Does this look like how the FEI defines dressage?
The FEI Rules describe the object of Dressage, which means “training” in French, as “the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education. As a result, it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with his rider.”
Apparently, the ring stewards do nothing. Maybe they have no control but they should, really anyone should be able to report on this abuse and have it stopped.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually have a temper but when I see this sort of abuse of an innocent defenseless animal, I'd really like to smack the .... out of those riders.
Arlene, I know. Me too. I just don't get the nonchalant "look" on Kittel's face. I guess in his mind he's just doing what he thinks will get him a medal, and horse be damned. The idea that anyone thinks this is even "okay" - not to mention "good for the horse" - is beyond my comprehension. I know I'm out on the far edges of the charts in a number of ways, but that this is considered anywhere near the middle makes me ill.
ReplyDeleteBillie, the second photo speaks volumes. Three horses in contorted, torturous positions and three very nonchalant humans. All in a days work, it seems. I think we should send Jack to deal with these "equestrians" - he can body slam some sense into them. As I understand it, steward is simply another word for bystander?
ReplyDeleteHoly crud, does anyone NOT do it? Both of the horses being ridden in the second pic are pulled behind the vertical. That makes at least 3 riders in the ring at once riding like that.
ReplyDeleteNotice the new style of dressage riders leaning WAY back? To me that's the mark of a rollkur rider. You can't lean back like that without hanging all over the horse's mouth.
Sheaffer, apparently the stewards are doing nothing. I wouldn't mind a dart gun with some fire ant poison to aim at Kittel's rear end in that shot of him leaning over to put Scandic's tongue back in his mouth.
ReplyDeleteSmazourek, I have put the word out for folks to send me any photos of riders doing good riding in warm-up, but so far have not received any.
ReplyDeleteI do have one (!) shot of Anabel Balkenhol which looks lovely. I'll add it in a bit so you can see.
this makes me sick to my stomach. wasn't it the duke of newcastle who, when his horses showed resistence to his methods and stuck their tongues out, took a pair of red hot tongs/scissors and burned off the protruding ends of their tongues? is that next?
ReplyDeletei'd love to see people positioned all around the arena holding up signs with the 'no rollkur' symbol on it. of course, i couldn't keep my mouth shut, so i'd probably be escorted of the grounds :-\
Me too, j. The last photo makes me truly want to march out into that arena, snatch Kittel out of the saddle, and crank his chin to his chest for an hour while I drive him in tight circles, over and over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIt sickens me that the Dutch team won the gold.
Opened your blog and casually scrolled down and then literally gasped out loud !! I am stunned, in shock, and totally ashamed that no one seems to be raising a ruckus. Between rollkur and what's happening to our wild horses - I go to bed and cry myself to sleep like an anguished child many nights - this is giving me chest pain - I want to scream - I want to HIT some...thing. My heart just breaks over and over and over again.
ReplyDeleteHere is a "Horse Show" that rivals the WEG's - this made me happy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAkiqBDWGW0
See, billie, THIS is why I think I might need a few more horses :)
Thanks, Beth. I had a rough spell today thinking about this - the implications that the rollkurists won the gold in the US. I had so hoped they would crash and burn via the warm-up infractions if nothing else.
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