Munchkin
Well-Known Member
... why not the cruelty in the showing world, which is far more widespread and often much worse?
I am fully aware that this thread will cause some controversy but I've had a glass of red so frankly I don't care.
So, having been involved with dressage to a reasonable level, SJ and showing at the top level, I can honestly say that what I've seen in the showing world beats anything I've seen anywhere else hands down.
What's more, this isn't "the odd rider" or "the odd yard", it's blatent cruelty that has become perfectly acceptable and often mandatory to fit in.
Whilst Rollkur disgusts me I'm impressed at the way the majority of the dressage world has stood together to campaign against it being used as a tool of abuse.
Here is a short list of things I witnessed on a daily basis whilst being involved in the world of showing:
1. The one they all use, tying their ponies' heads in and leaving them in their stables 24/7 to "produce topline"
2. The other one they all use, over feeding to "produce topline"
3. Slicing the corner of the ponies' mouths to make sure they cannot take any contact and hurt dear little brat's hands... god forbid brat should learn to ride, how yesterday!
4. Lunging all night in tight side reins (people doing shifts through the night) in trot to ensure pony is too exhausted to misbehave with child in the ring the following day
5. Following above, withholding water and feeding enormous feed immediately prior to ring entry
6. Dyeing ponies who made have inadvertently seen sunlight and bleached their coats. Or, in fact, because they fancy them black rather than bay that day.
7. Painting white markings onto their faces with paint that does, after a few uses, burn the skin and scar the white mark on permanently. Wouldn't want a plain face now would we?
8. Tying horse's head to its tail and again forcing it to stand all day twisted round, to "teach it to respect the rein"
9. Feeding so much the pony ends up with laminitis, but continuing to feed it the same amount for the rest of its short life whilst filling it with bute to reduce the inflammation in its feet. One died of liver failure in the time I was there (NOT very long)
10. Lunging in hyperflexion, or tying horse down into hyperflexion then riding it with no contact on usual reins. Also saw two horses die this way after flipping over to escape the discomfort (sadly whilst being lunged, rather than onto their riders)
11. Rugging up to the eyeballs in the middle of summer whilst standing ponies under hot lamps to the point where they were blowing and sweating (but it's okay, because it keeps their coats looking nice (and costs less in hair dye))
That's just off the top of my head.
Before the "but there are good and bad people in every sport" brigade turns up, please save it. This stuff is normal, everyday showing producing and I couldn't count the number of times I heard "yes we know it's cruel but it works"...
So, back to the original query. Why all the fuss about dressage riders using Rollkur, show jumpers using draw reins, but not about this?
I am fully aware that this thread will cause some controversy but I've had a glass of red so frankly I don't care.
So, having been involved with dressage to a reasonable level, SJ and showing at the top level, I can honestly say that what I've seen in the showing world beats anything I've seen anywhere else hands down.
What's more, this isn't "the odd rider" or "the odd yard", it's blatent cruelty that has become perfectly acceptable and often mandatory to fit in.
Whilst Rollkur disgusts me I'm impressed at the way the majority of the dressage world has stood together to campaign against it being used as a tool of abuse.
Here is a short list of things I witnessed on a daily basis whilst being involved in the world of showing:
1. The one they all use, tying their ponies' heads in and leaving them in their stables 24/7 to "produce topline"
2. The other one they all use, over feeding to "produce topline"
3. Slicing the corner of the ponies' mouths to make sure they cannot take any contact and hurt dear little brat's hands... god forbid brat should learn to ride, how yesterday!
4. Lunging all night in tight side reins (people doing shifts through the night) in trot to ensure pony is too exhausted to misbehave with child in the ring the following day
5. Following above, withholding water and feeding enormous feed immediately prior to ring entry
6. Dyeing ponies who made have inadvertently seen sunlight and bleached their coats. Or, in fact, because they fancy them black rather than bay that day.
7. Painting white markings onto their faces with paint that does, after a few uses, burn the skin and scar the white mark on permanently. Wouldn't want a plain face now would we?
8. Tying horse's head to its tail and again forcing it to stand all day twisted round, to "teach it to respect the rein"
9. Feeding so much the pony ends up with laminitis, but continuing to feed it the same amount for the rest of its short life whilst filling it with bute to reduce the inflammation in its feet. One died of liver failure in the time I was there (NOT very long)
10. Lunging in hyperflexion, or tying horse down into hyperflexion then riding it with no contact on usual reins. Also saw two horses die this way after flipping over to escape the discomfort (sadly whilst being lunged, rather than onto their riders)
11. Rugging up to the eyeballs in the middle of summer whilst standing ponies under hot lamps to the point where they were blowing and sweating (but it's okay, because it keeps their coats looking nice (and costs less in hair dye))
That's just off the top of my head.
Before the "but there are good and bad people in every sport" brigade turns up, please save it. This stuff is normal, everyday showing producing and I couldn't count the number of times I heard "yes we know it's cruel but it works"...
So, back to the original query. Why all the fuss about dressage riders using Rollkur, show jumpers using draw reins, but not about this?
