Article reproduced with kind permission of Luise Thomsen and Julie Taylor, EPONA.tv
The FEI has asked EPONA.tv to testify in the investigation of the blue tongue incident in Odense.
“As you may know, the FEI has launched an investigation into Mr. Kittel’s warm-up of his horse in Odense and specifically his use of hyperflexion/roll kur.
Dressage Abuse
I understand that you are responsible for taking the videotape that has been posted by Epona TV on Youtube. In connection with the investigation, I would very much appreciate if you would send to me a copy of the video itself so that it can be watched directly on my computer or other hardware without going through Youtube.
In addition, since you obviously directly observed the warm-up, can you provide me with a statement of what you observed, for how long you observed it and what conclusions, if any, you drew from those observations?”
EPONA.tv has sent the following reply to the FEI:
As journalists, we are disinterested parties, regarding the FEI’s investigation of this issue. Our observations and documentation have been put forward in our journalistic coverage, to which the FEI is welcome to refer.
A short while ago, we requested an interview with FEI Director of Sports, David Holmes, who will be visiting Copenhagen on the 4th of November in connection with the General Assembly of the WFBSH. We have received no reply from the FEI, so we would like to repeat our request at this time. We ask the FEI to take a stand on the correct and incorrect application of bits and other equipment in the preparation of sport horses for competition. Hyperflexion of the neck is part but not all of this issue.
One pertinent question in this regard is what happened to the 2008 statement by the FEI Veterinary Commission which stated that:
“The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse”?
Why was this statement subsequently stricken from the minutes without further explanation? Why has the FEI chosen to ignore the recommendation from its own veterinary commission that the FEI should not support the practice? And why has the FEI chosen to shut down the welfare sub-committee, without replacing it with another body to safeguard the welfare of horses? Several times, EPONA.tv has tried to get the answers to these questions from the FEI.
This issue reaches far beyond Patrik Kittel’s training of KWPN stallion, Watermill Scandic, which is only a single example of a widespread problem. It will be interesting to see if the FEI chooses to address the real issue, which is that the current state of equine welfare in equestrian sport is unsustainable, or if the federation opts to focus only on the single incident which happened to be caught on camera.
Article reproduced with kind permission of Luise Thomsen and Julie Taylor, EPONA.tv
I like many riders will have no knowledge of what vitals may be involved in severe training. However, I believe all who work with animals and have their welfare at heart will not expect them to hold a position for lengthy periods because it is obviously uncomfortable. No amount of training will ever prepare an animal or human to do that. Those that do, such as typists, machinist etc often suffer with repetative muscle strain which also affects ligaments and tendons. Anyone who has suffered this sort of injury will tell you that it is very painful – hence the release of endorphins. Is not this how the twitch works? In any case no experience is required to feel uncomfortable watching a horse being forced into an unatural position for long periods. Good training is about short sessions with frequent rewards. No reward indicates that the rider is not showing appreciation – that fact is significant regarding the attitude to the animal. I believe that reward is praise not the end of a session. Every animal knows the differance.
Concerning the veterinary recommendations I have a question that might intrigue someone in veterinary research. The question is about the vegas nerve in the neck being activated and the horse being put in a state in-between an endorphin rush and adrenalyn rush, while being forced to perform extremely strenuous exercises.
(It’s no surprise the riders see their horses as ‘being diffucult to control’- any horse that is displaying great resistance should be pulled and checked for rider infraction – this is a clear signal- the horse is speaking and saying that ‘the dressage is not so harmonious’.Let the horse speak.
First – see ‘endospink’ or ‘the tap method’ on youtube. he uses a technique that pulls the horses head around until endorphins are released causing the horse to lose leg function and sink to the ground. No one seems to know how this really works, but I’d like to share my idea that perhaps this nerve ‘breaker’ or ‘circuit’ is a function of the horse being in utero and as a fetus- this circuit in the folded neck of the horse would be necessary to prevent the fetus from responding physically to an adrenaline rush that the mare may experience from having to run from a predator. I wrote endospink asking him why he thinks his technique works other than it effects the vegas nerve and never received a reply. He’s a busy trainer.
Second – in this Rollkur position-it looks like they are cranking the head in much the same way that endospink on youtube does to obtain his ‘relaxing’ effect but the horse is obviously in pain and perhaps in serious conflict because of an adrenaline and endorphin mix?
Has anyone tested the chemistry of the horses forced into ‘rollkur?”
I would love any thoughts back on this as I’m curious you can write info at rowanthehorse dot com my name is Diane.