Spurs or no spurs?

This is obviously all going from one very flat extension posted of a horse running on its forehand with its nose strapped up way too tightly. The rider graphically not in the centre of the saddle. I suspect it's a correct deduction.

If the horse was younger I would say he's not ready for an extension. Not nearly. More transitions more basic basic work before being asked for extensions. But hey you are already talking one time changes down the centre line. Ooops

On a positive note at least he isn't forced into a frame between hand, spur, whip and rigid spine and seat. As is so commonly seen in sale yards across Europe and not only in amateur dressage but a lot at Grand Prix level in competition.

I might add in the Netherlands this is rarely found, a round frame is desired in younger horses and correctly so. No one there at least it seems wants to end up with a horse at Grand Prix level with irreparable lordosis (dipped back) a trailing hind end, straight front legs thrown into the wind, head held up with high hands on the curb, nose clamped shut in with a crank cavesson and being jabbed continuously with spurs.

I see alert signals in the overly tight drop nose band that not everything is right. That he is being asked to do things he's not capable of doing possibly?

If running across the diagonal at a riding school three times a day with his nose wired closed means he has a job so be it but I wouldn't envy him.

Feel free to shoot the messenger. I care more about the horse than the rider to be at all worried.

As per previous post - he was Advanced Medium at this point, and I have previously agreed that a drop is not my choice. He goes in a french link snaffle and a cavesson now, or a double. i believe that he was in a drop at this point because he was rather large and strong for a small lady rider. None of that applies now

Not sure why you keep banging on about extensions. This was a centre line picture, in working trot. Not sure what element of the pic leads you to think that any extension was being asked for?
 
How drearily dull and pretentious. "I do..." Are we to assume here that you're stricken with class envy?

You assume wrongly - I wouldn't wish to regress downwards.

You're heading for being sued with your second remark. But thats probably the only excitement you will ever get in your life so.... maybe you only wish someone would pay you that much attention. Can't imagine anyone ever will but you've definitely lost all of mine with your desperate and crass attempt to get a heated reaction.

Oh, how excellent! Please, please do so! I can guarantee you that I would find that most enjoyable! Extra-territorial jurisdiction is just my thing!

But Koen, there are quite a lot of worrying elements in your posts. Why you feel it necessary to talk about having a young child in them, I do not know. Why is it that you felt it necessary to do so?
 
Yes but the entire GP dressage world is doing it wrong. Haven't you grasped that simple concept yet.

Obviously.

Charlotte Dujardin only wins because her shiny white teeth blind the judges and so they can't see her swingy, spurry legs, and mistake Valegro running through her hands in pain as 'forwardness.'

Stupid judges. Have no idea!
 
Obviously.

Charlotte Dujardin only wins because her shiny white teeth blind the judges and so they can't see her swingy, spurry legs, and mistake Valegro running through her hands in pain as 'forwardness.'

Stupid judges. Have no idea!

Yep such unknowledgeable people these judges are and also GP riders have been doing it wrong for years.

Koen maybe you can post a link to video of a dressage rider doing it right as it appears our top riders are all doing it wrong
 
Yep such unknowledgeable people these judges are and also GP riders have been doing it wrong for years.

Koen maybe you can post a link to video of a dressage rider doing it right as it appears our top riders are all doing it wrong

LaMooch, I think it is only Koen who does it 'correctly'!
 
This was a centre line picture, in working trot. Not sure what element of the pic leads you to think that any extension was being asked for?

My mistake, its her extreme effort involved that led me to assume she as trying for something extended. Working trot? OK.
 
Koen, I've been reading this thread thinking you were deliberately causing a stink for your own amusement.
Then thinking you had an ego the size of the universe and were arrogant enough to believe only you're opinions were worthy.
I've settled on believing you are a sad lonely person who uses google to find information and other people's opinions, to form some crazy argument to try and appear an important person in the horse world. Others have asked for pictorial examples of yourself achieving the results you claim.
Not a chance is there ?
You entertained me for a while, I'm bored now.
A shame really, as a debate on the use of spurs could have been an interesting one. Sadly your ridiculous posts rendered that impossible.
 
Last edited:
My mistake, its her extreme effort involved that led me to assume she as trying for something extended. Working trot? OK.

You WHAT? Now I really wonder about you. The rider is sitting quietly - hardly flapping around making an extreme effort. This is not a horse you can kick away at. He doesn't appreciate it, and he will make his feelings clear.

At any point,can we expect to hear what qualifies you to pass such sweeping judgements on horses and riders, who, for all we know, have achieved things that you can only dream of?

If you are as lofty in the dressage world as you would have us believe, you would be able to correctly identify working/medium/extended trot. Simply knowing by looking at the layout that the horse was on the centre line would be a pretty good indicator - even if you aren't able to tell the difference by looking at the horse!
 
Last edited:
Koen, do you not count the world best four and five year old, Farouche, as a good horse? Or do you somehow assume that she is so good she must be Dutch bred?
 
I think Koen is looking at a different picture. I can't see any extreme effort in Auslander's photo. I'm not really sure how any photo could show extreme effort unless the rider was red faced, legs and arms in a 'flapping' position.
 
I think Koen is looking at a different picture. I can't see any extreme effort in Auslander's photo. I'm not really sure how any photo could show extreme effort unless the rider was red faced, legs and arms in a 'flapping' position.

Depends how much Koen has had to drink then the photo will move and look like the rider is flapping
 
It made me laugh. I forgot who I was sitting on and gave him a kick because he was spooking at the hose/snake. Very nearly ended up on the barn roof!
 
What I don't get is, the thread is "Spurs or no spurs". Koen has said that spurs should be banned, however, when comparing 2 videos both riders are wearing spurs? Shouldn't we be shown a video of a rider performing high level dressage moves NOT wearing spurs?

exactly what I was just thinking?!?!?
 
Hurrah! Welcome back - you were missed :).

P

I am pretty confident that your feelings are not unanimous across the board :), but thank you and Alec.

Can I also remind Koen and any other people who do not know, that horse breeding on the continent is State sponsored, with massive subsidy by French, German, Dutch, Danish and I think Swedish tax payers, in the recent past if not now.

In the UK, not only does our horse breeding industry stand on its own two feet, (should that be four :) ??) but it pays huge local taxes because of business rates on the size of the buildings needed for a high class operation.

In the circumstances, we are doing brilliantly well in horse breeding; second to none in breeding great hunters and eventers, and anyone whose jaw does not drop when they see Farouche in the flesh needs their eyes tested :)
 
Koen must ride a KWPM import called Alter Ego van het Buitenlander, along with his second horse, Kleintje Voetjes van t'veldt bij de Bergland![/QUOTE

Hi Mithras,

Please help - what does this mean?? I am getting very confused with all the ?? Dutch?? bits in here

Thankees
 
Top