princess haya and rollkur

What is the current FEI president's stance on rollkur? Here's one shot of her riding, and unfortunately, it doesn't look good to me.

andreas helgstrand - take a look at his training techniques

This video is on his website (for the moment) and although this one showcases the horse Donna Silver, look at the other horses. At times you can only see them in the mirrors, and if you use the pause button, you'll see even more.

Sadly I don't think I can ever watch his rides on Blue Hors Matine again.

http://www.helgstranddressage.com/donna_silver.html

I didn't post this last night but instead saved it, figuring to put it up tomorrow. Already, just 12 hours later, the video has been removed. Isn't it interesting that the trainers and riders doing these methods argue that there is nothing wrong with them, that they are actually good for the horses, and yet they take down the "evidence" when it's pointed out online?

Enjoy the day, give thanks for your blessings, and go hug your horses.

ADDENDUM:

There is actually another video where several horses are being rollkured in the background. Let's see if he takes THIS one down too...

http://helgstranddressage.com/uk/heste_carneval_uk.html

And look at this one:

http://www.helgstranddressage.com/uk/heste_nobel_uk.html

Behind the vertical, rider leaning way back, horse trying to get its head up to breathe, I presume, or relieve the pressure on the mouth, but if you watch you'll see that this is NOT harmonious riding, not a happy horse at all.

leaking turkeys and pumpkin dog biscuits

My night owl son woke me in the wee hours to inform me that the turkey was leaking. I asked how much, hoping that in fact he was mistaken, and the double-bagged fresh turkey was doing nothing of the kind.

But he said "a lot" and I sighed and got up, knowing that my warm spot in the bed would soon be taken over by whichever cat bodies could make it there first.

Indeed, the turkey was leaking. I spent about a minute fussing at self for not putting the turkey in the roasting pan so at least if it leaked it would be contained. And then the next hour and a half cleaning the entire lower half of the refrigerator, to a degree Martha Stewart and my mother would smile upon.

I woke up expecting sunshine but it's not here yet. Today I'm making the afore-mentioned cheesecake, the cranberry sauce, the mashed potatoes, (which shockingly can be made ahead without losing one bit of goodness) and getting the dinner rolls made up and put in the pan.

And meanwhile, here is the pumpkin dog biscuit recipe just for Dougie Donk, who I believe not only races ex-racing horses and wears kilts, but does a bit of baking on the side:

Cleo's Pumpkin Dog Biscuits:

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (I'm using freshly made puree)
2 tbsp. dry milk
1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour (gives the biscuits crunch and offers better dog digestion than wheat)
1 tsp. dried parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin 'til smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and parsley if using. Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead if still rough, then roll out to desired thickness. (1/4 - 1/2 inch)

Use cookie cutters to punch out shapes, and rework leftover dough until it's gone. Place on baking sheet - no greasing necessary. Bake 20 minutes, remove from oven, turn, and bake 20 more minutes. Let cool completely before serving!

Enjoy feeding these healthy, yummy treats to the resident canines!

And let me know as the day progresses what you're baking and cooking - we can all share in the feasting today!

thanks giving in advance of the day

I meant to take the camera out and get a picture or two, but have been so relieved that I don't actually have to GO anywhere today, tomorrow, or Thursday, I've been sort of floating from one place to the next all day long.

This morning I was thankful to see Salina marching around the barnyard, lining up at the feed room door, and generally being her usual self.

When I took the first wheelbarrow load of muck down the path, Redford wanted to join me, so I let him. He walked beside me until I turned onto the woodland path, at which point the labyrinth path was clear top to bottom, and that wild expanse of freedom was like passing a candle wick through flame.

His little face lit up and down he went, with a donkey buck and gallop, down to the edge of the labyrinth itself. I called out to him and he whirled and raced back up, pausing and then galloping all the way up to the barnyard. He was so excited he wanted them all to know where he was and that he had full access to the back.

He flew back down the path, past me, this time all the way into the labyrinth, where he made a complete circuit and then ran back up to the barnyard gate. He turned around and did it all again.

By this time I had dumped my load of manure and had the wheelbarrow pointed back up the hill, so he ran up ahead of me and when I got to the top, he had lured Rafer Johnson into the arena, where they were having another race.

Mid-morning, Keil Bay asked very nicely (with a quiet tap tap tap of his knee against the stall door) to come into the barnyard with Salina, the donkeys, and me.

I opened his door and he sauntered out, immediately taking over the round bale, which is getting low and had been turned over on its side on top of the two pallets. I rearranged the hay so the pallets were obvious - and proceeded with chores.

A little while later I heard a sound (one of those sounds just loud enough and unusual enough to make you go check it out) and Keil had dragged the pallets out from under the hay and shoved them against the barn.

I'm thankful that he's strong enough to move heavy pallets, and also that he didn't do any damage to himself OR the barn in the process.

This afternoon I have two pumpkin pies in the oven, made with the gorgeous puree I mixed up the other night using the organic pumpkin that came from our hay grower's garden. The pumpkin has been decorating our table for several weeks and now will grace our table in a different way.

I should get two pumpkin pies, a batch of pumpkin dog biscuits, and a caramel pumpkin gingersnap cheesecake out of this one pumpkin. If there is puree left, I'll make a pumpkin cake next week.

It's a grey day, good for baking and listening to music, watching a Corgi nap, monitoring the nap cycles of five felines who move and shift from room to room, new spot to new spot, and heading out to the barn every hour or so to visit and continue the chores out there.

USDF statement on rollkur

Released yesterday:


USDF Executive Board Statement on Animal Welfare

In response to a recent incident at an international competition, the USDF Executive Board has issued the following official statement:

The USDF does not approve of training techniques such as hyperflexion especially when taken to an extreme. While we recognize that we can not control how riders train at home, excessive techniques should not be tolerated at competitions. The USDF feels that it is very important that as a sport we police ourselves and encourage the USEF and FEI to call upon their licensed officials to ensure that cruel and abusive riding does not happen at our competitions.

The USDF agrees with and strongly supports the FEI position as stated in the November 17 press release and in particular the statement: "The FEI acknowledges and welcomes public opinion and will continue to ensure that the welfare of the horse, which has been central to this debate, will remain its absolute priority."