After watching the Blue Tongue World Cup video, I can honestly say I am not shocked at all as, unfortunately, we see these things almost everyday & everywhere.
Although lots of people understand the pain inflicted on horses from the bit and hyperflexion, the majority just stand there watching without even noticing the clearly visible, uncomfortable, stressful, negative stimulus and pain inflicted on the horses. Humans are the cause of this pain.
What really caught my attention, more than anything else, was the look on the faces of the people watching around the arena. It was clear that they felt nothing about what was happening to the horses there. They look as if they were switched-off mentally, devoid of the feelings that any sensible person in such a situation would feel. It is probably how the FEI wants people to be so as not to cause damage to the business of sport and ignoring the damage being caused to the horses. Hyperflexion like that puts the horse in a state of fear, from where he cannot escape, which spreads from his mind to his whole body.
I would like to add a quote from a Nevzorov Haute Ecole member and good friend of mine, Sascha Day, who has posted in our forum the following scientific research.
To take this to a scientific understanding of the damage going on we should know that the tongue is connected profoundly to the hyoid apparatus; very important as it suspends larynx from base of the skull and is involved in vital processes such as swallowing and breathing. Any damage to the hyoid apparatus is real suffering for the horse. There have been studies conducted which shows suggestion of DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) and bony proliferation to hyoid apparatus; also called bony growths or “spurs”. The use of rollkur damages nerves of the face, tongue and causes degeneration of the hyoid apparatus as well as surrounding soft tissues.
Connected to the tongue and very important to the horse’s ability to move the tongue is the hypoglossal nerve. Any damage to this will cause paralysis of the tongue and also the surrounding areas of the lips and face. Look again at the horse’s swinging, floppy lips and rigid face and also the excessive drooling seen in this example and in so many others. The irony is that the so called “experts” in the field of sports dressage actually encourage and promote drooling as a good thing for the horse, when clearly the science proves that this is a serious sign of damage to the hyoid apparatus and surrounding vital nerve functions resulting in the horse’s inability to swallow properly.
You NEVER see any of Alexander Nevzorov’s horses drooling.
It can clearly be seen how the humans in this scenario are having their fun and making their money but does it have to be at the expense of the horse? Or is this kind of power and the money just make them blind and sick?
Maurizio Patti
Senior Nevzorov Haute Ecole Instructor
There is overwhelming evidence of horsemanship that gets the same results and finish with out the barbaric use of Rolkur. It is a poor reflection of ALL professional equine bodies who condone (by not banning) this equipment, and they are clearly not understanding the value of ‘good’ horsemanship if they allow competitors to rely on intimidation to get their horses cooperation. It is interesting to note and delineate, what a truly talented and professional horse person can achieve, with out the use of such equipment.
It does seem that part of the problem lies in the fact that no one felt they could raise the issue without fear of some type of negative recall. I dont think it is because everyone does not care, the process of becoming a dressage rider must involve some type of progressive shutting down of one’s ability to recognise the separation of a healthy ego and the temptation to take advantage of the real power and grace afforded by the horse that eventually leads to such a numbness of feeling that people are no longer aware of what they are doing. The job and moral responsibility of any trainer is not to create pain and suffering, unfortunately, trainers earn their money selling their ‘top’ horses to rich but possibly uneducated individuals who will stop at nothing to justify spending loads of loot on a horse therefore it must go and win so we can prove to suger daddy that it was money well spent. What a dysfunctional mess we are in, at some point throughout this whole process someone needed to stop and help everyone to stay on the page from the horses point of view, thinking about it, it seems such an impossible task but is’nt this what regulatory traning bodies and standards are supposed to do, if they are not working its an even bigger mess. Let us hope and pray that these words and those of others help in some tiny way to support positive change for everyone, we all benefit when we pay close attention to the impact our behaviour has on those around us.
There are comments under the original posting of this video in YouTube defending the rider and saying there’s nothing wrong with this horse being ridden in this manner. Reflecting that not only are those around the ring apparently oblivious and/or condoning the practices so clearly displayed – but that there is a growing number of people who think that this is ‘normal’ and indeed seemingly desirable riding and training practice. I have shown non-horsey people rollkur videos and they are shocked at how distressed the horses look, wonder why they are drooling and foaming at the mouth and why the horse’s breathing is so laboured and loud. So why is it that dressage fans, many of whom will be riders or trainers themselves, find it so difficult to see the truth so clearly laid out before them?
“All it takes for evil to triumph is for one good man to stand by and say nothing”
Unfortunately, even though one (only ONE!) spectator complained the stewards stood by and did nothing. The FEI Dressage body should be thoroughly ashamed of their stance in defending these riders and trainers (and rewarding their efforts in the show ring). There is growing anger and resentment that this is still going on – especially in the light of peer-reviewed scientific and veterinarian studies that prove how damaging both physically and mentally rollkur training is. How long will this situation be allowed to continue?
Thank you for this post, it contains alot of very useful information.
I don’t even know what to say. It is such incredibly abusive behavior and I am naive enough to be shocked. I imagine anyone seeing this would either have to scream or become numb and in denial of the reality. How can this be stopped? Does my comment have any effect? Where is the power?