Video courtesy of EPONA.tv
“This is the uncut version of the video sequence, which shows the KWPN stallion, Watermill Scandic, being ridden in the hyperflexed/rollkur position with its blue tongue lolling out at the World Cup dressage qualifier in Odense, Denmark in October 2009.
It has been stated that the original video did not accurately represent events because part of the footage had been slowed, and part had been edited out. Whilst editing ones footage is a normal part of a journalistic process, and by no means devalues ones work, here is the entire sequence in its uncut state. For good measure.
Sorry about the shaky bits this is what unedited footage sometimes looks like
“
Luise & Julie, EPONA.tv
This just makes me sick to my stomach. It doesn’t matter what discipline, you will always have “those” trainers/riders. I can only imagine what that poor animal must be thinking as he goes around and around with his nose curled into his chest. How he is able to continue performing the way he does is beyond me, he is completely unbalanced looking. What a miserable life….
This workout goes on for such a painfully long time. And what a very lovely horse this is. What a shame it has to perform in this horrible manner.
It also makes him (the rider) look extremely lazy – As if he has a set of handlebars to just grip. He deserves to ride nothing more than a bicycle!
I would not have watched in total silence. I wish everyone would have collectively (no pun intended) stopped, and called him out. It’s as if they weren’t sure if he was doing something wrong or not, especially because the horse was able to perform beautifully with the rest of his body in complete obedience…
I also don’t think I noticed ONE rider really allow any of the horses to relax and stretch out their neck and walk freely!!! No relief whatsoever, and makes dressage here stand in line not far behind some other barbaric equine ’sports’.
This is such a shocking incident, made even more shocking by the way the man appears to have the horse’s tongue called to his attention and appears to casually just stuff it back in and keep going. (That’s what it looks like to me, anyway…)
See my “Horses are powerful beings” article for an interesting perspective on how you personally might help this horse.
http://www.bookswithspirit.com/horses-are-powerful-beings
And let’s not lose our focus on what is important here, we don’t just want Rollkur banned in public. Judges need to change the criteria that they are judging by so that it is eliminated in private too.
At least the woman let her horse stretch and walk part of the time. They young girls watching really looked horrified.
I personally do not agree with the comment by Kim above. I can see the majority of riders in the warm-up arena riding their horses in a good, non-Rollkur outline. The horses are mostly in a normal snaffle bridle showing that they are younger horses, probably with younger riders. What a pity that these young riders are surrounded by two “top”(?) riders riding around them, the Swedish showing blatent disprespect for his horse, making such a beautiful horse and dressage riding look ugly. Plus another “top”(?) rider who cannot even sit properly in walk, and also showing no respect for her horse’s mouth.
This is appalling and shameful! I am embarrassed as a human being. So sad to watch for so many reasons- just another example of how we as human beings with the knowledge, understanding, and ability to promote and nurture all that is wonderful in this world choose to prostitute our wonderful world and it’s creatures via abuse or whatever means for fame, fortune, and whatever is the latest fad. While the focus is on Scandic it is obvious that the majority of the riders in the ring were employing the same techniques and from his riders glib response to questioning he clearly thought that his riding actions were acceptible no doubt because everyone else at that level is doing it too. How sad that so many riders would consider that what they are doing is acceptable and this is just one competition- just the tip of the iceberg……I hate to imagine all that is going on at the home barn when these horses are being trained…… How very, very sad….
Welcome to modern competitive dresage , if they are censored they will only siop when people are looking , the entire so called dressage needs to be revamped . Fire them all start over REALY going back to the old masters before the advent of German competitive dressage, unatural gaits , drivng seats, weight lifter arms, pulling on the poor horse, bobbing heads and whilring kicking legs .
Wow. The whole time I just sat there and wanted the poor horse to stretch his neck out. I say we take this rider and tape his chin to his chest and see if it supples him up! It amazes me how willing and eager to please the horse can be to allow someone to do that to them on a regular basis. I start to lose my faith in dressage when I see these people as top level riders. It’s becoming more about the “LOOK” than the actual correct movement. I see it at dressage shows all the time. The horse that’s mincing along, but looks pretty and keeps his head down wins all the time over the horse that showed true gaits and impulsion but didn’t necessarily have the “head set” perfected yet.The sad thing is that poor horse has been trained to think that is normal treatment.
Really difficult to watch an animal going round for so long in this contorted, unnatural way. Really makes such a beautiful animal look strange and ugly. I really cannot see how these people can be so deluded and think this is pretty. Saddest bit has got to be the horses little attempt in vain, of fighting off the riders stupid demands when, at about 8 mins 40 the poor thing attempts to kick the riders leg …. This is such poor horsemanship it beggars belief. Hope to God they go to hell….