The FEI has invited various representatives to meet and discuss the controversial topic of rollkur, or hyperflexion of the neck, at the FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Feb. 9, 2010.
Apparently this meeting has not been announced publically by the FEI, but we all know about it anyway.
Project Horse has listed all the people the FEI invited along with their contact information.
If you'd like to make your feelings about rollkur known, now is the time to contact the attendees and bend their ears.
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Billie, I think you should be invited to this meeting. Rafer can be your assistant/secretary and Redford can provide a distraction(s). Sometimes I think you and your readers are voices crying in the wilderness but surely someday truth will prevail? Greed is here to stay but maybe shame can be used as a lever.
ReplyDeleteSheaffer, I agree that the FEI should invite some regular "at large" representatives to offer perspectives outside their very tight circle.
ReplyDeleteThey did invite Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, so we know there will be one voice at the round table speaking for the horses.
I suspect Redford would liven things up significantly, particularly if anyone tried to apply rollkur to him!
I know what you mean about the greed and shame. I can't stop it, but I will speak out against it and then when I leave the keyboard I try to send different ripples out into the world.
I think it might be a good idea to contact lots of people via Project Horse. jme had just put up a petition from P.Karl against rollkur and I believe he will be going armed with the petition.
ReplyDeleteArlene, there is word (although I have no details yet) that the German FN is calling another meeting to discuss rollkur, and since Philippe Karl attended that previously, I wonder if he is getting prepared with a new petition?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the FEI meeting is by invitation only and I do not think Mr. Karl is on that list. (unfortunately)
I'm probably wrong and you're right. I haven't researched anything yet. Just signed the petition and don't know whether he'll be there or not or if he is just getting another petition up to present in the future.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Arlene - it's getting confusing b/c there are so many petitions floating around right now. I'm not truly sure what's actually going on, although I did read in several places that we should not all be signing all the petitions as we are duplicating signatures and thus diluting the effect. ??
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the right thing to do is - I have signed all that have come my way, but it would be nice if there had been more coordination earlier so that there was one LONG petition now instead of many that contain duplicate signatures.
Funny thing is that since I posted this morning the FEI offices have been visiting the blog. (which happens each time I post something to do with rollkur) I keep hoping for a comment but thus far it hasn't happened.
Arlene is absolutely right that Phillipe Karl and his team have started up another petition & here's the site to go to : http://www.no-rollkur.com
ReplyDeleteI really DO think the strength of opinion on this issue will force the FEI to show slightly more backbone than they have so far, so please post the link on all your blogs & web forums & lets show the common people do have a voice!
P.S I invited Dougie to attempt rollkur with the temptation of a carrot between his legs, but he quickly sussed me out & just lowered for long enough to take bites & then raised his head to chew! Clever donkey :))
Thanks, Dougie. That is indeed the petition Arlene shared - and you are right that she was right! Mr. Karl intends to take these signatures to the FEI on Feb. 9th!
ReplyDeleteI had gotten an email from his office this a.m. asking me to sign this new petition, but in that email it didn't specify that it was going to the FEI on the 9th, and then I read in several other places that the German FN was planning another meeting - but in the link you provided it does state that these signatures will be presented to the FEI.
I signed it this morning and hope everyone else will too.
Thanks for the clarification, and I'm glad Dougie is firmly in the no-rollkur camp even when it involves carrots! :)
it's so frustration not knowing what to do! i've signed the petitions and written the letters, but somehow i still feel like it's not making the right impact. i'm open to suggestions if anyone's got ideas.
ReplyDeletetoo bad we can't all fly over there and line up outside!
ReplyDeletehey, if it comes to that... ;-) well, at the very least maybe we could turn up at some big shows with t-shirts bearing the 'no-rollkur' symbol and line up next to the arena during certain tests... wouldn't make for very good publicity for them. just saying, it could be done ;-)
ReplyDeletei would dearly love to be standing there with said t-shirt when Kittel rode in on Scandic.
ReplyDelete