Helgstrand…

[ester]

I guess they already know the footage isn’t going to be good

Helgstrand Issues Pre-Emptive Statement on Danish Documentary with Undercover Footage

Helgstrand Dressage has published a press release on 20 June 2023 in which the company distances itself in advance from Operation X, a documentary program to be aired on the Danish national television station TV2.

eurodressage.com

 

[ihatework]

Scarey.
It’s a really underhand way of going about things, but at the same time ….
A bit like panorama exposing nursing home abuse and such like.
Helgstrand must be

 

[daffy44]

I do have some reservations about the moral aspects of undercover filming. But when you think about how it has been used successfully to expose abuse in nursing homes etc, I think the end justifys the means when it comes to protection and making things better and safer for the vulnerable.

As for Helgstrand, they didnt just choose his yard at random, they must have had pretty serious concerns before they decided to film in this way, and judging by his statement, those concerns must have had some validity.

My personal opinion of Helgstrand is unprintable.

 

[TheMule]

I can’t say I surprised, I really do pity horses that get caught up in big production systems where results trump anything else, and sadly dressage has a very bad rep for this…. and Helgstrand has previous.

 

[ycbm]

"It is incredibly offensive, and deeply worrying, that our employees and I have had our privacy violated solely to create an exciting documentary,"

But the purpose isn't primarily to create an exciting documentary, never mind "solely" to do so, is it? It's to expose welfare issues at at least one high level dressage yard.

The fact that it does create an exciting documentary is even more to the shame of Helgstrand.

I hope we get to know what it discloses from people who can view Danish TV.

 

[daffy44]

ycbm, I cant imagine the contents will be restricted to Danish tv for long! I'm sure it will be all over the internet very rapidly.

 

[sbloom]

This has been coming a long time, he's the thin end of a very large wedge across all equestrian sport and if this is what it takes....the SLO specialists I'm networked with are watching closely, especially to see reactions outside of the equestrian world.

 

[Anna Clara]

Does it say anywhere when it will be shown? I'm surprised this hasn't happened before and could become an issue for a lot of yards. I've worked on an event yard with horrible practices and seen some very unhappy horses there.

 

[SEL]

But the purpose isn't primarily to create an exciting documentary, never mind "solely" to do so, is it? It's to expose welfare issues at at least one high level dressage yard.

The fact that it does create an exciting documentary is even more to the shame of Helgstrand.

I hope we get to know what it discloses from people who can view Danish TV.

Precisely!

Under cover filming on my yard would be incredibly dull and the only internet sensation would be the yard cat. If there's enough footage for a documentary then something is amiss.

 

[tristar]

`EVERYONE knows aids are needed, horses are big, strong`

sounds like confession

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Helgstrand having bad/abusive practices? *acts shocked*

 

[Cortez]

Good. It's about time, and needs to be more than just the Helgestrand stable.

 

[tristar]

its like a house of cards about to collapse

 

[shortstuff99]

Seeing as he rides like this in public....

 

[SEL]

Seeing as he rides like this in public....View attachment 116337

That's grim - really, really horrible.

 

[shortstuff99]

Andreas Helgstrand guilty of 'improper use of bit and bridle'

Andreas Helgstrand's national federation has ruled that his use of the double bridle has been "completely unacceptable"

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[Nicnac]

Private Equity involved - enough said. The saying that money is the root of all evil is very apt in this case.

 

[sbloom]

Private Equity involved - enough said. The saying that money is the root of all evil is very apt in this case.

Yeah his organisation is incredibly powerful in the sport which I'm sure is part of the reason he's been targeted. There was a big controversy maybe last year about him and breeding and stallion approvals or some other conflict of interest relating to acquisitions.

 

[LEC]

I feel sorry for staff as they deserve some protection in their job but he has been targeted for a reason….

 

[Hallo2012]

unable to type what i really think of him but suffice it to say I am more than certain they have hours of abusive footage that wont need any editing for shock value and i look forward to seeing his fall from grace/power/whatever

 

[Red-1]

I genuinely didn't know he was one of the bad ones. I loved his grey mare that time.

That said, I have seen absolute abuse by an Olympic eventer just before the 2012 Olympics and have also been in the arena of a well known dressage rider who was brutal. People said, "Why didn't you report them?" and I can only say that, without filming, no one would take my word over theirs.

I'm glad someone went filming.

I'm another who thinks filming at my yard would not make for exciting viewing. In fact, we do have CCTV, filming all of the time.

 

[reynold]

The sad thing about this is that it will give the extreme protesters like PETA ammunition to say that all of us are like this.

It's not only social license that's needed, it's also the necessity for all those involved with horses in any way to realise that every interaction with their horses can/will be watched and, in these days, filmed and published on the internet, where nothing ever 'dies' and is there for posterity.

As in many walks of life a lot of people seem to think that 'rules' don't apply to them. It will be interesting to see if the FEI gets involved. It's taken a long time for them to act in regard to endurance in the Arab states.

I do think however that Denmark authorities will act in their own right.

 

[tristar]

the bits he is using in those photos are interesting, very thin weymouth and what looks similar to hanging mouth snaffle, dunno though really

i think its must seem like a severe and grossly unfair intrusion to enter someone`s property and film their daily life, but seeing what is being done to horses there, probably the only way to speak for the horses who are being subjected to this this type of riding, and hopefully bring about and end to the illusion that these people are great riders and trainers, when they are in fact unknowledgeable, and have poor horsemanship skills

 

[McFluff]

It’s traumatic that behaviour happens on professional yards that is worthy of undercover filming.
I would hope that on most yards the filming would give rather dull footage (it would on mine for sure), and on good professional yards it should result in evidence of good practice.
I feel for the staff, they are unlikely to have any protection, and possibly even subject to similar abuse themselves (not all, I’m sure some do the behaviour to horses themselves, but I know from a friend who was on a dodgy pro yard, showjumping in her case, she stayed to try and help the horses and show them some kindness).

 

[hock]

I recently got pulled up by HHO for mentioning the very shocking practises carried out by a UK rider. I was very disappointed about their response but not surprised. It brings it home why people like Jimmy Saville were able to do what they did because no one would put their head above the parapet.

I remember once my unhorsey dad watching GP dressage and him saying it was grotesque (early totilas days) I rolled my eyes and told him he didn’t understand. But he did understand, it was I who was lacking.

 

[Goldenstar]

There never has been a sport that was not ruined by large amounts of money Dressage is just another on the list .

whatever it is , it’s not going to be pretty .

 

[tristar]

I recently got pulled up by HHO for mentioning the very shocking practises carried out by a UK rider. I was very disappointed about their response but not surprised. It brings it home why people like Jimmy Saville were able to do what they did because no one would put their head above the parapet.

I remember once my unhorsey dad watching GP dressage and him saying it was grotesque (early totilas days) I rolled my eyes and told him he didn’t understand. But he did understand, it was I who was lacking.

agree 100 per cent

 

[tristar]

Seeing as he rides like this in public....View attachment 116337

i really wish someone could explain to me:

why he is riding like that? what make him feel he needs to do that? what is going on or wrong in what he is feeling from the horse that he feels it is necessary to take up such a strong hold on the mouth and lean right back?


what is he hoping to achieve?


why does he think he can do this in public? and not be held to account?

 

[reynold]

Arrogance that he knows better than anyone else.

Bullying that he demands total submission from the horse.

Money as stated above - the need to win/succeed at any cost.

None of them nice personal characteristics

 

[ihatework]

i really wish someone could explain to me:

why he is riding like that? what make him feel he needs to do that? what is going on or wrong in what he is feeling from the horse that he feels it is necessary to take up such a strong hold on the mouth and lean right back?


what is he hoping to achieve?


why does he think he can do this in public? and not be held to account?

The psychology fascinates me.

Obviously I don’t condone it and it’s awful for the horse!

But the combination of upbringing, commercial pressure, historical training influence, IQ, personality traits etc etc … all wrapped up and leads to a situation where they either believe it’s acceptable, or deep down know it’s not but are stuck in a system and can’t find a way out