Horses for Life

February 2008 • VOLUME 30 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Each month, many of our readers leave their voice. Here is one voice, a voice that is telling a common story that many of you are telling us. Hopefully by bringing our voices together, we can no longer be ignored.

Rollkur - From a German Point of View Written by Laura on 2006-08-27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a German horse trainer who just flew in 4 weeks ago, to live in California with my husband for the next 3 years. First I want to say that I am VERY happy about the fact that over here people pay attention to how they ride their horses in a good, honest way. Also I want to say, that it was acknowledged by the FN that I was over-qualified for an apprenticeship for Bereiter. I had the honor of being allowed to work officially, without having to do the apprenticeship and taking the test after 4 years of working in this profession.

My message to the FEI would be the following:

10 years ago I was almost kicked out of the Hessian Squad of Junior Riders, because my horse came a little bit behind the vertical during very short moments of trying to collect it before starting the actual work at clinics with trainers such as Schmezer, Kuckluck, Peilicke, Boldt, Schuhmacher and many more. Their explanation was that the horse is restricted in its ability to see and that it will, no matter what, fall onto the forehand. Also I was told by Holger Schmezer, that "riding like my horse's tail is on fire" will have the same effect and will hurt the horse on the long run. What you see at international competitions, in the warm up area, is a connection of the two. Horses FAR behind the vertical, at breathtaking speed, on the forehand, unable to see where they are going. Dead, rolling eyes, animals that have lost that pride which they are so very appreciated for, one of the things that fascinates even people who do not ride or own a horse.

I remember one of my friends getting kicked out of the Squad, because she was not able to hold the reins in an acceptable manner when riding on a double bridle. They told her that she is hurting the horse and that she is obviously not ready to start a career as a first class rider.

In order to get into the Squad, we had to sign a paper that says that we will always obey the rules of the LPO, will never torture or mistreat our horses, will never get unfair and will always grant access to our stables and horses to higher authorities such as FEI and FN, as well as DOKR. Also we had to sign that we will always follow our trainer and will always be a role model at competitions in the treatment of our horses, colleagues and people around us.

I had to sign this paper once a year, when I was called into the national squad, that paper got even longer.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS??? I know that riders at all levels in a squad in Germany still have to sign this paper, so why is nobody interfering? What happened to us, knowing that these animals are helpless when it comes to a fight against the human being? These animals depend on us, they get fed, watered and their freedom through us, how can we torture these animals, that are forced into trusting us? The old Reitmeisters watered and fed their stallions personally by hand, to make sure these horses knew who was the boss and to maintain a trusting relationship to the horse. Some of these stallions would only be handled by one single person, because they knew that their life depended on these humans. They were never treated unfairly by these, because they knew about this situation.

I quit my last job because my boss forced me into doping her horses at a CDI***. I talked to the FEI and they did not do anything about it. They only told me, that they are proud to know such an honest rider and that they wish me luck for my career in the future. What does that tell you?!?

From a very disappointed international dressage rider.

Tell us what you think!

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

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

Tell us about your success!

What is your relationship with your horse all about!

What do you think about imprinting?

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Comments

mrs
Written by claref.byrne on 2008-03-07 11:11:24

I was interested to read the Feb article on the silence of horses. I have started an online petition on the UK 10 Downing Street website calling for a ban on whips and spurs in all equestrian competition. If any UK readers agree that this would improve the lot of our horses please sign up and spread the word. Thanks

Written by argosadler on 2008-03-08 03:47:38

It seems to me it is all about short cuts now,Where have the real horsemen gone? We have to imprint foals in the first hour ,but why when we have the rest of their lives to build a relationship, a connection? Where is the skill in bullying a foal at 1 hour old? We see Rollkur instead of the sympathetic and time comsuming training because we must reach a certain level in a certain time frame. When does it stop being about us and become all about the horse.When does the horse stop paying for our shortcomings?There is so much to discover about ourselves and our world through relationships with others and other species.I think that we have lost much of our ability to feel and to listen to others.

Heather Moffett
Written by enlighteneduk on 2008-03-08 14:51:30

Lovely to see Rodrigo, Charlotte, and of course, Morgado, featured here Nadja! I have known Charlotte since she arrived at Luis Valenca's and got to know her, now husband, Rodrigo, through friends in Finland!

I can vouch for the wonderful facilities, horses and hospitality at Morgado, where a number of my own forum members have ventured this year on my advice, and have had a wonderful time, learning so much, and also having the chance to socialise with other like minded riders, especially in the beautiful library after dinner, usually also sampling owner, Joao Carmona's excellent port and whisky!!!

I am delighted that Rodrigo is also coming to the UK now to take clinics, his first and very successful day was two weeks ago, and everyone cannot wait for him to return.

He is a truly beautiful rider, with a great empathy and respect for the horse. Neither he or Charlotte are possessed of ego- so refreshing in riders of this calibre, and sadly, all too rare.

Take Rodrigo up on his offer Nadja, you will have a great time! I am back there, hopefully at the end of May with friends from CA who also clinic with Rodrigo, so see if you can join us all there!

Heather Mofffett

Written by pat voisey on 2008-03-09 20:12:14

i was so sad to read heather moffats item about the dr. cooks bitless bridle. for someone who advocates the welfare of horses to suggest that bits are acceptable as without them we cannot force the horse to perform as we think fit is to my mind barbaric, she has joined the ranks of the fei and bhs in my eyes.
if she has indeed tried the dr. cooks bridle she should know that it is in no way dangerous to ride out in, many of us do so and are in fact much safer because of it, i suggest if she has a problem doing so, she should not blame the bridle, and indeed it is a bridle not a headcoller as she seems to suggest, perhaps she should ask why so many have great success with this bridle and she has not.............very upset, pat voisey

Imprinting
Written by hollenbach on 2008-03-10 22:03:37

Thank you for the interesting contribution about the imprinting of foals. In my experience as a studmanager and trainer at one of Canadas largest Trakehner Stud farms , I am imprinting each and every foal born at our place. We do however always give the new born and its mother sufficient time to bond first, before we start imprinting the baby. This may vary from mare to mare, and from foal to foal, as one may get up and nurse right away, another one may need a little more time. Equaliy important is to monitor the mares behaviour carfully. A maiden mare may be a little more insecure, and the handling of the foal must be done very carefully. It should not even be necessary to mention, that any broodmare should be in a safe and protected environment for foaling, and therefore be very comfortable with the peaople around her. My concern about imprinting would only be , that it may be done by too many people, that have no idea, what they are doing, and therefore can do more damage than good.
Correct imprinting requires experience , patience and knowledge, just like good riding.
Maybe it is time to do ,more educating with regards to this proceedure, as the awareness and the desire to do something good for the horses seems to be more and more on peoples minds.
I think this is overall a good development. All our horses have benefitted from imprinting and I will continue doing this.
Hans Hollenbach / Xenora /Acton .On.

Michelle Guillot
Written by Grischa on 2008-03-15 16:11:35

I have just finished reading “Parotid Under Attack” in the Nov 2007 issue. I’m sickened by what I’ve just learned. Not by the words or harrowing photos in the article, but by the realization that my lovely Dutch horse has been scarred for life by the long-term effects of his early training with rollkur. I got Moochie as a 5-year old from a well known barn in the Netherlands. Even at that age his parotid glands were prominent, but I just thought that was his natural state. Gradually I noticed that the veins on the left side of his head and upper neck were becoming more prominent to the point that when he lowers his head to eat, it looks like that area is covered in snakes. I’ve questioned several vets about this and their comment was that the blood vessels in that area had “re-routed” themselves. After reading the article I now know why: crush injuries to the parotid glands from being rollkur-ed. It took me years to overcome the effects of his early training and teach him to trust the hand again, but I can never overcome the physical damage that was inflicted on him.

Thank you for your wonderful publication and for having the courage to speak up for the welfare of our generous partners.

Michelle Guillot
Pix of the Litter
http://pixofthelitter.net/pixofthelitter_007.htm

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