“What struck me in this revealing and devastating video in addition to the abhorent and obvious abuse of this horse, is the looks on the faces of the spectators. They obviously see what is happening – yet did the conventions of society prevent them from speaking out? Surely the other riders in the arena were watching too? What elevates a rider to such a status that his conduct is overlooked by these witnesses? This sort of thing is what causes horse abuse to exist in our world, as much as the actual abuse itself. It is the silence of the onlooker, in the moment the abuse is happening.
Just because an authority is not present in the moment, one can speak out, or track down an authority to report this violation and even if action is not taken, then there is more fuel for the fire of accusations of abuse being overlooked. Does the fear of making a scene or being socially outcast for standing up for a creature that has no voice of its own condone not coming to its defense? Where is the celebration of the horse as the magnificent creature it is? This beautiful horse has become a machine, and is obviously deadened to its own survival needs by emotional apathy knowing its needs will never come first.”
Kim McElroy
Margaret Mead once said:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has”
I may be off track here but I believe that this horse, Scandic, is owned and promoted by a doctor, if not a veterinarian….what say you oh humanitarian?
There is a definite fear of speaking out. But what bothers me the most is that some riders, even when confronted with the abuse, intentional or by ignorance, try to justify and defend their behaviour. I have spoken out on Youtube about some videos where the horses were being hurt and also some photos on Flickr. I have spoken out against the overuse and abuse of dropped or flash nosebands and twisted wire snaffles. You would not believe the verbal abuse I have taken in return. I comment only because I feel for the horse, I try to put myself in its place and say how would I feel in this situation?. I think more people need to do that.
Should start offering a class with no bits. Or even better change the bit allowed in dressage.
Otherwise you’ll be just like the TWH classes, full of cheaters.
Here Here! What wonderful folks have gathered together here. Years ago I conducted a study on personalities of trainers and personalities of students. No surprise, the trainers all fell into the “Dominator’ categories and many of the students fell into the “Submissive” categories. People who learn how to dominate and use their energy strongly intimidate others -both students and spectators. I have wondered for years why our horse industry does not stand up against bad training. There is an unspoken silence toward abuse, as there are no standards established.
Together we can make a difference. I am working hard in the education field ( I am an applied equine behavioral ecologist) to educate students, trainers, judges, owners, sponsors, veterinarians and anyone else who is interested on how to observe and rate stress in horses. Hopefully, this will help set some standards. More information -www.mystichorse.com or join http://www.horsewomen.com
I have to stand up and say that I think more and more humans generally ARE getting more concerned with the spirit of the horse, with their physical and emotional wellbeing.
There are many, many wonderful people and methods out there, developing almost simulaneously, that are gaining strength and credibility.
The movement is growing, and it is now growing exponentially at a great rate.
For validation of this, we need look no further than the passion that is being brought into this debate (wrong word, really)about Rollkur.
I have written what I think is a very interesting article on my website about horses as powerful beings that will, I think, give hope back to some of you who are in despair about the blue tongued horse.
I hope it’s OK to put the link here:
http://www.bookswithspirit.com/horses-are-powerful-beings
Jenny Pearce
Author of “Bobby’s Diaries – Straight from the Horses Mouth to You” and “Zen Connection with Horses”
Having just returned from the National Championships in Saumur this week – I must put my hand up as one who has not ’spoken out’.
I did a few weeks ago and even sent a letter to the Director of the ENE in Saumur, but effectively received a reply saying that ‘Nothing is wrong and they take the ‘Happy Athlete’ very seriously’!!
Anyway, today we have seen many horses being worked in Rollkur – and today I said nothing …I wanted to approach one particular ‘Ecuyer’ who was working his horse in Rollkur for at least 30 mins, that I saw, to ask ‘Tell me why do you do this’? but no, I said nothing for fear of being Beaten down – yet again !
After a while one feels that you are becoming the minority about actually CARING how the horse is trained.
Why oh Why can’t the FEI DO something constructive and have it written down in black and white??
I agree that there is a fear to speak out and it permeates all aspects of life. We are afraid of making a scene and being confronted if we do. We question getting involved, stepping over the line of what is our business and what isn’t. We fear retribution if it involves physical violence among people. A child being hit in the supermarket causes people to look away and do nothing just because it is a parent doing the hitting. This fear of speaking out is so severe that a young woman or girl can doubt herself and not take action or speak out when her gut tells her that the situation is wrong.
I am repeating what Colleen said so well in her response but I don’t think this issue can be repeated too often.
I think people are ‘programmed’ for want of a better word, into accepting what they see as ‘normal’ especially when it comes from the mouths of ‘experts’.
As a species we have been taught to ignore our intuition and disregard those uncomfortable feelings we experience inside of ourselves when faced with something we know is wrong.
We are NOT encouraged to question, and when we do, the ‘experts’ encourage us to fob off our intuitive feelings, teaching us to ignore our inner truth. After all, speaking up and going against the grain requires courage, being a sheep does not.
why the spectators did not speak out I do not know. many of the other competitors were riding with equally extreme hyperflexion, and even though their horses’ tongues were not hanging out, they apparently think it is ok
I am afraid it is a symptom of a species who no longer see the value of spiritual health and heartfelt connections with others, there must be something significantly different about the psycology of someone who can ‘happily and justifiably’ sit astride their ‘best friend’ and inflict so much pain and sufferring, if it is unconscious I still cant find it in my heart to forgive. He is by no means the only culprit, how can we have created a collective field of consciousness where this happens and no one remarks on it. I am praying and joining the new growing feild of equine related experiences resulting in expanded awareness and consciousness, I hope this horse recieves some respite and somehow, somewhere, gets a chance to recover, sadly, I think he will end up joining the long line of broken spirits, who’s silently heamorriging souls go unnoticed as we continue to massage eachothers ego’s all in the name of sport. It makes me physically sick.