Dressage is experiencing a major crisis. This is not new, there has been a Dressage crisis happening for more than a decade.
Competitive Dressage has been actively rewarding individuals who abuse their horses in the open for personal gain, with no end in sight.
The term “Classical Dressage” is being used by individuals who do not follow actual classical principles, in an effort to make money off clients who don’t know better.
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Some say it’s the fault of judges, for rewarding riders who train with abusive methods like Rollkur, also known as LDR.
Others say it’s solely the fault of the riders who abuse their horses.
And then there are the equestrians who don’t see anything wrong with riding a horse in hyperflexion or their tongue turn blue from the pressure the rider exerts on the bit.
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That last group of individuals, I just don’t have time for. I’m sorry, but if you can’t see obvious signs of a horse’s suffering from your training methods then I’m not likely to convince you otherwise. I’m not the only one crying “Abuse!” over this either, the FEI itself said that Rollkur was bad and then gave the loophole of making LDR legal.
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Are Judges to Blame for Rollkur?
Tell me, what do you see in these photos?
The one thing I don’t see in these photos, are any judges. There isn’t a single judge standing by and forcing these riders to do what they are doing to their horses.
Are judges completely innocent in this charade? No, absolutely not!
But ultimately, they aren’t the ones perpetuating the abuse first-hand.
Individual Riders Must be Held Accountable for the Abuse
Not a single one of these riders are taking responsibility for their actions causing undue harm to their horses. Not one.
They have an endless list of excuses, reasons, explanations.
They are quite skilled at debate and manipulation, but in the end, all of that bullshit is really doing great harm to the horses, the sport, and the education of every single young and new rider exposed to these examples of “Dressage”.
Perhaps we should rename the sport to something more descriptive of what it has become: Méfait, which in French means wrongdoing.
Dressage in Crisis
I highly recommend this video discussion about the current state of Dressage as a sport, but the same men who discussed the downfall of Totilas several years ago.
Why the Continued Discussion About Rollkur?
It’s important to be conscious of what is right and what is wrong when you are faced with it. Just because this has gone on for a very long time, doesn’t mean it’s any less important to keep speaking up and out against it.
The FEI doesn’t care if their competitors abuse horses to win competitions.
But as an equestrian yourself, you should care whether you abuse your horse or not. The first step in preventing that is knowing what is correct (good) and what is incorrect (bad) riding.
Competitors who use Rollkur (aka LDR or hyperflexion) with no regard for the well-being of their horses have made it a habit to talk like we should not be watching, discussing, and criticizing Dressage rides. It has been a long tradition to do just that within the sport as a way to learn and grow and to ride like the best while avoiding falling into the wrong habits found in bad riders.
Nobody should feel they cannot express their opinion about a ride.
Keep talking, and keep insisting that changes happen within the sport. Tell non-equestrians about the problem whenever the opportunity presents itself, like during the summer Olympics.
And remember, it’s not just Dressage that is broken.
Denise S says
Totally in agreement that training of the horse is the root of the problem. In my opinion, scoring these rides so high, not just in Dressage, but in other disciplines as well, is having a very bad trickle down effect. As someone who judge’s open shows and local 4H shows, the bad riding I see, I do not give ribbons. Then, I have to spend 3 hours after the show justifying why the horse who won at nationals last month and who has never finished with less than a blue ribbon in 5 years is not getting a ribbon at all. I can hand the rulebook to the rider, the trainer and the superintendent and still have to justify why I saw these things and others didn’t. As a rider myself, I try to use proper methods to train my horse in dressage, I know he is never going to go above second level because he doesn’t have the ability to give more than that with his body. I am noit going to resort to force to get it. At the same time, I am showing my horse to the best of his ability with proper training and watching people who are using force to get their horses to give them even training level movements scoring higher than I am. I know that the lower level judge’s in the US are now being taught not to reward bad riding, that is a start, but how are we going to make the change at the international levels if we don’t meet the FEI criteria as judge’s because we aren’t scoring these rides as high as the other country’s judge’s are scoring them. How many potentially really good riders and horses with proper training do we have to see get discouraged with the scoring and not get the sponsorships they need to keep competing before things change? Don’t just tell us that as viewers of this we need to make a change. Tell us who to complain to, tell us how to make sure our voices are heard over the names getting the scores and the sponsorships. Start petitions to help us make sure the proper authorities are hearing us. I can’t afford to go to the annual conventions and talk to people.
I have trouble finding trainers who aren’t telling me to pull my reins tighter. Shorten the reins, now push him forward is what I hear from not just one but multiple trainers. Why not get him forward and ask for him to take the rein? If I pull and push, I have no clear rhythm. If I allow and ask, I get more. But, I need a trainer because I don’t know how to get that next step. I don’t know how to get collection and extension without using the reins, there has to be a way because true Classical Dressage is succeessful at it. I don’t t hink it is entirely the viewers fault that this is going on.
It is up to the stewards in the warm up rings to get the ground jury to disqualify a rider for inhumane riding. If a tiny speck of blood is enough to disqualify a Steffen Peters from competition, a blue tongue in the warmup is more than enough to disqualify anyone else. Yes, we can complain, and judge’s can get less political in their judging, but if stewards and ground juries are too fearful to yank a horse from a competition because of infractions in the warm-up and make the point to trainers that it won’t be ignored, training won’t change and those of us just trying to learn how to do things correctly are left with the poor training that is available to us.
Find some of those riders that rode truly Classical Dressage, they can’t all be dead and get them to start speaking out and circulating petitions. You need to find the people who are not dependent on the current system for their livelihood to speak out and lead the way. I can stop training with someone because I don’t like their methods, but then I have to find someone else. I currently ride with 6 different trainers. I take what I can from what they teach me and make it something I can live with for my horse’s sake. None of these people are available on a regular basis, so I am forced to travel to someone else’s barn and see bad riding and get accused of bad riding because of what a particular trainer does or wants me to do.
So I guess what I’m saying is, this blog is good to read and tells me I’m not a lone voice in the wilderness, but it isn’t really pointing the way to something better. If you know who to send a petition to once enough signatures are collected, then do it, or circulate a list of people to write to and let someone else stand on the front lines and do it. But being the lone voice in the wilderness with no idea where to go is damned depressing.
Erica Franz says
Denise,
I totally feel your frustration. I think so many of us who have been looking at the state of Dressage for over a decade have gone through the exact same turmoil.
Some of the trouble is that there is no clear action to take, outside of trying to educate people’s eye so when they go and vet trainers to work with they can better rule out who the worst are and work with those who are better, and who are available to them.
We’ve tried petitions, FEI doesn’t care. We’ve attended events and talked face-to-face with people. It’s been brought up at competitions until people are blue in the face, or just outright told they have to leave the premises despite not engaging in any behavior that should warrant that type of action.
There are Masters, but for so many they aren’t accessible due to location or cost.
Most of us are doing like you, what we can with what we have available.
I bring the issue of Rollkur up often still because it hasn’t gone away, and people shouldn’t become apathetic in thinking the problem is gone just because it’s not a “hot topic” to be covered like it was when it first shocked and surprised equestrians.
It’s here, know what it is, know why you should avoid it. When you can, share what knowledge you’ve learned with those around you who don’t have as much.
I wish so badly I could simply point you to take immediate action to do X, and if we get enough people behind it we’ll certainly crush this abuse. I don’t, and it’s something I think about very often.
Mercedes Pozuelo says
Completamente de acuerdo
Anonymous says
Andrew Murphy is an excellent trainer who has the horses well being in focus as well as biomechanics and what is actually possible for the horse to do without hurting it. He sees the fault in most high level dressage and he knows how to do it right. Apparently he does have trainings in the US, I don’t know more about those because I ride for him somewhere in Europe. You could check out hos wifes blog where some of his teachings are described. https://equinerds.com/2017/06/20/the-number-six-stretch-part-1/
Jenny Donovan says
I find that in wanting to learn sound, correct training and riding that is actually in support of the therapeutic welfare of the horse and quality of life, I don’t know how to find those people who could mentor or train me. Does anyone know if there are listserves or ways to find local people with these foundational philosophies, rather than competition being the goal?
Joe King says
This is the cure for Rollkur.
If you would simply administer it at will the problem will go away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLAY15lB4I4
Erica Franz says
hahaha, love it! 🙂
Sarah Fowler says
I have never before adored someone so much without actually meeting them. Your video response was perfect. 😉
Patricia Austin says
OMG! I have wished SO often I could just stride out and rip cruel riders out of their saddle and fling them on the ground! It’s the absolutely perfect antidote to shitful riding! BLOODY BRILLIANT!
Sally Baker says
Clearly the modern dressage horse has been bred to start with more athletic ability than in past years. When you have a horse with the physical ability to do movements more easily, it is tempting to ‘short change’ the basics and move on to more demanding things. Every time I see a 9 year old doing Grand Prix, I cringe. I find myself wondering what shortcuts were taken to get a horse to that level that young…and how long they will hold up when pushed along like that. Also, a physically talented horse requires less skill and tact than a horse that needs more help and support from a rider to be able to perform at that level. I think we need to take a hard look at what is happening, not just in the fudging, but in dressage in general. When I read an article in the USDF Connections magazine trying to justify a 4 beat ‘extended’ trot I almost cried. Even considering changing the definition of a gait to accommodate the ‘Big Lick’ horses that are going down the center line…dangerous ground.
Erica Franz says
All excellent points Sally. I do the same, much concern when seeing such young horses competing at Grand Prix.
Kathleen Smolinski says
Too many riders/trainers/owners of horses do not want to take the time to work with developing their horses in a time frame that doesn’t damage or distress them. It takes time to build up the muscles and communication that allow the horse to do the more advanced work. It makes me sick to see people abusing their horses mouths and bodies to get a fast result. It’s no different than if you took up yoga and the instructor tied you into position and then said “there – breath and relax”. Very counter productive and cruel.
Erica Franz says
Great analogy to yoga.
Jenny Donovan says
It would seem, that competition sets a tone that dressage, in and of it, should be perceived as a sport, rather than an artistic endeavor. Maybe not even seen as an endeavor at all, but a process that is the only goal, in and or itself.
kate says
It is not just Dressage is it, it is the whole standard of riding, showing racing it is a long list. People with more money than sense buy horses they are not and never will be capable of riding, so they put more tack on the poor creature, little kids riding ponies in Doubles !. Learn to ride !!! there are still some old school instructors who would be happy to teach you the basics and I am sure that there are some younger instructors who would do the same, it will take longer but the results will be kinder and better.
Erica Franz says
Absolutely, there is a major glut in every discipline, and even outside of formal disciplines.
Valerie Gates says
The abuse in classical dressage is no different from putting kerosene on the feet of Tennessee Walkers to make them pick up their feet…..and that is against the law. Why are these riders who consider themselves elite riders getting away with it. Abuse is abuse no matter what the form.
Erica Franz says
Agreed, and animal welfare is not taken seriously in any context. Even for TWH who are suffering from soring, how long has that practice been illegal but publicly acknowledged it was still happening out in the open with no consequences?
It’s important to tell people when something they see is wrong — even those who aren’t directly involved with horses. Educate them so they know better and no longer praise and idolize these abusive practices. A lot of people simply don’t know any better because no one has told them to look closer at what is happening.
Vanessa says
Just awful methods of training!!! shouldn’t be allowed! Sickening!
Amber Seltzer says
The video posted on here are by two idiots with no credibility in the dressage world. Alex Gerding actually told me once my horse was a great candidate to ride in rolkur. The other idiot next to him can hardly crank out anything above a 55% at first level. I would never follow or take serious any advice from either of those men.
Andrew Wright says
Start by banning all bridles other than a snaffle. Begin with ponies and move up. Overbent horses have been rewarded far too long and often the trainers judge their own horses and reward them accordingly. When you complain the organizers say there just aren’t enough judges…. and the problem continues.
Shekinah Newkirk says
So, I would first like to say I am totally against Rolkur, or any other form of abuse, riding. I have trained a few horses, myself and by myself, to Grand Prix. Were they successful in the FEI ring? No, at the nat’l level yes, but they were one wbd, an Arab cross, and an Andalusian. All 3 had their own major weaknesses that I worked through and accepted the fact that I would always get a low score in those areas and I could make it up in their strengths.
All of this being said about me aside. What needs to happen is TDs need to do their job and be given the ability to pull famous riders and horses from the warm up, eliminate them without scrutiny or backlash from judges, the FEI board etc.
Next, there needs to be real and constructive discussion between trainers, not beginner riders. So much is said by people who read on social media and cannot ride their way out of a paper bag. So how does that help? How many of these people are riding 5 to 9 horses a day. Yes, it is great that you care, but the people that should care more are the people riding and training and selling and showing and giving you lessons. But the problem lies with the fact that everyone wants success. And success means money, success means that even if you can’t ride your horse will go in a false frame for you down centerline and you think its great cuz you just bought him and only ride 2x per week. Success means your trainer is moving your horse up the levels quickly and its like magic cuz you are always at work and don’t know how she does it.
All are to blame, not just the riders who implement these poor training methods. Riders would not normally go to such lengths if there wasn’t pressure from owners, sponsors, and what potential clients look for in their trainers and their next super star horse.
Erica Franz says
I’m in disagreement that only those who are participating at the top-level of the sport have grounds to criticize the behavior and treatment happening in Dressage and other sports, e.g. hyperflexing the neck of the horse.
You don’t need to be a world-class competitor to clearly recognize abuse, or to understand why permanent physical damage being intentionally inflicted on these animals in order to win in competition is cruelty.
Success isn’t the same to every equestrian.
I do agree that it is a multi-faceted problem, which is largely why stopping it has been so difficult. However, without a doubt, the biggest obstacle is the FEI who permits this to happen. If they were to ban it and truly enforce that rule it would cease to exist. Period.
Jennifer Fielding says
Well obviously it should start with the judges if they stop giving high scores to those that compete using Rolkur it would eventually be phased out. It’s like anything in society if bad behaviour keeps being rewarded nothing will ever change no matter how many petitions signed. It has to start at the top and the message has to clear that it will no longer be tolerated. People love love money and fame and if something was put in place that may prevent them from attaining either they will most likely change their ways.
Erica Franz says
I agree that judges are a HUGE force here.
On the same note, the organization doesn’t like a particular judge’s opposition to the celebrity riders and that judge is out for good.
We just saw this happen when a judge spoke to a journalist and expressed his dislike of hyperflexion and many riders of the Dutch team. He was immediately suspended.
Yes, judges should speak out and stand up and hold their ground. But those who do are replaced by more compliant people who are just happy to call themselves judge.
I believe this is a large factor in why it is not cut and dry to find a real solution. One of the best tools we have is drawing public criticism of the problem as a whole, educating the public, and shaming those who actively participate in its continuation.
That being said, any other ideas please share! I am strongly opposed to petitions, they simply don’t work, and I feel they only encourage people to do as little as possible and pat themselves on the back for a job well done at doing nothing. The FEI has historically ignored them outright no matter how many people have signed.
CZ says
Is there a way to go after the sponsors, convince them they shouldn’t be supporting cruelty? Betting the FEI would take notice of sponsors started dropping out.
Erica Franz says
Yes, definitely. This has been done since Rollkur has come up, with limited success. But, that doesn’t mean that continued efforts won’t yield results.