rollkur... how sad

that is awful
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been discussed in news last week
horrible thing to see

and the french forum stated that the trainer welcomed people to her establishment to watch horses being trained. I asked the question then if anyone here had actually been to her stables in Holland and watched training sessions....?
 
What the hell is wrong with some people? It is a shame that nobody can strap the trainer's head to his chest and make him run round and round in circles, hardly able to breathe properly, let alone see where he is going. Grrrrr, makes my blood boil it really does.
 
I've been following the debate on this pony (there was a long discussion (Friday Afternoon debate - Competition News) on HHO two weeks ago).

There has been a very strong reaction all around the world to these photos - everyone who sees them is appalled. I spoke to a Swedish friend last night who said it is in the newspapers over there. She said Swedish classical dressage trainers have been condemning rollkur for some time and I think these photos are just the last straw.

Coby van Baalan's excuse ("we did the side reins up wrong!") is a load of &*()(*&(&. One thing I've discovered about rollkur confirms my own impressions - its about putting the horse into extreme submission - a psychological tool. I can't believe that horses are lunged in the rollkur position as it seems far more severe - the side reins can't give or release. This pony must be used to being in this position as he's accepting it so calmly.

I'm so worked up about this I want to protest somewhere. Its the kid's involvement that really disturbs me - is this the future for horses? Apparently they were not breaking any rules by doing this as a warm up.
 
So this is why the Dutch are doing so well at Dressage eh? I used to much admire the likes of Anky Van Grunsven but she too is an advocate of this 'method' of training, makes me want to kick their asses from here into next week. This is abuse, there's no other word for it IMO.
 
It makes me sad. If you love horses and love being around them.... WHY???? would you want to do this to them. I do not see a relaxed happy horse. He is hollow through his back, his mouth looks like it is being pulled very hard. He just looks unhappy to me.. what a sad thing that he has become used to being treated in this way
 
We had a debate on this poor pony in Comp Riders a couple of weeks ago - i cant believe that that pony can win at such a high level, when its so weak over its back
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And i also cant believe the trainer when she said it was a one off - the size of the ponies neck muscles, and the obvious weakness over its back and in its hind quarters clearly show that it is NOT a one off
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laureah, it's money, unfortunately. i, too, saw red over this, and emailed privately about it. still awaiting a reply. i kept it polite (quite proud of myself actually). the excuse that they did them up wrong and changed them is complete ****, if you do a side-rein up too tight on a horse that's not used to it (and i'm talking 1 1/2 foot long not 2 foot, say, not 8" long!) that horse will react extremely. this poor pony just accepts it, so i'd lay a LOT of money that this isn't the first time.
unfortunately it increases front-leg lift (see my long post in the Comp Rider's Rollkur thread) which is what the judges, love, so it makes winners = money, fame, success.
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all at the expense of the horse.
 
Poor poor pony

that really makes me mad

"did the side reins up wrong" i should bloody say so - one clip end on the roller - the other to the bit!
not both to the roller with the bit 'inbetween'

it bloody abuse
 
I don't know if people can read french on the other forum, but just in case you are interested....


The photographer who took the pictures has posted a reply to the statement posted by Coby van Baalen:

He said "wrong" to each part of the statement, then went on to sign it:

"The photographer, in the presence of which you were very very embarassed."

He also said:

"I was there, I saw everything during about 15 / 20 minutes and had enough so stopped myself from staying up until the end. I have even exchanged words with the owner of the pony who was embaressed, as was the trainer."

".....Mister Sputter that telephoned, and with that I spoke [to him] for 10 minutes (about something else) after I had taken the photos...this that allowed me to note that the pony continued to be worked same manner for some time."


My French isn't very good though, but I think that gives you the gist of it.
 
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