is a true art form) admits to initially learning herself under the Germanic method which has can be cruel. Whilst no one will ever agree what is the best, there are clearly cruel and kind methods based on scientific research.
It is not just hyperflexion – what about half of the products that are for sale in the local saddlery – some of the bits and spurs, etc. Even poorly fitting saddles can be an instrument of torture. Surely we should look at all the different forms of torture that we subject these beautiful animals to. I feel ashamed that I was pulled up at my riding school for having a very harsh bit. I had actually gone to the saddlery and asked the “expert” to sell me a gentle bit. How do you know if you can not trust those who are apparently there to help you.
We need a better way to educate all people about this topic.
It’s actually a negative point for the horses head to be behind the vertical in a test, so what’s the point! I think this was ignorance of the trainer. This horse has been so over conditioned to carry itself this way that the muscle memory would cause the horse to work in the same manner who ever was on it’s back now, bit or no bit and even on a free rein!
I dont believe that people who call themselves horse trainers actually know anything aout horses. To be honest a horse can carry itself beautifully already, its the ignorant trainer who have so much to learn. I wish people would train to become horsemen first (as they are the ones that need training) and not train horses so they think they can themselves horsemen!
Keep the comments coming everyone. This issue has to be addressed. Freedom, beauty and partnership can be our principles, we need look no further than the truth in our hearts to evidence that we are capable of being human, as humans we owe it to ourselves and our horses to act humanely. Once again we appear to have lost our way and horses are still carrying us unquestionably through our own inner conflict and ego driven desire’s, what a wasted opportunity it is for the retrieval of our own lost souls and damaged spirits each time we force our way into the heart and will of a horse. All joy is lost and our life experience becomes a series of meaningless achievments whilst we leave behind a path of destruction and pain. What a senseless waste of spiritual energy and a courageless path some people choose, I pity anyone who is unable to connect heart to heart with a horse.
At long last there is a growing awareness of the extreme cruelty imposed upon dressage horses, especially at higher levels of competition. No longer an art or a sport, the seeking of self-gratification in this way will no longer be tolerated by the general public and horse lovers everywhere. We are beginning to stand up and be counted, our combined voices will be heard, and changes will be made. It’s completely unacceptable to use horses as vehicles for our success and out-sized egos. Frustrated Olympians in particular need corralling until they see it’s indeed a hollow victory to gain medals by extreme force and coercion.
THANK YOU Corliss! I was very interested in this information which you have supplied: “The tongue hanging out, the overflexion, some horses just do this even out in pasture playing around and are NOT FORCED” – I think it would be invaluable to pass this on to researchers in the field – to my knowledge there is no film showing this behaviour in liberty while all other behaviours have by now been rather well documented by experts in the subject. If you could direct us to clear documented evidence of this – and in particular film footage confirming it is a regular and totally normal behaviour – I think you would have made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in question. It is incredible, isn’t it, that after all the thousands of hours of close scientific observation that have now been carried out, something as simple yet as relevant as this has not been documented or even observed!
One thing however I would take issue with you on – while I am inclined to agree with you that experience with horses is invaluable in forming opinions about training, I also suspect that it is just as possible to train thousands of horses badly, or cruelly, or blindly, as it is to train just one in harmony, and a spirit of joyful cooperation. Seeing that it is dead simple for a five-year-old child to scare the **** out of an 800kg stallion (for example) we might wonder if the true skill of the true horseperson is to achieve everything with the cheerful cooperation of the horse rather than plain bullying. Now THAT’s a challenge! THAT’s real horsepersonship. The rest is probably just bullying to some degree, but that does also reflect the attitude of our society in general, and after all, animals have always been sacrificed, in one way or another and this is just one more way of doing it – long live tradition, eh????
I am interested in dressage, but not if this is what it is. I will continue natural horsemanship, bitless bridle use, and see where it takes me. If I can’t compete using my humane methods, I don’t. I don’t change what is working and what is kind because the world is another way. If everyone took that philosophy for all aspects of their life, things would be different. Your heart tells you what is true and right. This can’t be. The person who said it was no big deal is blind. Bits, spurs, whips, and any kind of force are just not needed, we have the accomplishments of parelli and other natural horsemanship people to prove we don’t need artifical aids. good training, and reward and you can get horses on your side, enjoying the work and they can do anything. It is just not following your heart to do otherwise.
The video is the most clear example of the SADISM many “horselovers” perform towards horses. But this sadism is taught at many ponyclubs and rewarded by judges at all levels. The knowledge on how to do better is out there, and those people CHOOSE to torture their horses for the sake of winning a ribbon. If this is what “horselovers” do, I certainly do not love horses. I have a profound respect and admiration for them.
Ridiculous bs plea from folks who obviously have not trained hundreds of horses, and do not know that some horses do this naturally. The tongue hanging out, the overflexion, some horses just do this even out in pasture playing around and are NOT FORCED. This horse looks to me like he’s going otherwise just fine and unstressed. I totally agree with FEI’s stance. If anyone else disagrees, they are quite obviously so inexperienced with horses they might as well join PETA and have us all quit riding period.
In my region there are certain riders who I have seen beat their horses, and leave their horses with bloody spur marks. Along with very tight noseband at the show and hyper-flexion. Usually it will be hidden at the shows but at the barn it happens everyday. I am a young rider and although some people know the truth about their riding no one is willing to speak up. The riders do very good but the methods I think are inhumane. I don’t know what to do…
Patrik,
Stop riding because you suck! I mean you really suck bad along with some other top riders (one begins with the letter A…) who continue to utilize hyperflexion/rollkur and defend it. You’re ruining the enjoyment of the sport by your very presence at dressage competitions. People don’t respect you even if you have pretty ribbons and shiny medals. Pretty soon, spectators are going to start jeering the likes of you if the stewards don’t start acting soon to stop this type of riding. We’ve all had enough as this website clearly states.
Spectators at competitions,
Start speaking up loudly! One spectator complaint is actually pathetic from the blue tongue incident. Go for it! Make some noise at these competitions to the ring stewards. Boo at the sidelines. Do something. Bearing witness but staying silent is no longer an option. Stop being powerless and start speaking out loudly.
Erika
How is it that NO ONE jumped out into that ring and stopped it?
Why don’t we all agree to go out there, lock arms and yank that person OFF the abused animal.
Unbelievable.
Maybe that is what needs to happen.
Until sponsors and trainers stand up and continually demand humane riding this problem will always exist. When many uneducated sponsors see their horses winning after being trained in this manner they don’t ask questions. If the majority are winning, others will join suit to keep up in this everchanging sport, especially if you are making a living. It happens in all sports, but more often in sports supported by corporate sponsorship. Maybe warmup should be a portion of your score?
In reschooling many of these “ruined horse” I know how long it takes for them to come back mentally and to trust a riders hands. Not to mention the amount of myofascial damage that is done- time and again these horses don’t pass pre-purchases but they can’t find anything “structurally”. I find that most of these horses can’t even balance themselves when on a loose rein- I have actually have had some fall to their knees with me!
I also think the problem is only beginning. When you look at the new crops of horses that are being bred, many of them are incredibly hot, sensitive, with unbelievable movement- sounds good? Not even 10% of the riding population has the talent to sit or ride these horses. The thing that scares me most is that many horses are so “bred” they aren’t even comfortable in their own skin. This is often why riders resort to these types of gimics. Often not knowing they are doing harm and things escalade over time, one more flexion, one more kick. It is also the burden of the buyers to quit buying these type of horses and purchase horses with true movement -through their back- on their own. I truly pity those stuck in the middle.
If practicing Natural Horsemanship no artificial aids will be needed, period. My horse side passes, backs, half halts, turn on the haunches, etc. brideless. People, get real about your horse. There is only one way to be with you horse…Natural!!!!!.
..if we all comment and then pick ONE dressage club, or the FEI and email your thoughts, it will have a much wider and more immediate impact, and be in support of the petition.
This isn’t anti dressage-dressage can be beautiful, it’s about narcissism, cruelty and ribbons.
Forget X-rated pornography… THIS is truly obscene.
If an RSPCA inspector visited an abbatoir and saw the beasts for slaughter being tortured in this way, the place would be shut down and the proprietor heavily fined, possibly jailed.
How can this practice be condoned in a ’sport’ which is meant to epitomise the ‘art’ of horsemanship.
There is no ‘art’ here and no ‘horsemanship’ that I can see, only brutality to impose the ego of an obviously flawed human being.
Are there no independent ‘cruelty inspectors’ at these events? Or is it left in the hands of the FEI?
I don’t know what I can do to help from here in Australia, other than sign petitions.
I will be haunted by this image in my dreams.
Does anyone know of the fate of the poor stallion? How is he (besides being broken hearted)?
Perhaps this quote should be required reading for all equine sport bodies, it might shame the FEI into action…
“The greatness of a nation, and its moral progress, may be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi
This may sound shocking, but I have seen much worse. I know one arab cross who is regularly ridden with his face roughly horizontal. However, calling this horse abuse is ridiculous. It is undoubtedly poor riding, but to term it abuse is to make light of actual horse abuse, where horses are beaten and tortured.
Should we ban Rollkur? I don’t think so. The problem with banning it is that it will still happen at home. We can’t pass unenforcable rules, and invading barns to do random rollkur inspections is an unconscionable invasion of privacy.
Ultimately, the push to stop rollkur has to come from the press and the public. We have to build a culture where rollkur is as unconscionable as eating live chickens. Rules will drive it underground. Pressure on the practitioners could help effect change.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the Rollkur debate has been rumbling on quietly for many more years than recently quoted…Nicole Uphoff was videoed using the technique in the 90’s, with a subsequent short outburst of disgust from the equine community, which seemed to quiet down until fairly recently. This is a practice that has been employed for many, many, years. It is only as Dressage has become more popular, and open to a wider audience, that Rollkur has become a ‘hot’ topic. I am glad that the public are finally having their eyes opened to what goes on behind ‘closed’ doors, but we must also remember that it is a practice employed not only by Dressage riders. It can be seen in Showjumping warm ups, in Western rings, and even on the local trails where ‘happy hackers’ haul on their horses mouths and don’t even realise what they are doing.
This abuse of the horse MUST stop, and ALL fields of equestrianism.
I am very surprised that the horse will continue to work for the rider treating him like that. I could only watch half of the video because it was making me sick.
I am in a stunned silence. I know nothing about dressage but I know when I witness intense cruelty and this is it! Disgraceful!
I find it amazing that dressage ‘the supposed beautiful partnership between horse & rider’ has the most paraphanalia and harsh equipment used than any other sport. Double bridles, spurs, whips etc… and they still need more! Watch 3 day eventing or capmdrafting or any of the adrenalin based sports and you will still see snaffles and boots bare of spurs, and yet we are asking for high adrenalin and fast work, yet dressage, which should be calm, controlled and happy horses is anything but! And most of these people should be riding robots not living breathing animals, for all the care and empathy they have with them. This sort of thing makes me embarassed to say I am part of the horse world!
Please read the Letter to the Editor by Paul Belasik in the CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE Dec 4, 09, p.127. He actually mentions the Between Rounds column of an earlier issue in which one of the foremost dressage commentators had gushed about the winning performance of Totilas at the 2009 European Championships. Mr Belasik is a very brave man. His comments are very much needed.
Dear Sarah, thank you for sharing
I found this and thought you might find it interesting.
The Humane Society of the United States, has issued a statement concerning a recent Internet video depicting Swedish Olympic rider, Patrik Kittel, riding his stallion, Watermill Scandic, is a state of hyperflexion (known by some in the dressage world as “rollkur”) during warm-up at the Odense World Cup competition in Denmark.
“While no representative of The Humane Society of the United States witnessed the incident depicted in the video of Kittel and his stallion from the Odense World Cup, the images in the video are deeply troubling,” said Holly Hazard, The HSUS’ chief innovations officer. “We are pleased to see that the international governing body of equestrian sport, The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), is investigating. If warranted, we urge the FEI to take appropriate disciplinary action against both Kittel and the ring stewards at the show who failed to act on Watermill Scandic’s behalf.”
well said, Sarah, and good for you for following your heart!
I wanted to write something to all the grooms out there working for these so called masters of dressage competition, I used to be one of you, prepared to do anything just to be able to spend time around horses and people I thought would teach me what I needed to know to one day be like them, powerful, respected and happy. I know what you all feel in your hearts and how much you want things to be different. Despite whatever the reasons are that you may feel you cannot speak out, and I know that in many situations you would lose your jobs or worse acts of violence will explode if you do, please hold onto the love you feel in your hearts for horses and hold onto the hope that things are changing. Find people you can trust and talk to them, do not believe, as the horses are forced to, that there is no way out and you are powerless. You may be treated as an insignificant human with no other value than to clean up the mess but this is not who you are. Your hearts are free, I hope you find the courage to follow them.
Dressage is such a beautiful sport to watch; the ‘dance’ of horse and rider. But watching this video is sickening. The rider certainly didn’t care for his horse at all. I can’t believe that no one (other then the one spectator complaint) said anything, nor the officials in charge took to task this rider. sickening.
All for power, money and TO WIN……horrible and abusive. Every bit as disgusting as the Western riding world and the sickening way horses are asked move. They look crippled. Who on earth is responsible for allowing this kind of abuse? He or she should be ashamed of themselves….and ousted!!!
We are both very saddened that “anyone” would think this is a remotely acceptable way to treat a horse, let alone the governing body.
Evil grows when good people do nothing. Grant us the courage to change the things we can. Thank all of you who stand up for what is right or stand up to change what is wrong. I to could not watch past the blue tonque.
Please continue to post on this subject and spread the word. The use of hyperflexion is ugly and horrible. I live in Wellington, Fl and have the advantage to see numerous top level international riders as well as local amateurs. When the “top level” riders are using this as a method of training or warm up, the amateurs see it and think it is right and then try to emulate. Then they see that the marks are not lowered when this is done in the ring so it must not be wrong. It is a vicious circle. How anyone can think this is natural or correct is beyond me. Even my 15 year old son who is not a horse person asked “why on earth a rider was doing that to her horse” when he saw it being used in a warm up ring before one of the recent dressage shows. This needs to STOP and the FEI has to make a stand on it. Most judges are unwilling to make a stand on it alone, after all if they score too low on too many, they won’t be invited back to judge. It’s a money thing. If only the FEI made a formal and indisputable statement AGAINST it, all judges and stewards would have the justification to make individual stands against it. Sign the petition people!
That movie horrified me! Not that I’ve never seen a horse being abused – but a horse being tortured in front of all those people – other riders, trainers and FEI stewards – it’s so unhuman and so, so sad! Most of such pictures showed rollkur star, Anky – seeing this cruelty spreading like that makes me even more disgusted. And those high notes received from judges in the competition! Nobody seems to notice that the horse was almost strangled to death in order to perform this horrific marionette show.
This is important to show such movies and pictures to wider audience and explaining that this is wrong and why. I can’t understand why this kind of “training” is not yet officialy considered abusive and illegal… in the end, cruelty towards animals is illegal in most od civilised countries.
Thanks Evergreen and everyone else for your support. Keep up the pressure on the dressage associations, the FEI and the sponsors.
Mark,
Thank you for all you are doing in putting up these sites and in instigating the calls, taping them and offering them to us. This is important work and I appreciate the time and effort you put into it.
Having people like Carolyn and Klaus speaking on this subject is huge and can only do good.
Please continue,
Evergreen
I keep coming back to – how can we change Rollkur and other abusive practices? Through the judges changing their judging criteria firstly, so as not to reward the riders who rollkur.
But secondly, there are already heaps of ordinary people who are doing a better job than these professionals – who are already producing work of beautiful self carriage with horses that are bubbling with joy. (I had a student recently who said that she thought I was a bit over the top when I talked about “bubbling with joy” with a horse – who changed her mind when she experienced it in less than five days – and keeps experiencing it!)
The faster that ordinary people keep growing in beautiful relationships with their horses and producing lovely results, the more everyone else is going to want it.
You gotta’ feel sorry for this guy – he may never know what it is like to touch the soul of a horse.
Jenny Pearce
author of “Zen Connection with Horses”
what is wrong with these people???? this is not a sport for horse or spectator if it allows this kind of ill treatment. Those of us who are true animal lovers do everything we can to treat our animals humanely. Is this the way they reward the efforts of a loyal horse who is trying its utmost to please its selfish rider. Disgusting..If this continues sponsorship for these competitions should be withdrawn until the issue is dealt with.
Perhaps those who use Rolkur (and other coercive methods) would get to ‘know’ what they were doing if they were to experience such equipment on themselves. If I just over tilt my head without any pressure of external force, I find it hard to breath and it hurts. As a martial arts teacher, I challenge any professional horse person who believes in hyper extension, to try very very basic beginner martial techniques, with head tilted over in hyper extension, with out falling over from lack of balance and/or lack of air!
Complete cruelty!!! I could not watch the entire video, this is clearly horse abuse and something needs to be done. These beautiful animals were not intended to be treated this way. God provided horses to enjoy and not abuse!!
I am very upset to see what the horses are being expected to do and I do not think as animal lovers and horse lovers in particular that we should do anything to be abusive to these great animals. Let us correct this mistake
WOW – I could not even finish watching this video!! This is clearly horse abuse and should be illegal!! Thank you for calling attention to this. I hope that the FEI gets some integrity and takes steps to change this – there are so many humane ways of relating, training, and competing with horses!