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!
