Patrik Kittel not punished by the FEI re "blue tongue" debate

little_flea

little_flea

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FEI's investigation into the "blue tongue" debate fails to show conclusive proof that Kittel warmed Scandic up in an unsuitable manner at Odense - the case will not be taken to tribunal, and there will not be any warnings of penalties.

Kittel has also received a letter with tips on how to warm up/not warm up a horse, and he will be monitored in following competitions in regards to horse welfare.

Source: "Ridsport", Sweden
 
Yes good result for him not so good for horsmanship ... ride em into the ground as long as it looks good in the test... then thats ok in the current dressage more is better thinking
frown.gif

IMHO..
 
good....they need to decide if they want to ban roll kur or not before punishing individual riders for something caught on camera
 
Im not surprised as it would open a whole new can of worms. Whether they made the right decision or not is another matter
 
Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the whole video was ever released? The company said they had footage of the entire warm up, showing the duration and extent of "abuse" but wouldn't turn it over to the FEI.

This is a complicated situation and organisations have to live by not only their own rules, but by the rule of law. I would agree it's a "can of worms" but until they have a workable system to address the specific situation in place I don't see how they can punish someone on the basis of incomplete video evidence without witnesses to context etc and similar investigation into other riders as well.
 
I actually believe that the whole issue has again been side stepped by the FEI.

There is no reason on this earth that a rider has to inflict that much force that a horses tongue goes blue. Whether it is the whole video or part of, it is not acceptable.

Isnt dressage about beauty, unity, ease, natural athletisism and dancing? Not force, abuse and slavery.

Any rider, whatever discipline should be immediatly suspended from their sport for excessive use of aids or aids that cause distress to their animal.

It is about time governing bodies should lay down specific guidelines as to what is acceptable and what isnt and any horse showing a tongue that is blue is not acceptable whatever discipline you are in.
 
Agree with post above, this matter has been side stepped by the FEI. In the report it says that Kittel will be monitored and watched when warming up in future, surely if this is necessary then they are admitting that he is in fact guilty....they are just choosing to let it slide? Any horse ridden in this way is being subjected to cruuelty and bad riding, the photos of him riding the horse in question look stiff, dead and mechanical, horse looks totally depressed. IMO this is a sad decision for dressage.
 
FEI Code of Conduct
1.The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) requires all those involved in international equestrian sport to adhere to the FEI?s Code of Conduct and to acknowledge and accept that at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount and must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences.


2.At all stages during the preparation and training of competition horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands. This includes good horse management, training methods, farriery and tack, and transportation.


3.Horses and competitors must be fit, competent and in good health before they are allowed to compete. This encompasses medication use, surgical procedures that threaten welfare or safety, pregnancy in mares and the misuse of aids.


4.Events must not prejudice horse welfare. This involves paying careful attention to the competition areas, ground surfaces, weather conditions, stabling, site safety and fitness of the horse for onward travel after the event.


5.Every effort must be made to ensure that horses receive proper attention after they have competed and that they are treated humanely when their competition careers are over. This covers proper veterinary care, competition injuries, euthanasia and retirement.


*laughs hollowly and sadly*
 
I don't quite know what to say about the FEI's verdict. For me, seeing PK ride in this way was heartbreaking. I will never ever watch competitive dressage again. I can't understand how anyone, at any level, could treat their horse in that way, even for such a short period of time.

That said, there are bigger issues than simply how/if to punish PK. The FEI, IMHO, need to set out some clear guidelines about rollkur. It seems to me that they refuse to condemn it as a training method so it stands to reason that the FEI weren't going to punish him. I also believe that EPONA TV refused to hand over the entire 90 mins of footage they said they had? If this is true then it makes me wonder whether they really did only have a few mins of him riding in rollkur. Whether he rode that way for 90mins or 5 mins, for me it is still cruelty, but I think there is a whole culture that needs to be addressed.

The FEI should have had more balls though and stood up to PK with regards to his public training methods. In an ideal world they might have punished him and then thrown themselves into either changing their rules, or adhering to those Kerilli posted
smirk.gif
 
http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/the-science-against-it

I suppose this confirms for me that 'abuse' 'pain' 'suffering' are different depending on who is talking,what animal is involved and what motives are involved!!!
Money, fame and power, are they really all we want/need????

So depressing and sad, but that's my opinion.

Mta. At least the BHS is prepared to cut through the smoke and mirrors and be a voice for horses!!!
 
I think it is heartbreaking that you would not want to watch competitive dressage again after this, I don't know you're level of interest up to now, but actually it doesn't matter here. What does matter is this strong indicator of perception.

From a pragmatic point of view, it is a point of law that evidence has to be produced before - and I use this word only because it is in the title of the thread - someone is PUNISHED for wrong doing. Before that they have to be charged, tried and sentenced on evidence.

The point here is that this film was not evidence to 'convict' of cruelty. There numerous instances of tests where riders' chances have been blown by the horse getting his tongue over the bit - I am not going to list them here.

We do not have the information as to how this film was constructed, and I use the work constructed for a reason. I totally agree with those who feel what it showed was ugly and it was unproductive.

However, how many riders can be pretty and productive all the time, GP level or not? I wonder how long it will be before someone raise privacy law as to this sort of film being published. The makers of the film, in my humble opinion, have a lot to answer for. But, let's face it, sensationalism is everywhere.

I would lay money that the FEI will never get serious against RollKur. There is too much money in it, too many names, and what can they do anyway? Look at the state of the anti-doping policy - gee whizz!


Personally, the pictures of horses working with their faces parallel to the floor make me feel physically sick. Foremost, it is an insult to the horse.

But I am and have been for many years an afficionado of working horse in deep and round frame - for a time - not for hours on end. Now there are groups who would target all of us with the same brush.

This is bloody sad, but it's the wider perspective that's more important here and how that's addressed God only knows!
 
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