HSUS Releases Statement on “Blue Tongue Dressage” Video
29. Nov, 2009 
6 Comments
Video taken at FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier in Odense, Denmark
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, issued the following statement concerning the recent YouTube video depicting Swedish Olympic rider Patrik Kittel riding his stallion, Watermill Scandic, is a state of hyperflexion (known in the dressage world as “rollkur”) at the Odense World Cup competition in Denmark. At one point, the horse’s tongue is shown hanging limply from his mouth as it turns blue.
This highly controversial method of training is typically employed at the upper levels of dressage training by using the riding aids (hands, seat and leg) to hyperflex the horse’s neck until his chin is almost touching his chest; often the horse is required to maintain this position for extended periods of time. While it is not known if temporary or permanent physical damage can be caused by using this method, this extreme position is unnatural for the horse and could likely cause discomfort and distress if used for an extended period of time.
“While no representative of The Humane Society of the United States witnessed the incident depicted in the video of Kittel and his stallion from the Odense World Cup, the images in the video are deeply troubling,” said Holly Hazard, The HSUS’s chief innovations officer. “We are pleased to see that the international governing body of equestrian sport, The Federation Equestrian Internationale, is investigating. If warranted, we urge the FEI to take appropriate disciplinary action against both Kittel and the ring stewards at the show who failed to act on Watermill Scandic’s behalf.”
The HSUS believes that the humane treatment and training of all horses — whether they are high-level competition horses or companion animals — should be of paramount importance to the rider, trainer, discipline and industry. We have long advocated for the use of humane training techniques (such as natural horsemanship) and have actively worked to end cruel training methods, such as the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses.
Click here to ban Rollkur and add your name to the thousands of people who genuinely CARE about the welfare of horses and wish for it to be considered above all thoughts of performance and glory. Hyperflexion is not beautiful.
website
It’s about time!
http://www.behindthebitblog.com/2008/01/all-rage-about-rollkur.html
Hi Carlotta
I actually like Behind the Bit’s post very much. I read it when it was posted. However, I disagree that this should not be a big issue.
Hyperflexion is a microcosm of the entire mindset of trainers and riders who view horses as objects to further their personal goals and not as the living beings with beating heats that they are.
As such, the use of hyperflexion should be struck down, and proponents should be shown another way. It’s not as if there is a lack of other ways of working with a horse, or other ways to BE with a horse. They are not bicycles, or pretzels or motor cars. They are sentient beings with whom we COOPERATE.
There is nothing cooperative about the point of view of one who uses hyperflexion or any other method of training that ignores the horse’s well-being.
These “stars” of the dressage world are looked up to by millions. Riders emulate them. Is this attitude one we want riders to emulate?
It may not be as dramatic as the washboard ribs of a CANTER horse, but it reveals the same indifference that can spread like wildfire when people want something and think they can get it by using a horse.
So, sorry. I will continue to post about hyperflexion, Rollkur, the Progressive Medication Scale, and anything else I want to post about. In the larger horse world, there is room for ALL issues.
Thanks for posting the link to the blog article, whoever did that.
Whether the tongue is really “blue” or not, it is not a pretty picture. If you go by the horse husband test (would your non-horsey husband find it offensive/cruel), the video rises (or rather sinks) to the level of cruelty. I’m glad there are people speaking out about these examples. Having said that, I’ve seen much milder examples in the warmup ring where the horse looks pretty happy. I would not use it on my horse, I don’t think it’s correct, but it is not always the atrocity we see in the blue tongue video. I personally would rather support a horse rescue (which is more of a monetary support issue anyway), but welcome reasoned analysis of this training method and holding people responsible when abusive methods are used.
Stacey
I LOVE the idea of the horse husband test. That needs to be explored more carefully! Sounds fun.