Comments on: A Beginner’s Guide to Rollkur

By: The Difference Between Classical and Competitive Dressage < In The Media < Writing of Riding | Equestrian Blog

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:29:50 +0000

[...] along came Anky. No, she was not the first, and now is not even the most prominent, rider to use Rollkur and hyperflexion – she was just the one who made it scandalously popular and publicly [...]

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:19:26 +0000

I like to think of stretching in terms of passive and active. One of my son’s boxing coaches wanted him to stretch. So while my son sat on the floor with his legs spread apart and attempted to reach his forehead to the floor, the coach came up behind him and pushed him down. That is a passive stretch that achieve a desirable goal but was very hurtful. Over time my son could have done it productively and actively by himself but his coach’s way got it done faster. Whenever I had physio, the therapist was more concerned about my active mobility in the affected part than the passive mobility. Using my good hand to bend the wrist of the healing arm does not indicate the true strength of the arm I am trying to improve.

By: karen mcgoldrick

karen mcgoldrick — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:06:56 +0000

Steffan does not ride his horses in Rollkur. If you watch his warm-up from Aachen it was so harmonious. Yes he rides Ravel low and LONG to warm up, but the horse is relaxed and the back is swinging. Sjef Jensen’s LDR (rollkur) is aggressive riding, and has nothing to do in my mind with the goal of dressage, which is supposed to create a harmonious partnership between horse and rider that demonstrates submission without damaging the charm and joy of the horses own personality. Simply read our “directives”. Many judges need to have their memories refreshed. What judges reward, competitors will produce. They have a very important job.

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 06:04:08 +0000

I can not see why pain is beautiful horses might feel.
it’s so painful.
would like it looked at there eyes they look happy? it does not seem to hurt?
I think it does.
Think of jers horse or pony
they can not get enough air they can die from it can suffocate them.
I have two words and it STOP IT

By: Great Read on the Change in Riding Frame Over Time. - Page 2 - Australian Purebred & Crossbreed Dog Forum

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:37:21 +0000

[...] not nice A Beginner's Guide to Rollkur | Writing of Riding __________________ Puppies for [...]

By: Erica K.

Erica K. — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:48:48 +0000

Trisha, thank you and welcome to my blog. :)

I do just want to say that riding correctly with the seat is actually very, very, easy once your body has learned the position and your muscles/joints have gained their suppleness. Riding these horses in rollkur requires a great deal of physical strength, in part because the horse’s back is braced and therefore the rider needs to use the reins and the strength of their legs to hold them into the saddle and not be bounced out with every stride. Like sitting on a trampoline – the taughtness of the horse’s back muscles in rollkur creates a type of spring that launches the rider out of the saddle. If you look at video of classically trained riders aboard horses whose backs are likewise supple you will not see any bouncing around. They don’t need to rely on the reins or their legs to hold them down into the saddle. :)

What is easier about Rollkur however, is that the amount of weight in the reins does help hold the rider in the saddle. So for a horse who is at the upper levels but maintains stiffness and bracing in the back, a rider who is not relying upon the reins to help hold them in the saddle will find it a very difficult time to sit such big gaits if not impossible. :)

Cheers,
Erica

By: Trisha Swift

Trisha Swift — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:14:13 +0000

I found myself saying “Amen,” and “Right on,” a lot, through reading several posts on your blog. So sad… I can always do what I’ve always done, and muddle through without taking short cuts in the training of my horse (or myself). I have seen that people who ride horses in rollkur lose the ability to ride w/ their seat, and engage their own hips, back and abs. In other words, it’s physically far easier to ride a horse in rollkur than to ride it correctly. That’s another reason why so many do it…. they don’t have to work as hard!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:15:07 +0000

I forgot to add that it is not just that an individual pay a lot of money to prove that he or she can FORCE a horse to travel in a manner that is natural and healthy. But what is so strange is that anyone would want or need to do that? I mean, really? why? what have you proven and to whom?

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:12:03 +0000

This is so well written. I will need to go back and read it over more when I’m not so strung out tired.
I used to exercise racehorses at a local track, there’s a lot of criticism about that world (the money part is where and when it all falls apart for the horses). There are so many issues when money becomes the motive for how we train horses.
Horse racing has been called, “The Sport of Kings” but really all of the equestrian pursuits are. I don’t mean that harshly either. But for all my skill as a rider and for all the talent my horse has, we can’t afford to compete.
I guess what I would like to say to the horse world is this:
If you can’t afford to do it right, then don’t. I spend a lot of hours with my horses just being happy that they are happy. Why can’t that be enough?
Of course I know the answer is that people need to show that they have the ability to have power over another mammal. I can’t help but think that those people are very low on the food chain. How pathetic must one be that he/she has to pay a lot of money to prove that she/he can win out over a horse and make it travel in ways that are opposed to what is natural and healthy?

By: Put a dressage rider in the hunter ring, put a classical rider in the modern ring=? - Page 11

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:27:49 +0000

[...] Originally Posted by VelvetsAB I understand! OK…so what is a rollkur? And if everything is being judged the same….someone is wearing the wrong tack and not getting dq'd for it…. :) Just to back up what ridergirl already mentioned: A Beginner's Guide to Rollkur | Writing of Riding [...]