JUNE 2006 • VOLUME 10 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Dear Sir, Madam,

There is currently heated debate about the LDR/Hyper flexion/Rollkur Method of riding, not only within the FEI, but also among a large group of horse friends and riders across the whole world. We believe that credible and well founded conclusions must be backed not only by scientific research, but also by an analysis of photo and video material on the practical and systematic use of this riding technique. Such material has neither been published by the riders/trainers using the method nor by the press or other media. However it is an essential component of the debate.

The past few years, our institute has researched and analysed the common practice and underlying theory of the Rollkur/LDR/Hyper flexion method of riding and training dressage horses. We have analysed in total more than 10 hours of video samples of riders using the Janssen Training System in the warming up area, during the test and after the test. Our analyses (which we carried out in cooperation with equine specialists in the Netherlands and other countries) led us to the conclusion that this method, or rather the essence of it goes against the aim of dressage (physically, mechanically and mentally), the dressage training scala and horses’ biomechanical and ethological nature (the nature of the horse's body and mind). Following the very vague statement made at the FEI workshop, we are very concerned that this method will become more and more accepted at all levels of riding. It has a negative influence on riders’ attitude towards horses and poses a threat in terms of ethics.

It is our belief that some of the photo- and video material we have collected can help to analyse these impacts. This approach to riding has practical implications. This is why we decided to make the material in question public.