EDIT This particular post has become extremely popular across the web, and for the reason has found a home on the front-page of my blog. Please feel free to share with anyone you believe might enjoy or benefit. END EDIT
I was checking my blog statistics today, seeing how much traffic is coming to my blog and where they arrive from, and it came to my attention that many of my visitors arrive from searches relating to rollkur. When I did a search on some of the keyword terms that are bringing traffic to me I found a number of bulletin board posts talking about rollkur, and much of the discussion was targeted at trying to understand what rollkur was, if it was bad, and why it was being done. So… I know I’ve posted on rollkur before and have taken quite a hiatus on it, but I thought it might be beneficial for my readers if I wrote up a simplified explanation of what rollkur is, why it is done, and how it affects the horse.

If you want to read more in-depth into rollkur there are some wonderful resources (unfortunate that they are necessary, but none-the-less available) on the web and I provide links to them at the bottom of this post.

Q : What is Rollkur?

A : The word Rollkur was coined for what is now frequently referred to as hyperflexion of the neck. The term in german refers to a cure for stomach aches in which the patient rolls periodically in order to thoroughly coat the stomach with medicine.

Rollkur itself is a method in which neck flexion is taken to an extreme for a period of time. Often promoted as being a fix-all for suppling and stretching the horse’s neck it has also gained popularity as being able to raise and strengthen the back. Because of the way in which Rollkur changes the horses balance it will help to promote very flashy knee action, and is also used as a method of control because it limits the horse’s oxygen supply, eye sight, and puts the horse off balance – essentially rendering the horse helpless to the rider’s whims.

Q : Isn’t Rollkur necessary in the sport of Dressage?

A : Rollkur’s use and abuse has not been limited only to the sport of Dressage. Many western trainers and riders also utilize Rollkur however its use in other disciplines has not gained as much exposure and publicity to become widely known.

The sport of dressage was originally based off of cavalry riding which had been adapted from Classical Dressage principles. Unfortunately over time and evolution many practices change – some for better, some for worse – and the nature of judging and training has created an environment in which Rollkur is not only be accepted based on the marks given to riders using the method, but is inching towards the standard protocol based on those leading the sport in Grand Prix and Olympic level competition.

Rollkur is not necessary to being successful in Dressage, but is often resorted to because it promises results which many riders feel they cannot accomplish without it.

Q : How long is the horse held in a Rollkur position?

A : I have watched videos in which horses were placed in Rollkur throughout a 10 minute ride, others held in Rollkur for minutes at a time.

Q : Does Rollkur stretch the neck muscles?

A : It is important to understand the principles involved in stretching muscles, becase there is such a thing as over-stretching. Too much of a good thing quickly turns into a bad thing, and too much of a bad thing goes sour even faster.

Rollkur will indeed stretch certain muscles in the neck because of the position it places the horse in for an extended period of time. Just muscle fatigue alone will have set in. I looked for a solid answer on how much the average horse’s head weighs, some sources say 12lbs while others say 6lbs. Either way, the horse’s neck is not designed to contract in the way that Rollkur requires for long periods of time.. but getting back to the stretch of the horse’s neck muscles. Overstretching can cause microscopic muscle tears, and can actually lead to more inflexibility over time as the muscle is constantly trying to repair itself.

Q : What are the physical risks of using Rollkur?

A : Outside of risking muscle damage due to overstretching and muscle fatigue, long term muscle tension can also lead to bone spurs (osteophytes) as well as bone degeneration due to the position of the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) when placed in a position they are not designed for.

Q : Can Rollkur lift my horses back?

A : The neck plays a very miniscule role in the elevation of the back in motion. Think of your own body for example, Rollkur to lift the back is a little like bringing your chin to your chest trying to flatten your low back. What happens when you pull your chin to your chest is you round your shoulders, leading to a posture that tips forwards – in a horse this would place him on the forehand. On the other hand, if you want to flatten your low back effectively you achieve it by rotating your pelvis – which in a horse is what collection is, the horse’s pelvis rotates bringing the hind legs further under the body which creates strength and support in the back and allows the horse to carry his weight more efficiently.

Q : If Rollkur is so bad, then why are the professionals using it?

A : The answer to this question may be more tricky. The individual motivations I cannot say, but I would be willing to guess that the amount of money involved in high level equestrian sports is enough to motivate a large number of individuals to using whatever legal tactics necessary to win. For example :

• Exquis World Dressage Masters Palm Beach 2009 Prize : $135,000
• Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2009 Prize : $100,000
• Dressage At Hickstead Prize : €100,000 (roughly $145,600 US)
• 79th German Jumping & Dressage Grand Prix Total Prize : €500,000 ($727,802 US) / Grand Prix Dressage Prize : €300,000 ($436,681 US)

In Closing…

I think that it is important to remember that the term “professional” only means that a person is getting paid for what they do. You can be a professional con-artist just the same as being a professional human aid worker. Being a professional does not immediately guarantee that someone is basing their actions on the welfare of their horse, or clients for that matter. How many professional riding instructors have you ever witness berate their students?

Another key is that often our eyes are not trained to see past the beautifully groomed horse that has been perfectly turned out in the most expensive tack, ridden by a rider whose clothing is impeccably expensive. How many Americans were trained to see the collapse of our economy even while many signs were standing right in front of us? Just because we do not recognize it at the moment does not mean it doesn’t exist.

The element of prize money is another factor that I believe has led, not only to the use but, to the continued use of a method in which no one can logically argue it is beneficial to and in the best interest of the horse.

More Resources

• Sustainable Dressage Blog on Rollkur by Theresa Sandin
• Horses For Life Special Edition on Rollkur

Your Opinion Matters

What are your thoughts? Do you believe that Rollkur’s continued use is driven by success, fame, money? Are there elite equestrians you believe are using Rollkur to train but have not gained as much publicity as Anky Van Grunsven and Isabell Werth?  What about Rollkur do you find appealing or repulsive?

It’s official, Writing Of Riding is now bilingual… or at least a small piece of it. My article, “A Beginner’s Guide To Rollkur” has been translated into Polish and included in a special anti-Rollkur campaign that is being run by hipologia.pl

Feel free to check out the translated version if you read Polish (their site is also accessible by English for parts of it).

OR

Read the original in english here.

I’m feeling in a critical thinking mode and decided to put it out there why Hyperflexion is here to stay and no matter how much protest goes on abusers will exist – and publicly. If for some reason this changes I will *gladly* eat my words!

1. Because equestrians are protesting hyperflexion through means which do not motivate abusers to change – i.e. silent protests at competitions, speaking out through niche internet, signing of petitions, etc.
2. Hyperflexion is money motivated and those who are making the most money are using the technique.
3. Riders who are impressed by abusers are willing to move in packs and use loud voices in support of hyperflexion and the ‘success’ it brings.
4. The FEI endorses hyperflexion.
5. Veterinarians publicly support the use/abuse of hyperflexion.
6. Hyperflexion creates more exciting movement from the horse to please an uneducated crowd, making hyperflexion a tool to market a sport once seen as boring drivel to those uninitiated.
7. Hyperflexion creates Olympic gold medalists and ‘partnerships’ who score the highest test % ever awarded.
8. Hyperflexion creates an Internationally competitive Grand Prix horse in 3-4 years.
9. Horses behind the vertical and overbent abound in pictures, video and in person in all corners of the world, making Hyperflexion “just a little bit more” of the same…
10. Hyperflexion abusers will continue to claim proof to be attributed to a “one time event” and not part of the normal routine or used for long periods of time.
11. Bonus Reason — Hyperflexion is cross-discipline and has infiltrated horsemanship for longer than most would likely want to admit, even the Classical Dressage groupies (of which I cannot be completely excluded from).

Let’s take a bit deeper look into this.

Reason #1 — “Because equestrians are protesting hyperflexion through means which do not motivate abusers to change – i.e. silent protests at competitions, speaking out through niche internet, signing of petitions, etc.”

Hyperflexion is in some way connected to the abuses given to African American slaves, women prior to the feminist movement, many lab animals. Certainly it is not a human suffering, but it is a living being on this plant none-the-less and in the same way the horse is suffering for the sake of money and power. It took the violent sweep of the anti-slavery movement to see African Americans move out of the ‘public opinion’ of being less than and even animalistic and to appreciate the same rights and humanities of other Americans. Women were seen as weak and in need of men’s guidance and care, even if at times violent and sadistic. The feminist movement and women’s sufferage was not a gentle journey won by quiet voices. Many companies will not seek to right things which are dangerous to their customers until threat of public media involvement is made in a widespread manner.

Making hyperflexion an outcry to the PUBLIC – not just the equestrian community – may help raise the hairs on the neck of those who use it and support it including sponsors who fund it’s continued use. Many equestrians are still in the dark even about what hyperflexion is, why it is bad for the horse and what can be done to stop it.

Many have a notion that keeping the resolution of hyperflexion somewhat out of the public eye will help keep PETA and other animal rights activists from gaining a foothold towards removing all rights of equestrians in the use of horses. Is the fear of losing your own right greater than the present knowledge the the horse has lost his?! I can think of no more selfish thought than this. Secondarily, if this argument is to be made I can think of no better supportive argument than to take the side of PETA, etc because it is obvious that the selfishness of the equestrian community has grown to such an extent that it can no longer be entrusted to put the horse’s needs and welfare above it’s own interests be they emotionally or commercially driven.

Reason #2 — “Hyperflexion is money motivated and those who are making the most money are using the technique.”

You’ve heard of the golden rule before? Those with the most gold make the rules? Words to live by in this society, unfortunately. Take away the money and the well will dry up and move on to greener pastures. Just as energy efficient means will not lead the globe until they can make more money than traditional fossil fuels, top equestrians will not stop using hyperflexion until it proves to no longer be profitable.

Reason #3 — “Riders who are impressed by abusers are willing to move in packs and use loud voices in support of hyperflexion and the ‘success’ it brings.”

Beware the person with too much confidence, fanfare and a loud voice – for they are surely the most foolish. If this isn’t a quote perhaps it should be. When I was a younger rider I always thought I knew exactly what was right and what was wrong, the best methods and what should be avoided. I had all the answers and if I didn’t it was because they didn’t exist. I’ve grown up a bit and in the years between then and now the greatest thing I have learned is that the quietest voice is often the most informed, or at the very least the one who is observing the most. Perhaps they are just asleep in class. Whatever the case may be… I tend to avoid people who always know the answers when it comes to horses.

That being said, I have also observed that equestrians who do well in competition often use shortcuts – both intentionally and unintentionally. And that competitors who are doing well often have a following of not as advanced of competitor equestrians or hopeful competitors. And those followers *love* the person they are following – of course if they didn’t why would they be following them? So in order to be correct in following this person they will defend them tooth and nail to the death in support of every action and intention of said followed equestrian competitor. They are unafraid to voice their opinion loudly because what they have to lose is their own belief that the person they are learning from and likely hold in very high esteem is flawless and perfect. And if they happen to lose this belief their whole world could be in a tailspin. Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy I have to wonder? Often people prefer to be right in just such a case…

As a result, louder voices are heard above quieter voices.

Reason #4 — “The FEI endorses hyperflexion.”

As if hyperflexion needed a booster seat, the FEI – the international governing body of olympic sports – steps up to the plate and gives it the green light and a get out of jail free card. What ‘professional’ can be made liable for abusing a horse when they are only using a method that their sporting association, which just so happens to hold as president the Princess of Jordan, says can do no harm if used by said professional? Exactly.

Of course this shouldn’t come as a surprise when they are also renegotiating ideas which would allow fewer restrictions on the doping and drugging of horses in competition. There is a reason that rules are in place to limit things that dull the horse’s ability to voice it is in pain or breaking down – because he cannot do it with words and is at the mercy of those gaining profit through exploitation. Yep, I said it – exploitation.

Reason #5 – “Veterinarians publicly support the use/abuse of hyperflexion.”

How do you bring a strong man down? Cut him off at the knees and strap lead to his back. As if the above reasons were not enough weight to tow behind the half-dead pick up truck, lead veterinarians have publicly stated that hyperflexion is not physically harmful to the horse. Those bulges we see at the 3rd cervical vertebrae are now “normal” side effects of competition horse training. The unusual muscle development of the neck is standard.

It has been my personal experience that veterinarians are human, which means that not only are the subject to making mistakes and lacking knowledge in their so called area of ‘expertise’… they are also easily intimidated and or convinced to support a cause if they are in the right social circles. I tend to be a bit suspicious of allopathic medical ‘professionals’ be they human doctors or animal, and the supporting documents for hyperflexion only adds fuel to my fire.

Reason #6 — “Hyperflexion creates more exciting movement from the horse to please an uneducated crowd, making hyperflexion a tool to market a sport once seen as boring drivel to those uninitiated.”

Think of hyperflexion what soring is to Tennessee Walking horse big lick shows. It is what creates the flash and boom and draws the crowds of uninformed and potentially horse-illiterate spectators. The TWH Celebration annually draws thousands, when is that last time you saw a national dressage show perform in the same way?  In the following video take a look at the sheer crowd in the stands at the 2007 NYPD Walking Horse Celebration.

I remember the first dressage shows I attended, they really were boring. Why? I liken it to watching someone meditate, or that is what it should be like – two beings meditating together to form a partnership of invisible communication. Now that meditation has to be marketable it is being spiced up. A bit like turning tai chi into MMA death matches.

Reason #7 — “Hyperflexion creates Olympic gold medalists and ‘partnerships’ who score the highest test % ever awarded.”

Anky van Grunsven was the top rider for many years. She has only allowed this title to slip a bit by making room for others who now use hyperflexion as well. The last Olympic games I watched in China made me want to throw up as horses who were not forward, on the forehand, behind the bit, crooked, constant tail swishing, etc were the norm and being praised and glorified by thousands of adoring fans. I had to turn off my tv, go outside and praise be to my horses that I have not bought into such disgust. Mostly my horses just snorted and munched at grass.

Recently Edward Gal riding Moorlands Totilas scored a 92.30% in London. This is the highest score ever recorded for a competition, let alone of the caliber – a World Cup Qualifier. The horse’s movement is reminiscent of Anky van Grunsven’s Salinero if you ask me, complete with the horse behind the bit at the halt, tail swishing, leg mover, etc etc etc. The list goes on.

Reason #8 — “Hyperflexion creates an Internationally competitive Grand Prix horse in 3-4 years.”

Andreas Helgestrand rode to victory in 2006 on Blue Horse Matine – a 9 year old mare.

Reason #9 – “Horses behind the vertical and overbent about in pictures, video and in person in all corners of the world, making Hyperflexion “just a little bit more” of the same…”

Pretty self-explanatory. Do a google search for something rather inert in connection to horses and you will find a plethora of images showing riders with horses whose noses are behind the vertical. Behind the vertical is behind the vertical, period. End of sentence and argument. I’ve heard it all before and people will likely continue to argue the point that ‘it was only one moment captured in time’ or that their horse is always like that, etc. Horses ridden forward as they ought to be are not behind the vertical with their nose. If the horse is behind the vertical, he is NOT forward – maybe fast, but not forward. One moment captured in time 10+ times over is not ‘one moment captured in time’.

Reason #10 — “Hyperflexion abusers will continue to claim proof to be attributed to a “one time event” and not part of the normal routine or used for long periods of time.”

Can anyone else hear in this statement “WIFE BEATER“? See above – if it has happened more than once it is not a one time event. If it has been captured for more than a split moment, it is more than a split moment. Fairly black and white. Abusers often argue this point, of it was a one time thing, it isn’t as bad as it looks, it doesn’t last as long as it seems, blah blah blah. They are excuses, manipulative excuses. Why? Because if they can get away with it they will, they have not changed and likely will not change. Why are abusers and users of hyperflexion allowed to continue telling us what limits should be allowed in regards to abuse? Seems a bit like an alcoholic saying what the legal blood-alcohol limit should be for drunk driving.

Reason #11 (BONUS) — “Hyperflexion is cross-discipline and has infiltrated horsemanship for longer than most would likely want to admit, even the Classical Dressage groupies (of which I cannot be completely excluded from).”

You can find it in jumpers, hunters, western riders, english riders, saddleseat, hunt, etc. While it is more prevalent in some disciplines over others the truth of the matter is that the majority of equestrians believe that control of the horse is gained largely by manipulating the neck. Yes, control can be had in this way but it is also mistakenly referred to as building a relationship, communication, a partnership, etc. Plain and simple it is a physical way to control the horse and avoiding communication and removing choice from the horse’s options.

Classical Dressage is often pitched as a ‘faultless’ practice and following that deviates from the intentions of competitive Dressage. This is like saying that because you call yourself a Christian you love your neighbor, honor your mother and father, and never sin or think impure thoughts. A name does not prove and action.

I wouldn’t call myself a groupie, per se, I enjoy the thoughts behind Classical Dressage while also acknowledging the fact that CD Masters or ODGs (Old Dead Guys for short) were human as well and because they are dead we cannot see with our own eyes as to the purity of their actions or truth behind their words. The internet should prove well enough that written words will never equate to spoken words just as pictures will never do justice to watching the same in person. There have been hints that Francoise de la Gueriniere may have used hyperflexion, largely in part of the images in some of his books. The Duke of Newcastle may have been suspect. Francoise Baucher has been touted as using hyperflexion heavily and is the one that Sjef Janssen ‘blames’ for imparting and inspiring the use of it with Anky van Grunsven. Reiner Klimke has been accused by a few small voices in the background. The Spanish Riding School has also been implicated among other national schools. No one is safe from the accusations. The truth of the matter is that whether Masters or ODGs used hyperflexion is irrelevant. As mentioned above, it only matters if a follower of one method or man over another wishes to be right rather than to be happy.

There is still hope in the world — you just have to look more closely for it.

I was shocked in a conversation some time ago, which so pointedly encompassed the naming of names of certain ‘celebrity’ equestrians. To be honest there was no point in the naming of names and I didn’t know what to do with the information given to me or how to respond to it. It was as if the chef presented the most perfect main course dish and served it on a dish complete with sparklers, music and self-tossing confetti. No purpose really to the ‘display’, and in the end it seemed to me to take away from the main course.

Did I miss out on the learning curve of how to drop names? I did lead a rather ‘disconnected’ adolescents in which much of the traditional social webbing that many equestrians develop was lost on me. I didn’t attend high-school, and the years of schooling I did go through I managed to permeate every clique and group available. I tend to see things from the horse’s point of view, no one horse is more important in the herd. Whatever their position is, it is necessary and likely of impermanence.

Looking in through the windows of the horse world I see a mashup of equestrians trying so hard to copy. To be like the horse celebrities they see at every venue. If you happen to rub elbows directly with a certain well-known there are oohs or ahhs to accompany the discovery. Your own skills as an equestrian are pre-judged by who you have or haven’t worked with.

It is a quality deeply seated in the world as a whole however, and not simply exclusive to equestrians.

The more media gets involved and digs deeper into the personal lives of celebrities the more apparent that they are not without their own faults and challenges. Being celebrity does not disown you from being human. Celebrity has for some time been the modern version of greek deities.

In Classical Dressage many of the ‘Masters’ are looked at as though being flawless, if you are in the camp following that particular one. But the truth is we will never know, all is speculation. Even those amazing riders who are still alive today, we cannot know more than we do – the rest is assumption and expectation. I’ve known a number of ‘higher ups’ in my own time and in getting close to them have been able to appreciate their humanness all the more. To see that I am closer to them than I might have realized because they make mistakes just like I do. They experience the emotions of fear, pain, joy, excitement, anxiety, anger… just as I myself do at times.

What if instead of name dropping, copy-catting and deifying… we were to turn the looking glass inwards on ourselves and discover our own aspirations? I theorize that it would open the world of horses to being less-cliquish, more creative and more horse-needs oriented.

It is “easy” to talk about Rollkur from a distant point of view – perhaps not with a clear-cut opinion, but certainly a disjointed and ‘objective’ one. What isn’t easy is to address Rollkur when you’ve seen the effect it has; not on the horses who are succeeding and making money for their international-celebrity riders but, rather, on the horses who didn’t make the cut. The ones who are ‘too sensitive‘ or ‘aren’t talented enough’ for the show ring.

I own one of those.

Her nickname is Andie, and she is one of the most beautiful dark bay mares. She is half Hanoverian, out of a well-bred (for sport that is, not just racing) Thoroughbred mare. When people come out to see our horses they instantly gravitate towards her, oohing and aahing. She has become a little less of an ‘in-your-pocket’ horse now, in part because she doesn’t seek reassurance for constant anxiety. Out of three foals that she’s had only one has survived; one died of a fluke health problem before the idea of starting him could even cross anyone’s mind and another was still-born. Her last foal I admire every morning and evening for his brilliant red coat and the loveliest personality you could ask for.

I bought Andie with the express purpose of being a broodmare, if I had any hopes of buying a riding horse I probably would have passed. She had been in the Dressage show ring by the age of three at Training Level and by 5 had already been retired from riding and her breeding career started. Maybe this doesn’t sound all that different from the life of many broodmares – started under saddle only to prove they are rideable and then turned out to pasture for a spring foal. It is rare for a broodmare to be pulled from the field and put back into a riding career, at least for much more than hacking or lessons.

I was told that she was a “lovely mare to ride as long as the rider is tactful,” a skill her owner admitted not being particularly talented in. She boasted that Andie had been ridden and trained in part by a bareiter from Germany. I can still recall the sales video that was sent to me, the highlight in it being the footage of Andie with her first foal – a handsome bay colt. The rest of it spelled out a different picture: a mare who didn’t know how to interact socially with her herd-mates and behaved quite stallion-like when loose; one who only knew how to run at a frenetic pace at the edge of the lunge line; a mare holding back in such a false frame under saddle at a show that I was convinced she must have been trained in draw reins.

All of this was before I had ever heard of Rollkur or Deep and Round. To me it just seemed like some poorly trained horse who was better at being a broodmare than interacting with a rider on her back.

She has always been splendid though. The first day Andie arrived everyone was entranced. Even in her nervousness on the ground at new surroundings she was regal and majestic in how she handled herself. Never pushy or rude, almost apologetic rather as she looked to everyone for reassurance with a pat or a stroke. She loved to rest her forehead against your chest and nearly nap that way. She was obese from a high calorie diet complete with more supplements than a homeopathic guru could assemble!

My first Dressage trainer warned me not to buy her, saying she looked too wasp-waisted, now recognized as a hallmark of Rollkur horses from the hours they spend in hyperflexion. She has filled out her waist-band since…

Her introduction into the herd was one of the messiest I had encountered up to that point. She roared at any horse that looked at her and would immediately take to striking – even when she was in a paddock with a hundred yards between her and another horse. Once she was gently turned into the group loose the other horses tolerated her but there was a sort of block between communication.

Why do I mention her herd interactions? It was like she wasn’t a horse, but rather I had turned some other creature out with this herd of horses. She didn’t know what the lingo meant, how to interpret it let alone how to respond. In the 7 years that Andie has been with me she has really only begun to mesh into the group and relax to their rhythms and language in the last 2. She is greatly attached to her son who is also pastured with her, but that bond is beginning to relax now as other horses are finally allowed in closer to mingle and give her reassurances.

It makes me think of children who are unsocialized, or even locked away into a room alone while growing up and disallowed the language to interact with other children or people even. Though they might learn the language later on they will always be an outcast.

At some point after Andie arrived here I began to think that her potential as a riding horse may not be such a far-off idea. I wondered if it wasn’t simply that the riders had been just that bad on their own. Certainly a horse as sweet and lovey as this could not be so anxious and hyper-sensitive without due cause.

The first time I rode Andie I was met with a wonderful flying dismount! I landed on my feet beside her, one hand holding the buckle of the reins at the pommel of the saddle, just following the most impressive rear I’ve witnessed (and been involved in). Interestingly enough, it had nothing to do with the riding so much as it was her reaction to us riding near some horses she thought she should inform of her hatred and disgust. She did very kindly warn me ahead of rearing by roaring quite loudly, giving me just enough milliseconds to respond by kicking my feet out of the stirrups.

She was a nervous nelly with almost anything to do with riding. She would grind her teeth and champ constantly in the cross-ties if there was a saddle anywhere to be found. She would fidget being saddled, swish her tail being girthed. Bridling was a challenge only because she would dive her head downwards as quickly as possible. I’ve never had to bend over more to bridle a horse as I did with Andie. Once I got the bit in her mouth and one ear in the headstall she would then change it up and put her head out of reach in the air. Once the bit was in her mouth there wouldn’t be another quiet moment to be found until after she had been turned loose in the pasture. She created a plethora of foam I had never before seen the likes of – from her mouth. It was similar to what is seen in competition today.

Getting in the saddle was a laugh; a mash-up of a tall horse, at the time somewhat short rider (I’ve done a bit of growing since then, thankfully), and her inability to stand still. Once I was in the saddle the only gait she knew was a jig – half walk and half trot. If I managed to keep her anxiety at a cool level after getting in the saddle I had no control because she was behind the bit with no forward energy, and had not been truly educated on what legs or hands meant in any fashion. When she became more anxious she would put herself into hyperflexion and there was no hope but to have my ground person step in so I could dismount. To me there is no point in talking to a wall.

Andie has come a long ways since then. She is for the most part quiet when you get her ready to ride, unless it is fly season. She stands rock solid for mounting and is quite good at positioning herself to a mounting block. She has a walk with variable speeds. She has a trot with variable speeds. Her back swings from time to time! You can canter her but it isn’t pretty. Best of all… she has a quiet mouth, she stretches down and forward, she sighs and relaxes. Her skills on the lunge line developed along a similar track – from horrid anxiety and no communication, to the point that I used her in a lunging demonstration to show how in one session you can help release a horse’s tension.

When I watch video of today’s top competitors who are openly using (though they may not publicly admit to it) Rollkur / hyperflexion, I see Andie in their eyes. I see the inability to stand still for the salute – beginning and end. I see the lateralized walk that is no longer a walk. The jiggy trot. I see a horse who is shut down and just going through the motions, much like a puppet at the mercy of it’s puppeteer.

Even when Andie first arrived she could be made to piaffe, passage, terre a terre and even do a passable pesade. She offered them all up in place of a simple walk step. She could do poor (though visually exciting to the layperson) lateral work but couldn’t take one straight step forward with energy.

She has the breeding to be a great jumper. She has the breeding to do great Dressage. But neither of those talents can be realized to their potential because it has been cut short with the shortcut of Rollkur.

When I look at her son, I can’t help but to feel disheartened knowing that Andie wasn’t given the opportunity to learn at her own pace in an environment that nurtured calmness over a rider’s personal goals. I almost feel jealous of him for her, when I think of the anxious rushed training sessions and the started-then-ended-much-too-soon show career that he will miss out on but were very much a daily reality for Andie. He is now 5 and has barely begun as a riding horse, meanwhile Andie’s riding career had already been retired due to her ‘sensitivity‘.

Andie is enjoying semi-retirement from everything right now, her only “job” is to mingle with the herd. She is fluffy with winter hair and occasionally sassy with the younger members of the herd. She has come a long ways since she first stepped off the trailer at my farm, but no matter how far she will progress she still carries one permanent physical reminder of her past. The tell-tale “bump” at the 3rd cervical vertebrae. I feel it, agonizingly, when I rub her down at each feeding – the only place I don’t linger at with my attention.

What is it to be a real horseman? Can you be a horseman even if you’ve never before been involved with horses? Can you be involved with horses every day and still fail to be a horseman?

That is a question that came up with a recent posting to an email group, Classical Dressage, that I am a member of which was also accompanied with the link to a great video of a number of people working to help with a large number of starved horses in bringing them back to life.

What has touched me so much in this video, outside of the immense amount of dedication on everyone’s part, is that many of them showed up to help who have had no previous experience with horses.

Then on the other side of the coin there are those who have caused this great amount of suffering to the horses involved, which I would suspect have many years of experience with horses. I see it other places as well, being so involved that we become blind and end up causing more harm than good. You can go to any show and see that multiple times over of riders hurting their horses for the sake of a $10 ribbon. The price of the prize may vary, but the symptoms still remain the same.

• Cleve Well, a prominent AQHA trainer and clinician, has been accused of abuse on several occasions.
• WalkingHorseChat.com posts videos of ‘Freak of the Week’ gaited horses in action.
• A blog devoted to exposing the abuses behind showing and competition, Shame In The Showring, gives you an inside look.

As much as we continue to expose the abuses that are going on to horses in every sport, discipline and level of involvement (from day one beginners to the creme de la creme of horse ‘celebrity’), little is being prevented.

It is my opinion that without increasing overall education (not just in the horse industry but on the whole) we are only kicking dirt on the forest fire. There has to be more. Our culture has moved towards zero responsibility, we have morphed into a corporate mindset on the personal level. No one is taking responsibility to earn an education about horses before riding or owning one… or rather instead of nobody, very few.

Those who are highly educated that I encounter who are looking to learn to ride horses – do so with the same adept skill in which they undertake other areas they have no education in. They ask questions. How many experienced riders do we know that still ask questions? Less and less. Then there are others who I encounter who feel they know all the answers (even if those answers aren’t enough to enable them to do all that they want, which is exactly why they are contacting me), and because of that there isn’t a question in the world they would like to ask.

Do you still ask questions? I do, every day. Every second it seems when I’m working with my horse. Not necessarily questions about what I’m doing, but often now it is why I am doing it. How it is going to impact my horse, what the motivations are, etc. I don’t, however, ask myself questions about how much money I can make with my horse, or if I place in a certain class it will increase my perceived value and skill by my peers. Admittedly there was a time when I asked questions like how I could turn my hobby into something that profited me (and I did so with breeding horses for a time).

Now, however, I do offer services that bring money.. but they aren’t the source of my survival and I’ve given up on achieving ‘fortune’ through my horses. It takes me to a place in my mind, to think about using my horses in such a way, that seems akin to prostituting them out. As it stands right now they help me teach people and in that I am always grateful for all that they give and settles in my heart much better than the thought of them as being ‘money makers’. That is probably much of why I gave up competition, too much in it for the money and accolades to let me sleep sound at night.

If you haven’t been ‘in the know’ regarding the latest assualt on horses and the sport of dressage thanks to Patrik Kittel aboard his horse Stanic at the World Cup Qualifier this will hopefully fill you in a bit more.

Rollkur has been an issue written about on this blog fairly regularly, but until now there hasn’t been a clearly demonstrating video available to show a ‘professional’ using Rollkur in a competition setting for more than a brief period of time.

You can watch the edited version of approx. 4 minutes long showing *just* Kittel riding Stanic, including a slow motion portion making the flacid blue tongue flopping from his mouth all the more evident.

Or you can watch an unedited version which shows other riders in the arena, including Anky van Grunsven and Patrik Kittel and a normal speed filming of the Stanic’s blue tongue.

The FEI has begun an investigation into the issue, likely to save face against all the public protest that has arisen, and still acknowledges that they support the use of Rollkur by ‘professionals’. Interestingly enough, I’ve found more videos as a result of looking up Patrik Kittel on youtube, demonstrating that this is not a singular offense and that Rollkur is now part of his regular routine on the road to competition glory.

EponaTV, which posted the videos of Kittel at the World Cup, states on their website that this is normal routine with most international competitors when they film at shows and is not exclusive to Anky van Grunsven or Kittel, though Kittel does train with Sjef Janssen, Anky’s partner. Looks as though the disease is catchy…

Sjef Janssen coaching Patrik Kittel aboard Stanic

Happy Athlete?

Anky in Aachen

Check out the following links for more info….

• EponaTV : Blue Tongue at World Cup
• EponaTV : Blue Tongue Video FAQ
• FEI Launches Investigation into Odense Dressage Warm-Up
• Dressage Disgrace Website
• Sign The Petition To BAN Rollkur!

No, I’m not talking about the figurative interpretation of Kicking A Dead Horse, but the theatre/stage version! I found this when looking for images for a blog post… and couldn’t pass it up.

Written by Sam Shepherd, this play actually sounds humorous from the reviews I’ve read. According to his own website, Sam Shepherd says “On a very coarse level, it’s a clown show.” “When I begin to explain it, it just takes all the life out of it.” and “It’s not meant to be a representation, just an expression.”

Jason Clark of Entertainment Weekly.com reports -
“You’d never imagine that a Sam Shepard play would have such a literal title, but indeed, Stephen Rea spends a good deal of the show’s 75-minute running time kicking a dead horse. (”F—ing horse!” is his favorite refrain.) As Hobart Struther, a former art dealer having a Beckett-like war with himself while trapped in the desert with his expired equine guide (recreated with startling accuracy by scenic designer Brien Vahey), the lilting Irish actor gives an earthy, full-throttle performance. (It’s not, however, a one-man show; a mystery woman, played by Elissa Piszel, appears at a pivotal point.) Rea is filled with bristle and nuance, yet despite the perspiration his largely physical portrayal yields, he never quite seems to fit the Shepard aesthetic. Sure, his hangdog face suggests a man who has endured some wear and tear, but a sense of true grit is lacking. (And his Irish cadences inevitably invade his speeches.)”

“To be fair, this is one of Shepard’s stranger, more indulgent plays, and he exhibits more confidence as the director (the simple yet atmospheric stagecraft is often striking). The author’s autobiographical nature actually hampers his dialogue. For every succinct, poetic Shepardism — especially in Rea’s more reflective monologues, such as an ode to a woman of his past — there is another that reeks of Western cowboy baggage (and not the boots-and-saddles kind) that should have been put out to pasture long ago.”

Synopsis

The play begins with a man alone in a desert landscape digging a grave. Hobart Struther’s horse has just dropped dead. He stands there in the vast open desert trying to figure out what to do about his predicament. Every once in a while, he gives the corpse an audible kick for having let him down. Struther made his fortune buying paintings for $20 from Wyoming saloons and reselling them for millions. In the throes of some midlife crisis, he has abandoned his wife and his posh life for a “grand sojourn” – what will turn out to be a doomed “quest for authenticity”. In a 80-minute monologue, the former art dealer laments his situation. He engages in a debate between his cynical side and the ingenuous one. He discusses what path brought him here in the first place, the fate of his marriage, his career, politics and eventually the nature of the universe.

“I do not understand why I’m having so much trouble taming the Wild. I’ve done this already. Haven’t I already been through all of this? We closed the Frontier in 1890 something, didn’t we? Didn’t we already accomplish that? The. . . Iron Horse- Coast to Coast. Blasted all the buffalo out of here. An ocean of bones from Sea to Shining Sea. Trails of Tears. Chased the Heathen Redman down to Florida. Paid the Niggers off in mules and rich black dirt. Whupped the Chinee and strung them up with their own damn pony-tails. Decapitated the Mexicans. Erected steel walls to keep the riff-raff out. Sucked these hills barren of gold. Ripped the top soil as far as the eye can see. Drained the aquifers. Damned up all the rivers and flooded the valleys for Recreational purposes! Ran off the small farmers. Destroyed Education. Turned our children into criminals. Demolished Art! Invaded Sovereign Nations! What more can we possibly do?” …Hobart Struther

Kicking A Dead Horse by Sam Shepard; Directed by Sam Shepard; Starring Stephen Rea
Design and construction of the dead horse – The Public Theater 2008.

What are your thoughts about horse slaughter?

Horse slaughter is a hot topic, coupled with the recent BLM removal of mustangs which was met with much protest, and it seems as if it has been raging since I began working with horses over 15 years ago. I know that my own thoughts on the issue have been very… bland? I would like to believe that this was solely because of the amount of conflicting information being presented on all sides, mixed in a bit with my ability to reason an understanding (though not necessarily agreement) of all parties involved. To be honest, I haven’t known completely how to sway my opinion on the horse slaughter matter up until I visited this website and read the first article talking about the motivation behind horse slaughter in a light I had not seen before.

Much of my family is comprised of farmers. Not horse farmers but land and livestock farmers. They refer to horses as “hay burners,” which I’ve learned to laugh at rather than argue about, and to them the slaughter and consumption of animals is what they have known their whole life and depend upon to make money and survive. I wasn’t raised on a farm though, and so that familiarity and comfort of killing animals for food has not found a home in my heart, though I can understand the familiarity that others can find in it when they have been around it since birth.

I used to breed horses, in small quantities, and made some profit (though never as much as I had hoped) from selling the horses I raised. I took much care in the homes they went to and always made efforts to let people know that I would always buy a horse back if they were put in a position that sending the horse to auction was likely to happen. I do understand the breeder mentality of wanting to turn a profit in a business that is not inherently profitable, but at the same time I was the first to say that I was done breeding when I was afraid one of the babies I bred would meet an unfortunate end.

I think it can be said that the quality of a person’s soul can be seen in the way their animals are treated. Maybe it is because they cannot speak in words against the cruelties they experience that it makes it seem less abusive? I’ve noticed that people are more liberal with attacking one another and resorting to vicious verbal attacks when interacting over the internet than they would ever have the courage to do face to face. Do we fear less judgment from the people around us if we take out our angers, fears, insecurities, greed and selfishness on the animals in our stead?

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Okay, back on track to what I wanted to talk about. Money. Money makes the world go round? Money runs our soul into the ground. People are willing to do the most amazing things for money. It should be no surprise then that some of the largest sectors of the horse industry are also involved in the slaughter of the very animals it claims to love.

AQHA

The American Quarter Horse Association – the largets breed organization in the world – is pro-slaughter. They mention horse slaughter being a viable option should you need to get rid of your horse on page 7 of pamphlet available to members which reads :

“An option unthinkable by many horse owners (and we respect these owners’ beliefs) is slaughter. There are three horse processing plants in the United States where approximately 50,000 horses are processed annually. Horses that are processed are traditionally unserviceable, vicious or otherwise unacceptable in today’s equestrian community.
The plants are federally regulated with on-site U.S.D.A. Veterinarians, and the processing conditions are acceptable to both the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners. Certainly, many horse owners would not consider this as an option for their unwanted horse, but for certain horses it provides a humane alternative to additional suffering or possibly dangerous situations. We respect the right of the responsible horse owner to choose this option when applicable.”

Read the whole pdf pamphlet »

My question is simple. Why would you even mention sending an animal to slaughter that is the very core of your business (and hopefully something that you love!) unless there is some monetary interest?

The AQHA supports activities which are founded on disposable horses – racing and breeders incentives. They award prize money to breeders who earn the most points (which breeding more horses would help increase your chances of winning). Prize money paid out in race horse winnings in 2008 totaled $125,545,585 according to the AQHA’s public records. The racing industry consumes young horses with a short shelf life, fewer horses race as 3yr olds than 2yr olds and it is not common to see horses older than 3 racing successfully.

AVMA

The American Veterinary Medical Association is publicly pro-slaughter on their website, even discussing the matter to some length in one article. Isn’t the medical community’s oath “do no harm”? There is nothing in the observation and assistance in slaughtering horses that even remotely makes me think that person is keeping the horse’s best interest at heart.

Doesn’t it seem counter-productive to be promoting the slaughter of animals you’ve been charged with keeping healthy?

Other Groups

I hate to say there are too many to list, but the list does go on. Organizations are set up to represent the interests of their individual members, and many do so because it helps line their pockets in some way shape or form. Read more…

Media

The media has been abuzz with story after story of neglect and abuse. It seems like right after the slaughter plants in the US were closed I heard numerous tales of horses being turned loose in towns across the country by owners who felt there were no other alternatives now that slaughter wasn’t available. These are easy things to believe and remember, but I hope I don’t have to be the only person to point out just how one-sided and blinding the media can prove to be. The second Iraq war should be proof enough of just how easy it is to feed subjected stories to the media and serve them on a silver platter to television screens, radio and print news every day…

Links & Resources

There is a lot of information out there… here are some of the links I found of interest and helpful. How do you feel horse slaughter should be addressed?

• Respect4Horses.com Article : Horse Slaughter Thriving
  
• PETA : PETA’s Race to Help Thoroughbreds
• Saving America’s Horses : A Nation Betrayed (trailer) | Website
• The Gonzo : Pro Horse Slaughter Groups
• Horse Talk : Quarter Horse Policies Part Of The Problem Not The Solution
• Humane Society : End Horse Slaughter

But surely every group has its dirty little secrets right? The issues that must be swept under the rug and kept hidden in order to keep the status quo functioning? But is it worth the lives, and suffering, of the very animals we claim to love so much? I don’t think so, what about you? I challenge you to give your two cents, tweet about horse slaughter, take steps to making people more aware of the issue! So, do you accept this challenge?

Live close to Berlin, Wisconsin? Want to improve your horses health and performance while improving yours as well? Join me at Edgewater Farms on October 10 to treat and pamper your equine partner and yourself through private sessions with 6 Clinicians, among them :

• Massage Therapist
• John Lyons’ Certified Trainer
• Saddle Fitter
• Nutritionalist
• Equine Dentist
• Yoga Instructor

A full day of activities is broken up with a freshly made nutritional lunch, as well as a professional photo op with your horse! This is a unique opportunity as you will have the opportunity to work with several professionals in one location and at a great price…

I will be there offering education and hands-on work in Massage Therapy. While I will be working specifically on the horses brought in, tips and tricks for dealing with rider issues relating to bodywork will also be discussed to improve balance, coordination and reduce pain and injury!

There are limited spots available so be sure to call Jackie or Carissa early!

Jackie – # (920) 428-9550
Carissa – # (920) 229-3616

• Edgewater Farms Website
• Last Year’s Event

You may be surprised to learn that Aspartame isn’t just a low-calorie alternative to sugar, and it isn’t *just* a potential link to cancer. Aspartame is derived from sugar, but the information we are marketed about the benefits of Aspartame are misleading and also help keep us in the dark about our health.

Aspartame is marketed under several trademarked names including Equal, NutraSweet and Canderel. According to wikipedia it is -

[...] an ingredient of approximately 6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide, including (but not limited to) diet sodas and other soft drinks, instant breakfasts, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, frozen desserts, gelatin desserts, juices, laxatives, chewable vitamins supplements, milk drinks, pharmaceutical drugs and supplements, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, teas, instant coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers and yogurt.

Although Aspartame has lost some of its favor to Sucralose, which retains its flavor better when heated, Aspartame is still found in a plethora of food items. Common knowledge, but what you may not know is that it is a derivative of the natural amino acids (as opposed to essential amino acids) L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. As a physiology reminder, amino acids are the building blocks to proteins.

Why is Aspartame so evil on the body? Unlike Sucralose it isn’t created through chlorination…

According to some sources, Aspartame acts similar to MSG or L-glutamate on the body, that is, as a excitotoxin which is linked to what is known as the ischemic cascade and neurodegenerative conditions including: sulfite oxidase deficiency; epilepsy, hypoglycemia and hypoxic/ischemic brain damage; central nervous system trauma; dementia pugilistica; domoate dementia; olivopontocerebellar degeneration; neurolathyrism; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s dementia; Huntington’s disease; and Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome(231), stroke, autism and some forms of mental retardation.

With little research I found that :

• Approximately 10% is broken down into Methanol, most of which is then converted to Formaldehyde. This process is considered inconsequential because Formaldehyde is then dealt with by your body’s enzymes and poses no health risk. But… what is the impact on our body if our average diet (based on the average American diet) consists of foods which have been cooked or pasteurized to such a temperature that kills most if not all naturally occuring enzymes? Or in the case of medical treatments which include anti-biotics – known for killing the natural flora (aka enzymatic bacteria) in our digestive tract? Also… Methanol is toxic. Drinking 10ml (approximately 2 teaspoons) will cause blindness, and as little as 100ml (less than 1/2 cup) can cause death. Methanol is also known as wood alcohol, methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood spirits.
• 50% is broken down into Phenylalanine, a non-essential amino acid and precursor to tyrosine (which in high doses reduces levels of dopamine – which has been shown to reduce motivation and cause the ‘inability to experience pleasure’ – tyrosine has also been used as a replacement to wean people off of cocaine, caffeine and nicotine). Maintained high blood levels of Phenylalanine has shown to cause adverse effects on fetuses. Phenylalanine is also linked to the genetic disorder phenylketonuria.
• 40% is broken down into the amino acid aspartic acid (aspartate). High concentrations act as an excitotoxin, damaging the brain and nerve cells.
• There is controversy over whether Aspartame actually spurs an insulin response, which would trump the notion that it is a smart sugar replacement for Diabetics, or useful for weight-loss diets.

What does this mean to us as Equestrians?

Riding horses is a very physically demanding activity. Not only that, the mental aspect is stunningly complex just like any relationship. If Aspartame does indeed function as an excitotoxin, inhibit dopamine production and cause insulin spikes it will affect our mood (i.e. the level of patience we have as well as how we perceive responses we receive from the horse); our ability to respond physically, mentally AND emotionally (i.e. reaction timing and speed, our learning curve, triggering faster fear/anger/aggression responses).

If you’ve ever had an experience where it feels that you were out of control of your responses/reactions, perhaps it is time to take a look at your diet… for example :

• The FDA considers 50mg/kg [longterm] daily consumption of Aspartame to pose no health risk (and yet has an official list of 92 symptoms caused by aspartame consumption). If you weight 165lbs, that’s 21 cans of soda to surpass the safe level. Certainly the average person does not drink that much soda in a day, however in combination with other excitotoxins as well as other sources of aspartame in your daily diet this could pose a problem.
• At 20mg/kg body weight daily doses of Aspartame, the Ramazzini Study concluded that aspartame is “a multipotential carcinogenic agent…”
• A study at My Aspartame Experiment.com produced tumors, skin lesions, symptoms related to Grave’s Disease, eye infections, birth defects, obesity and death in rats when fed the intake equivalent of a person drinking 3/4 of a can of diet soda per day over the course of 2 years and 8 months.

Suffer from headaches?

• A link to headaches caused by aspartame ingestion was made in one study with doses below the FDA’s limit.
• Headache is the #1 complaint reported to the FDA, followed by dizziness/poor equilibrium (#2) and change of mood (#3).

Healthy alternatives to Aspartame…

There are many natural sugar replacers which do not act as excitotoxins available on the market. I used to use a lot of Stevia when I detoxed from refined and artificial sugars, a natural sweetener that is gaining in popularity but should not be mistaken as Rebiana, Truvia or PureVia – which are being substituted in many soft drinks now. I rarely use anything to sweeten my foods and drinks with anymore, though do occasionally use honey or sweeten my tea with licorice root (not to be mistaken with licorice candy). Many enjoy using Agave Nectar, but according to wikipedia :

Agave syrup consists primarily of fructose and glucose. One source gives 92% fructose and 8% glucose; another gives 56% fructose and 20% glucose. These differences presumably reflect variation from one vendor of agave syrup to another. Due to its fructose content and the fact that the glycemic index only measures glucose levels, agave syrup is notable in that its glycemic index and glycemic load are lower than many other natural sweeteners on the market.However, the extremely high percentage of fructose (higher than that of high-fructose corn syrup) can be deleterious and can trigger fructose malabsorption, metabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and accelerated uric acid formation. Low-carb diet advocate Dr. Michael Eades M.D. advises to “avoid it [Agave syrup] like death”.
Some criticism has targeted agave syrup. In the late 1990s, the agave syrup on the market contained 90% thermally or chemically hydrolyzed fructose. However, while the salmiana variety syrup on the market today is still primarily fructose, it is enzymatically hydrolyzed using a black mold enzyme.

Aspartame-sweetened foods are often marketed for their ‘low-calorie’ qualities, so be careful to check any foods which target consumers for weight loss or weight control. Be wary of labels which read “Sugar-Free” or “No Sugar Added” which are often sweetened artificially.
For More Information Check Out :

• DorWay To Discovery : Aspartame & Aspartame Poisoning
• Sweet Poison : Aspartame Dangers Revealed
• HolisticMed.com : Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
• My Aspartame Experiment
• Aspartame : Rumsfeld’s Bioweapon Legacy
• Tuberose.com : Aspartame
• Aspartame Linked to Anxiety and Panic Attacks
• HolisticMed.com : Aspartame Dangers In Pregnancy

Caution!
There are a number of sites trying to say that Aspartame Poisoning is a hoax, and while I believe that doing your research is important and taking information from both sides – I also think it is vital to know what the source is. Sites such as aspartame.org ["Aspartame Information Center"], aspartame.net ["The Aspartame Information Service"], aspartame.info ["Aspartame Information Service" almost identical to aspartame.net], aspartametruth.net ["The Truth About Aspartame"], etc are all linked to the Calorie Control Council, which according to The Source Watch :

The Calorie Control Council is a non-profit group “representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry. Today it represents 60 manufacturers and suppliers of low-calorie, low-fat and light foods and beverages, including the manufacturers and suppliers of more than a dozen different dietary sweeteners, fat replacers and other low-calorie ingredients.”
“The Council has sponsored numerous studies on low-calorie ingredients, foods and beverages — including investigations in the areas of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, metabolism, consumer usage and public opinion,” it states on its website.
It also published the website, The Truth About Aspartame.
The CCC website, according to a search at Joker.com, was registered in early January 1997 by The Kellen Company, a company which provides a range of support services to “association clients.” (The Kellen Company offers PR services to clients via its PR division, Kellen Communications). The office address and phone number for the CCC are shared by The Kellen Company and thirteen other associations comprising the Association For Dressing & Sauces, Chilled Food Association, the Concord Grape Association, the Enteral Nutrition Council, Exhibit Designers & Producers Association, Georgia Financial Services Association, Health Care Convention & Exhibitors Association, Horseradish Information Council, International Jelly & Preserve Association, National Association Of Margarine Manufacturers, National Institute For Oilseed Products, National Pecan Shellers Association and the Processed Apples Institute.

This, in my opinion, discredits much of the promotional information due to the corporate and financial connections tied to the Calorie Control Council.

Detox From Aspartame

Currently using draw reins? Considering using draw reins? Not sure if you should or shouldn’t be using draw reins? I want to know!

I am looking for readers to submit their experiences with using or reasons for considering using draw reins. In exchange I will be writing a series of posts on solutions to training issues often dealt with by using draw reins.

You can participate by emailing me: info @ awarenessinriding.com or submissions can be made as comments… Thanks!

Have you heard of R.O.A.M.? I was just sent the website MadeleinePickens.com from which you can support America’s wild mustangs and burros from capture, captivity and slaughter.

You can tell Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, and the BLM to stop the slaughter and confinement of America’s wild horses and burros. Take action now! I did and encourage you to as well! Below is what I personalized my letter with…

Understandably the management of horse herds has been an issue constantly on the minds of those placed with the responsibility of doing just that since the BLM was first established. Like most things in life, and politics, it can be difficult to realize a hard, fast and simple fix with so many on different ends of the string all tugging and pulling in their own favor.
I do believe that there is a solution out there that is both responsible to these living, feeling and understanding creatures who deserve to be respected by not having to sacrifice their lives for our own purpose, as well as easing and appeasing the interests of those feeling the crush of their overpopulation.
I feel that there is a correlation between our management of wild horse herds and domesticated horses – and that is education and responsibility. Not only are wild horse herds out of control, so are domesticated breeding operations which continue to add to the overpopulation of horses in captivity.. which then directly affects the success rates of the BLM’s long-standing adoption program. Please, while looking into solutions to this problem, please be considerate of cause and effect, because the last thing we need is to put another bandaid on this severed limb. As a whole, equestrians and horse-people need to be equipped with both education and an interest in responsibility for self-created actions in order to come together and make the best decisions for horses, both wild and domesticated.

I love it when people find my blog with search terms that I haven’t addressed the issues for yet… gives me an opportunity to address them! This is in line with today’s search terms “of the day”…

Horses who buck while being lunged. There are several different reasons, which I’m sure many other trainers and horse advisers have mentioned – physical pain, playfulness or rowdy-ness, ill fitting tack, etc. One thing which I see is not often addressed, is the communication portion of interacting with the horse on the lunge.

Before I go down that lonely road, I want to first bring up the concept of a horse bucking. When we watch rodeos, we see horses do amazing maneuvers as they leap into the air – caused by a bucking strap. If your saddle is not equiped with one and you haven’t fashioned one by hand… then that is likely not the cause of your horse’s bucking – no matter how much it might resemble those famed rodeo horses! Bucking is not a maneuver of forward motion. It is a movement of upwards motion. It is just like rearing, with a little oomph, or a lot depending on your horse’s dedication. It engages more of the horse’s abdominal strength than rearing does.. but aside from the physical prowess your horse is showing, they are in essence the same ‘thing.’ (bear with me..)

Barring any physical issues or ill-fitting tack, that leaves playfulness and mis-communication as the key targets for why your horse is bouncing around on the end of that lunge line. Given that most of us learn how to lunge by doing rather than solid education taught by a professional (and not just your average riding instructor), it is not really that surprising that communication is still on the list of offenders. It is not a given when interacting with horses, least of all with 30 feet of line between you and a whip trailing at his feet…

Now, trying to link the two together – that bucking is an upward motion rather than a forward motion, and that most often mis-communication is a culprit… I’m going to give you the wham bam boogie! Not really, but…

The most common cause of a horse bucking on the lunge is that he doesn’t fully understand your desire that he moves forward, or is being blocked in some way shape or form (by you, his surroundings, or something imagined, you can decide on a case by case basis), while receiving increasing amounts of pressure from you (the ‘lunger’) until the pressure from behind is equal to the pressure in front, resulting in an upward explosion.

So… a simple solution? Clarify yourself by changing tactics. If your horse isn’t responding calmly and immediately from your request to move forward (or move *more* forward), perhaps go back to step one and teach him that you want him to move forward from the cue of the whip. Combine that with a double check that your position during lunging isn’t cutting him off (you should be behind the withers slightly if there was a straight line from the horse’s body to the center of the lunge circle), there is nothing blocking his way or path, or if needed do some confidence building to get rid of those scary ghosts (and I’m not talking about the confidence building that involves chasing him down with a blue plastic tarp… ).

This topic not only keeps showing up in front of me, but is something I feel could use the help of all possible until it has been fully recognized and eradicated. Besides, I found that there is a petition to impose a 2-finger noseband looseness rule to the FEI, which would prevent riders from crank-noseband tying their horse’s mouth shut. Perhaps this would inspire rider’s to seek out education and learn how to use their aids? Let’s hope so…

Have you read the article by Jimmy Wofford, “Is It Art or Violence?” that was published in Practical Horseman? I found it posted online here and here. Excellent stuff, I highly recommend you read it.

What brought me about on my tangent today were several videos on YouTube that I found, or I should say were sent to me. Several people had posted questions asking why the rider was training the horses with their noses behind the vertical and such. When I followed the link on the video description where they were advertising more horses for sale, I was sad to see that it was the norm and not an exception.

What kills me about the use of hyperflexion – or even mild overflexion.. why stop there, weight in the reins altogether – is that is is completely unnecessary when you are communicating with the horse! When we stop communicating and begin dictating is when force becomes a factor of necessity in controlling, directing and ‘dancing’ with the horse. It is merely a more subtle form of shooting at someone’s feet to make them dance.

Every time I go out riding I think of the pure joy involved in finding not only relaxed ‘obedience’ (rather the willingness to say ‘yes’ to my questions and requests), but also collection on a loose rein, without any nosebands, on a simple snaffle, no spurs or the need of my whip. Still it is deemed necessary to remove any physical strength and comprehensive eyesight from these horses in order to dance with them. Do ballroom dancers find it likewise necessary to tie their partner’s hand behind their back and blindfold them in order to waltz?

*Sigh*  btw, working presently on some springtime videos talking about collection with release of the aids and more… so stay tuned.

And tomorrow is yet another radio broadcast in which I will be discussing Lazy and Sensitive horses, the nervous system response to stimulation and more. I will once again be joined by Cheryl Frei, who works with me through Awareness In Riding as an Equestrian Life Coach. You can tune in at 12 noon (cst) to our fully interactive online radio broadcast.

There are a few key ingredients needed in order to successfully use Rollkur with your horse. None of these are directly related to the horse of course, but are essential to have established before you wander out and work with your horse. Please note, in no particular order…

• Forget about the idea that we are all connected and part of the same. Separate yourself from the horse as much as possible – building evidence to prove this always helps as well.
• Simple is not always better, instead you should work to complicate your life as much as possible. If it takes two turns to get from point A to point B, you should be able to add a minimum of 26 1/2 more changes of direction to get to the same destination.
• Physical strength defines your athletic prowess and ability, therefore you should work on doing *lots* of bicep curls. I’ve also heard that the rowing exercises can be of great benefit.
• Work as hard as possible to interrupt and in general ignore the return of conversation from the people around you. Silence them as quickly and efficiently as possible. If necessary, carry duct tape around in your back pocket and a length of rope.
• Practice using all of your limbs at the same time to distract, confuse and overstimulate every person and creature around you.
• Always have a personal radio handy, so you can blame any confusion over your actions on your need to ‘dance’ (since most lay-persons won’t understand the reference to a musical kur).
• Research whether it is possible to successfully grab someone on the butt and slap them across the face while having them in a choke-hold at the same time without any assistance from others.
• Practice making up excuses for your actions based on the premise that without them your life would be in constant danger because the world has been designed in such a way that it is nearly impossible to control otherwise.

Of course, none of this will do any good if you have no aspirations towards Dressage. But, if you prefer the western lifestyle, much of the above can be applied to most western disciplines with the help of a pair of draw reins or excessive flexion work and wha la! You have Western Rollkur!

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for our second radio broadcast today where I was joined by Cheryl Frei. We discussed the connection of life coaching to horsemanship as well as how ego plays a role in both our personal lives and our interaction with the horse.

If you happened to miss the live show, you can still enjoy the recorded show online.

Link : Ego Based Horsemanship : Horses & Humans

As promised, the links discussed during the show are listed below. Our next broadcast is March 1 at 12 noon (cst) where we will be discussing Passive Dominance, how we become leaders with our horse, and how we mistake dominating with leading.

Links :

• (article) Are Loneliness, Feeling Cold, and the ‘Winter Blues’ Linked?
• (Cheryl Frei’s website) The Unexpected Path & (blog) Support For The Family In Crisis
• Link to March 1 Show
• AIR Radio Channel

Sunday afternoon was the mark of my first radio broadcast online, and in case you weren’t able to make it to the live broadcast you can still catch the recording!

Link : Sorry, not currently available.

Our next show will air live on Sunday, February 15 at 12 noon (cst). The topic is still in the “air” so if you have a question or topic you would like to have discussed please send an email to us! We are also working towards having guests on our show and are excited to be able to offer this to our horse friends…

Link : Tune Into AIR Radio Channel

If you are unaware of what is termed “Rollkur” or hyperflexion of the neck, it is time you knew what has been plaguing much of Dressage and has been the subject of controversy since its inception.

Horse Talk.co.nz published a new story which talks about a new study that was performed showing that horses not only choose normal poll flexion when given a choice while maneuvering, their physiological reaction to stressful stimulation is comparatively lower when compared to their reaction while in hyperflexion.

Link : Rollkur : Researchers Explore Neck Hyperflection in Horses

That time of the year is here, as we find ourselves (at least in the north) climbing out from the short dark days of winter that can at times be brutal. Waking up we dust off some of the remnants of snow – or at least prepare for the day when we can finally shovel that last bit of snow from the walk ways. I feel like that time of the year has started. I am more energized through the day, I’ve stopped stocking up on food to keep me warm and insulated through the hibernation phase. Maybe it is just all of the Vitamin D from the daily dose of sunshine bouncing off the remaining piles of snow… Whatever the cause, I am happy to see the threat of spring!

What I really want to talk about however are relationship skills. It isn’t every day that the interactions with people in  my life bring about great ephiphanies in the way of how we relate with the horse and build communication, trust and motivation in each other, but I am lucky enough to have regular encounters that spur some greater understanding.

I’ve come to find that the way in which we build a relationship with the horse is the fundamental foundation that everything else is built upon. If we have a poor foundation everything else fails – communication, trust, motivation, etc. With that note, I will be broadcasting live for the first time on internet radio on February 1 at 12 noon (cst). I will be discussing various aspects of relationship building with the horse. I would like to invite you to tune in, let a friend know and pass the word around. Viewers will be able to call in or email questions throughout the show for a truly interactive experience. This is in partnership with Awareness In Riding through their AIR Radio Channel.

These radio broadcasts are scheduled approximately every two weeks on Sundays at 12 noon (cst). Be sure and subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on broadcasts. You will also be able to check the schudule of broadcasts by visiting either the AIR Radio Channel or our Calendar of Events. Previous broadcasts will be available for a time on the AIR Radio Channel as well.

Any inquiries regarding the show’s contents and topics can be directed to Awareness In Riding.