Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary McGuire Smith on February 9, 2010 at 9:50am

Thank you so much, Barbara, for this late-breaking and outstanding news from the FEI--I was not holding my breath about this decision because frnkly, I didn't think it would happen, but I am so happy with their absolute stand against hyperflexion!! I have posted a new blog about it at my site. http://iridedressage.blogspot.com with more to come when I have time--running out to give a lesson right now! Thanks again for keeping on top of this (thanks also, to Eurodressage and Astrid for the article).

Permalink Reply by Diana Murphy on February 9, 2010 at 10:46am

So great to finally hear this great news and progress!

Permalink Reply by Ellin McGinley Daum on February 9, 2010 at 11:20am

Hooray for the German Equestrian Federation!! When will the FEI get in line with this, too? Just glad to see some positive steps taken to end the suffering of horses ridden in extreme positions. Winning at all costs and particularly at the cost of the horse's happiness and soundness should be questioned and forbidden. If judges continue to reward those riders either local or international who use these methods in their warm-ups, things won't change much, but perhaps the attitude of the Federation will cause a rethinking of judging principles. One can at least hope.

Permalink Reply by Catherine Chamberlain on February 9, 2010 at 1:41pm

Thanks for posting! If you guys want to read about the same topic discussed at the FEI Round Table Conference I posted the link to the Dressage Daily article below.

http://www.dressagedaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=...

Permalink Reply by Ellin McGinley Daum on February 9, 2010 at 1:46pm

Has the FEI finally taken a stand on this issue? I thought is was only the GEF although they should have some punch.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth J. Chilcott on February 9, 2010 at 1:59pm

Better late than never. Now if they would start judging the way the stated purposes of the tests as stated. As others have mentioned on other topics, there are lots of despicable training that goes on behind the barn. But when the proponents of such methods feel free to exhibit them in the warm up, the problem as escalated to a whole new level. I just hope this forces the FEI to take a stand.

Permalink Reply by Kinni P on February 9, 2010 at 5:53pm

Ahhh, sweet relief. Now if the FEI will follow suit, we can get back to doing some dressage.

Permalink Reply by Emmy on February 14, 2010 at 1:57am

As much as I would hope this issue would go away, I believe it more than likely wont. There will always be ignorant people who do not take the animal's welfare into consideration. I have always been biased on Rollkur. It hurts me to see horses biting their chests with their tounges hanging from their mouth. But also, there has not been any medical evidence of it causing damage to the horse.....so idk. The fact that there is finally action being taken towards this is the first step to improvement. Hopefully the right course of direction is taken.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth J. Chilcott on February 14, 2010 at 4:55am

Not true....there is medical evidence of the damage this type of riding does. Check out the material by Dr. Gerd Hueschmann and also take a look at Jean Luc Cornille's blog here on Barn Mice. Makes my neck hurt just thinking about it.

Permalink Reply by Ellin McGinley Daum on February 14, 2010 at 9:17am

Elizabith has it right. Watch Hueschmann's "If Horses Could Speak..." Any horse lover, dressage rider or not, will be convinced of the inhumanity of this action and can see on the video the damage it does to the nuchal ligament as well as the muscles of the neck and back. Is it too much to hope for that the FEI and other governing bodies take a quick and firm approach to this. I favor eliminating anyone who uses Rollkur from the competition. Period!