PrintThere are some riders who huff and puff like the big bad wolf and bully and dominate their horses. These riders are often aggressive and use force to achieve their aims, particularly an unnatural position of the horse’s head and neck. But now they are in serious trouble because, almost exactly four years since they first organized a workshop on the subject, the Fédération Equestre Internationale officials have said this week “that any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable.” Joy of joy they have also finally announced that Rollkur/hyperflexion is also unacceptable. Too good to be true? Yes!
Does Rollkur Equate To Aggression?
In the process of arriving at this conclusion, the group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force. Therefore, the condemnation of Rollkur is largely spin—a positive headline for the press—as it would not be possible to find any high level trainer who would say that using aggressive force is acceptable.
To suggest that Sjef Janssen and Anky van Grunsven, or Dr Schulten-Baumer, Nicole Uphoff and Isabell Werth before them, use aggressive force appears to be way off the mark, and it will not help the case of those who wish to limit or eliminate the use of what is now going to be described as Low, Deep and Round.
The statement from the FEI says, “The technique known as Low, Deep and Round (LDR), which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable.” So the advocates of LDR will continue to do what they have been doing, even if it is no longer called Rollkur or hyperflexion. Therefore, this little magic word trick will not change anything, and it simply looks like the FEI officials are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
The Other Side Of The Coin
Others do not agree with this, and, in particular, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, the anti-rollkur Messiah, doesn't think this is the case. He was quoted in Cavallo as saying that it was "a major step in the interests of animal welfare." I would be so very pleased if he is right, and I hope he is right.
He and his anti-Rollkur supporters, who produced a petition of 41,000 signatories, are to be congratulated on their determination and persistence in their fight to be heard.
And Princess Haya, President of the FEI, deserves huge praise for listening to them, and for both accepting this petition personally and making this round table conference possible. She has shown courage and determination when others in her situation could so easily have put the subject on the long finger, especially after the recent mauling the FEI received on the new drugs policy. I have no doubt that we are very fortunate to have Princess Haya as President and feel sure that at least the door is open to real progress on this issue.
