Horses for LIFE Publications

Tell us what you think!

Would you like to see more joy and fun in your riding?

Do you agree with Dr Gerd Heuschmann?

Do you agree that rollkur passes all international boundaries and that we need to speak up?

Have you tried the Rider Exercises? Tell us about your success!

What is dressage to you!

Add Your Voice available but you can also send your Letters to the Editor.

Comments

The Release Before
Written by tolson on 2007-06-20 22:21:09

Your article on “Be ready to release before” was much appreciated –powerful words . . . I really liked it.

Be ready to release before it happens…release at the thought… is something that a teacher of mine has said to me many times in the past several years. If we wait to release until the horse completes the movement, we are too late and an opportunity to build lightness is lost. I couldn’t agree more! (Feel, timing, balance).

Another concept that I feel parallels this – is the concept of the rider’s request or idea holding “zero pressure” and absolute comfort for the horse…so that instead of them learning to move away from pressure they learn to move into comfort. Is the horse still moving away from pressure? Technically, yes – but I find that it is my intention as a rider in what I’m presenting that seems to make all of the difference. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here. For me this was like a giant light bulb going off. Instead of thinking about using my leg to make my horse leg yield – I would think about opening a spot of zero pressure and comfort for my horse to move into.

I also wanted to say thank you and express support and “bravo” to Horses for Life and all of the people with integrity and courage that have published and made known what is going on in dressage competition (with Rolkur). You are the voice for the horse…the horses lawyer – here to help them get a better deal.

Thank you for continuing your wonderful publications. I enjoy reading each issue!

Rollkur Debaucle
Written by cpopp25 on 2007-06-20 23:14:08

Rollkur Again
Written by cpopp25 on 2007-06-20 23:39:23

In answer to your June '07 article about rollkur a year later. I think the answer is as plain as the nose on m face: Rollkur will not stop because its use has to do with money. Ernst Hoyos said it best in his Dressage Today interview when asked about rollkur and the abuse and stress put on young horses competing in the Young Horse Competitions where 5 and 6 year olds are being asked to produce extravagant gaits and to execute demanding movements which they are too young to do. He said "This is business riding. It is not for the good of the horse but for breeders and trainers to promote their stallions and to make money. " He went on to say most of the horses who compete in this event are mentally and physically "cooked" by eight years old. Still, no one will change it because they want to make more money.

Let's face it, they train these horses in rollkur so they can gain control of them QUICKLY. The riders/trainers who are using this method are just as aware of the incorrect and damaging effects of rollkur as you and I and the many other true horsemen and women who damn the rollkur. However, they will not stop because they earn their living selling horses and being successful at any cost in the show ring.

To answer your question, YES! To knowingly do something hurtful to someone, a horse, IS evil and, in my mind, it is criminal. It is animal abuse. What kills me is all of the interviews done with the most famous and celebrated users of rollkur who tell the World how much they love horses. What they love is themselves and the notariety, praise and fame they receive when they win while using methods I consider abusive. What they love even more is all the money they rake in as a result of their fame and winning at the EXPENSE of their horses! Ernst Hoyos also said in his Dressage Today interview that he would love to see judges posted in the warm up area and have 25% of the score come from the warm up. This way the riders cannot ride like barbarians in the warm up and then canter down the centerline like angels in front of the judge. I couldn't agree with him more.

I think the only way to beat this rollkur thing for the sake of all horses is to send enough damning correspondence to the FEI from as many people as possible so that they are overwhelmed by the public outcry. Something similar was done years back to stop the Tennessee Walking Horse people from soring their horses, keeping them in dark stalls before competition, docking and breaking their tails, etc. With enough public outcry and some television coverage, laws were finally passed to stop it. It is now against the rules for a horse to be presented for competition that is not natural.

Just my two cents and I don't care WHERE my name appears. I will stand up to anyone who wants to go toe to toe with me on this barbarian tactic called rollkur! After all, in a democracy you are entitled to your opinion. Carol Popp

Rollkur, how to end it...
Written by francisco on 2007-06-21 02:51:20

Hi!

Rollkur-Over Flexion, besides "business" it's a training approach that develops the horse hind legs, back, and makes a "comfortable" ride to the trainer.

BUT! It means also, the lack of knowledge of the LEG aids of the rider.

It gets sometimes "boreing" to see complaints and not a guideline to "vanish" the use of this kind of overflexion.

It is easy, don't BLAME. The ONLY way to erase the rollkur position in the warm-up arena and in the tests, it's SIMPLE, just ask the FEI to introduce, in the tests, a movemnt that will CURE IT.

This movemnt is the COUNTER PIROUETTE ON THE FOREHAND. At the walk, trot and canter depending on the level of the test.

And I GUARANTEE that the rollkur position and the overflexion of horses will END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you got a NEW "rock" to throw to the FEI.

And I am sure that it will take half the effort of what this subject has done, to begin seeing a difference.

Francisco Treviño

This idea is "registred"

Riders Exercize:The Hands Start Here.
Written by sandy on 2007-06-21 21:53:24

Enjoying your June issue.Thank you. The French have a saying that we should ride with " hands that move WITHOUT moving ".This avoids the lifeless,dead hand, so detrimental to Academic Riding. From another point of view,and you alluded to it,the issue was summed up by Oliveira when he said " Follow your horse's mouth with a supple back "
Warm regards,
Sandy D.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Your subscription will include access to
A FULL PAST YEAR OF ISSUES!
Over 190 Articles!!!

For the Instructor, For the Rider, For the Horse.
Horses For LIFE - International Magazine.

Enjoy the free articles in every issue available for Registered Members! Registration is FREE! Look for the asterisk * that denotes Free Articles!

[ Back ]