I do not know, if any of you are aware of the controversy regarding the training method known as Roll-Kur or hyperflexion. Just before the olympic games FEI removed from it's clause that hyperflexion is mental abuse. Since then, nothing has been done to prevent horses being overbent in warm-ups for prolonged periods. Lately a video from Denmark has raised the issue. Please watch the footage and spread the word! There is also a Face book-group called; Blue Tongue world cup warm up video. Please join and sign the petition. This is not just about dressage, it regards all of us, if we care about horses.
This one explains the problem quite well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urhi0eVzQTo&feature=player_embedded
This one is the reason for the present uproar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hIXGiV4N4k

The following BHS press release has just come through.

Steve

________________________________

The Chairman of The British Horse Society has written to FEI President, HRH Princess Haya, to demand an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the apparent distress of Patrick Kittels horse at Odense earlier this month, and into the ethics of rollkur more generally.

The letter reads as follows -

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein

President
Federation Equestre Internationale
Avenue Mon-Repos 24
PO Box 157
1005 Lausanne
Switzerland

29th October 2009

Your Royal Highness,

You cannot be unaware of the disquiet not to say anger which has arisen following the depiction on Epona TV of Patrik Kittels horse in apparent distress as it competed in Odense on 18th October.

As you are doubtless aware, in terms both of membership and breadth of interest, The British Horse Society (BHS) is the largest single equestrian organisation in the UK. Our examinations system, and the training and education which underpin it, have earned for the Society international recognition. No less important is our work to promote the highest standards of equine welfare, which suffuses every facet of our work. I am pleased to report that our commitment to equine welfare is shared by all our colleagues within the British Equestrian Federation, although on this occasion I am writing solely on behalf of the BHS.

Let me acknowledge straight away that no representative of the BHS was present in Denmark to witness the horses apparent distress, nor do we have the benefit of a contemporaneous veterinary report. Moreover, we do not for one minute suggest that Patrik Kittel at any time sought to treat his horse other than with proper care and respect. Nevertheless, in matters of equine welfare, the precautionary principle must always apply: if, despite the absence of conclusive proof, the wellbeing of a horse is called into question, there will exist a strong moral obligation on the FEI to respond immediately. In our view, the concerns so widely expressed are reasonable and therefore deserving of an urgent two-part investigation: first, an inquiry into the treatment of this particular horse on this particular occasion; and, second, a broader inquiry into the ethics and consequences of hyperflexion. In this second aspect The British Horse Society stands ready to assist the FEI in any way it can.

Please note that we pass no comment on the aesthetics of seeing a competition horse contorted in a way it never appears to choose for itself when in its natural state. Our concern is only to speak out when we believe that the welfare of horses demands it.

Yours sincerely,


Patrick Print FBHS

Chairman, The British Horse Society


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Thank you. Steve. I read the letter on the facebookside: Blue Tongue world cup warm up video. I am now going to join BHS, because they have the guts to act. BD has banned all mention of the present situation and rollkur in general!

I'm so pleased that the BHS have spoken up. That poor horse...and many others subject to Roll-Kur.

Perhaps one day bitless bridles will be allowed in dressage too !

The following response is from the FEI website...


The FEI is aware of the video filmed at the FEI World CupTM Dressage qualifier at Odense (DEN) and posted on YouTube. FEIs main concern has always been and will always be the welfare of the horse. We are taking the issues raised in the video and in the comments made by members of the public on social media and by email very seriously and have opened a full investigation. The conclusions of this investigation will be made public in due course.


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Its amazing that this is still alowed to continue. What gets me is also all the 'everyday' riders that can be seen around that put contraptions on their horse/ponies to make them look like this! Around where I keep my horses, there is a young girl that has a nice pony, yet it is ridden out regularly with a set of 'rope' reins on that connect to the girth to force this pony to drop and pull in its head, the pony looks very unhappy with like this, but of course if this girl watches the 'Professionals' making there horses be like this, then who can blame her for wanting her pony to look the same??