Write & Complain
The idea of this page is to build up a directory of dressage associations at local, regional and national level, which can be used by people to write and complain about the use of rollkur. Please add the contact information of any associations you know of in the comments below.
It has also been suggested that we write to the sponsors of FEI events and the top dressage who use rollkur and ask that they cease their sponsorship. These are listed here too, so again please add any you are aware of in the comments section. There is a form letter at the foot of the page, which you can use and adapt.
DRESSAGE ASSOCIATIONS
CANADA
Dressage Department
c/o Equine Canada
2685, Queensview Dr., Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8K2
Telephone: (613) 248-3433 ext 138 or ext 142
Fax: (613) 248-3484
Toll Free: 1-866-282-8395
General inquiries:
info@dressagecanada.org
cpeters@equinecanada.ca
ISeifert@equinecanada.ca
Contact Name:
Jessie Christie, Media Relations,Equine Canada
jchristie@equinecanada.ca
SPONSORS
The FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games – Kentucky 2010
These are the main sponsors and the full list can be found here:
http://www.alltechfeigames.com/about/sponsors.aspx?id=86&ekmensel=c580fa7b_8_12_86_4
Alltech
http://www.alltech.com/en_US/media/releases/Pages/default.aspx
Rolex
http://www.rolex.com/en/index.jsp#/en/store-locator/worldwide-rolex-affiliates/switzerland
Please search for your local office at this page
Meydan
http://www.meydan.ae/contact/
John Deere
https://secured.deere.com/en_US/deerecom/httpscontent/generalfeedback.html
Ariat
http://www.ariat.com/custserv_contactus.aspx
Also featured on the Games site:
United States Equine Federation
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/AboutUs/Staff/Default.aspx
Kentucky Horse Park (where the games are being held)
ljackson@kyhorsepark.com
Lexington, KY
Niki Heichelbech at (800) 848-1224 or (859) 244-7707
lexmedia@visitlex.com
Kentucky Department of Tourism
http://www.kytourism.com/contactus.htm
Also a large sponsor of FEI events
HSBC
http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/newsroom/media-contacts
Anky van Grunsven Sponsors
Van Grunsven Groep
info@grunsvengroep.nl
Cavalor
cavaloramerica@cavalor.com
For Dutch contact, go to http://www.cavalor.com/contact.php
Volkswagen
http://www.volkswagencampers.nl/contact/volkswagen-klantenservice/contact.html
Gazelle
http://www.gazelle.nl/nl/service/stel-uw-vraag.html
IPS
http://www.ipshorsegroup.nl/en/contact
PLEASE THANK IPS FOR NO LONGER SPONSORING ANKY! IT DOESN”MATTER WHY THEY ARE NOT, JUST THAT THEY KNOW WE DON”T WANT THEM SPONSORING ROLLKUR RIDERS!!
Rabobank
https://www.perscentrumrabobank.com/contactform
NOC-NSF
http://www.noc-nsf.nl/cms/showpage.aspx?id=958
MAN
http://www.man-mn.nl/nl/contact.jsp
Anemone
info@anemone.nl
MORE TO FOLLOW SOON
FORM LETTER YOU CAN USE AND ADAPT
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to you to protest your company’s public and financial support of a rider who engages in the extreme and abusive form of horse training known as ‘hyperflexion of the neck’, or Rollkur. As such, your company is, in effect, supporting and enabling the worldwide and industry driven abuse of the horse for financial and personal gain.
There is ample evidence to support the claim that this form of training is deeply abusive to the horse not only physically but emotionally and psychologically. The recent horrific example of Rollkur in practice at The World Cup qualifier in Odense, Denmark, resulting in a blue and slack tongue hanging from the horses’ mouth, as documented by Epona TV, is a stark case in point of the menace of Rollkur, yet only one more instance in a long line of such travesties.
This abuse is all the more tragic when glorified by a sport and discipline which holds at its’ core the beautification and protection of the horse by improving and strengthening the natural abilities of the horse. The practice of Rollkur does nothing of the sort, and in effect, dismantles the horses’ natural bio-mechanics and defenses, leaving him vulnerable and open to a reinterpretation of his abilities that renders him a grotesque if flashy puppet.
This, in turn, opens the sport of dressage and the equestrian world at large to attack and likely investigation by animal rights organizations, a situation in which any and all equestrians may find themselves under scrutiny regardless of their convictions. This would be a terrible blow to the equestrian community at large, brought on by a privileged few who abuse not only their horses but their privileges. And the rider your company supports is one of these perpetrators of arrogance and exploitation of horses and advantages.
Please reconsider and cease your support of __ rider’s name__ and thereby help protect and support the future of our horses and our sport, a sport meant to glorify the horse in his most dignified and beautiful state, not demean and enslave his kindness and abilities for the aggrandizement of a rider who would be nothing without the talents of the horse.
To see examples of the evidence in question, may I suggest a visit to this link: http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/category/science
Yours sincerely
In response to Kittel’ scandal, the FEI briefly reaffirmed its high expectations while most concerned people were expecting specific and more productive measures. In fact, the FEI statement only raises more doubts and questions:
- Kittel’s action is unlikely to be an isolated incident – Is the two months suspension a very significant deterrent? Shouldn’t the FEI step up and increase the time period for the suspension as well as implementing a new rule for permanent elimination?
- While improving the training of stewards is no doubt proactive, what about the judges don’t they carry the ultimate responsibility?
Regarding the judges’ responsibility, I would like to share a very incisive comment attributed to Lendon Gray: “when that same horse (Scandic) performed his test that day, he looked great. So if you had not seen the warm-up you would not know that he had been schooled this way.”
In my opinion, such a pertinent observation goes to the heart of the question and the sport itself – Dressage popularity has grown, it is no longer a sport for a few privileged or the very gifted;
it seems that time has perhaps come for the FEI to further refine the way the sport is regulated and therefore promoted.
How could the FEI make the well being and treatment of the horse an “official/live topic” during the competition instead of an implied “expectation?” Could the judges practically evaluate the quality of warm up methods preceding the competition? Or based on the advance of equine veterinary science can horses’ condition be objectively evaluated prior to be accepted for such competition? Beside the satisfactory ban of Rollkur what else can be thought of to insure a comprehensive and productive revision of Dressage methods at all levels?
Being only a horse lover/beginner, I am probably raising human and who knows even horses’ hair with these comments!! However we all know the impact that glamorized sports can have and some new hands on measures implemented by the FEI could be life changing to both horses and riders.
Helene