Richard Davison in today's H&H.....

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Halfstep

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....in his article today he mentions that a spectator accosted "one of the top riders" at the BD nationals while they were warming up their horse "in a slightly rounder neck position", and accused them of being a Rollkur user.

It sounds like a bit of a scene was made.

How strange....
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Surely there is a time and a place for complaints and having a go at a rider at a championship isn't one of them! I think this shows that the whole rollkur furore has gone way too far imho.
 
If anyone ever did that to me whilst warming up id tell them to b*gger off and mind thier own business!!!!!

Havent read his comment yet, will be doing so over breakfast tomorrow
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Can you imagine! I'd be sooooooooo livid. So guys, watch out for the self appointed warm up police! God forbid your horse drops his head behind the vertical for one moment - you'll be sorry! LOL.
 
Hmmm, so when that Pony that everyone was complaining about was being warmed up ............................. didnt see any comments like this then.

I dont know the exact case here and dont normally like to comment on things that arent very clear but sometimes people have to question what they see - despite the position of the person doing it.
 
oh my god i cant beleive that - if someone did that to me they would be dead as gadget would squash them probably !!

that isnt right though there is a time and a place !
 
Power and Paint wasn't being warmed up in Rollkur (or in any other kind of training technique). He was in sidereins which were incontestably too tight and illegal. His trainer said they had been put on wrong and were removed. No comparison, surely?
 
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Power and Paint wasn't being warmed up in Rollkur (or in any other kind of training technique). He was in sidereins which were incontestably too tight and illegal. His trainer said they had been put on wrong and were removed. No comparison, surely?

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Exactly, that pony was being 'warmed up' (i use that term loosly) in draw reins that were so tight the poor thing could hardly move.
 
Sorry as I said cant compare, as I dont know the details.

However with Power and Paint, I thought the report stated that the side reins were only taken off after a longish period of time and when they realised theyd been caught out.

My point really despite any of the details is that if we suspect cruelty in any shape or form should we not question or report it.
 
QR
I can see what mickey66 is saying though - if you saw cruelty in the warm up or what you perceived to be cruelty would you say something? Who is to say that the person warming up wasn't using rolkur?
We are all very quick to condemn without knowing both sides of the story.
 
I've got no idea what was happening in this case - but if anyone, spectator or another competitor, sees something at a competition that means they are concerned for the horse's wellbeing, then they should let the stewards there know of their concerns immediately - and not wait until afterwards when it is too late. If the steward agrees, then they have the power to intervene and do something about it. I am not sure talking to a rider in those circumstances is the right thing - there are going to be far too many emotions from both sides, but the stewards at the nationals are very experienced and professional - and tactful - and I'm sure they could be trusted to act appropriately to both parties.
 
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QR

Nothing wrong in disapproving off something, but there are right ways to go about complaining - ie to organisers or BD. Not appropriate to tackle the rider.

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I agree however I imagine(hope) in this case emotion got in the way, I am only guessing here mind you. (Just trying to play devils advocate really)
 
Its all guesswork really.

Perhaps it would be good to know the full details to inform the debate, Richard has certainly opened a can off worms on this one and perhaps this was his intention??
 
Thoroughly endorse the comments about reporting any perceived abuse to the stewards. No excuse not to as those at the Nationals wear tabards - this year in an eye catching red.

If a spectator is concerned, then they should discuss their concerns with a steward. If approached in a polite manner demonstrating concern for welfare, then no offence can be taken.

In this particular instance, the rider and his/her associates, were more than capable of dealing with the complainer. However I do think that the wind was taken out of her sails when she said words to the effect of "If you're not careful this horse will end up looking like xxxxxxx" (rider's top horse). To which the rider replied - "This is xxxxxxx"!
 
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PMSL!
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Definately nothing wrong with raising concern, but like others have said it should be done in a sensitive way. I would be livid if someone had a go at me like that while competing!
 
I don't know anything about this case but seeing a well known rider riding in drawreins in the warm up area at a show did make me cross. I did mention it to the steward but as he rides there and was on a horse he was not competing [although he was competing that day on other horses] she said she couldn't say anything and I think in some way you could lose out in the long run by complaining.Just hope they will think twice before showing the training scheme they use in future
 
QR.

In theory reporting potential abuse to stewards is the way to deal with these issues.

However having done so myself some years ago at a national competition and finding absolutely no action was taken AT ALL (not even checking that my complaint was valid (which it was and I wasnt the only one to complain), have little faith in reporting anything to be honest.

Complain away but of the object of you concern is a big name dont expect too much response.
 
Wow!!!!! I better get my boy working his "rearend" more before I set foot near the Nationals again or they will think I am doing Rollkur badly!!!! On a serious note though, I think any kind of abuse should be reported to a steward who can assess the situation and take it further if necessary.
 
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