enlightened horsemanship through touch

In my post about the FEI’s progressive medication scale, I wrote about, obviously, the hyperflexion issue. Why such a fuss? It’s only one discipline among many, and horses asked to perform this manuever as only those of the upper echelon of the sport. Right? Wrong on many counts.

We all have heroes, teachers we look up to and learn from. If they do it with good results, we might try it too. Especially those who are new to a discipline and don’t yet have the confidence or knowledge to decide whether a given exercise is harmful to the horse or not. I’ve been there. I know.

Hyperflexion is not limited to dressage, either. There are western disciplines that use it.

Should the FEI make a decision to outlaw it, the trickle down effect would affect a wide range horses in many disciplines. Reason enough to keep the pressure on, regardless of whether or not we believe there is hope.

Dr. Heuschmann, author of Tug of War – Classical versus Modern Dressage, will present his anti-hyperflexion statement to the FEI at its meeting on February 9. With him he will carry a list of names of supporters. Closed door meetings in which the fates of horses are decided do not serve the larger community unless the majority of voices are heard. To lend your support, help put an end to Rollkur on Feb.9th at the next FEI meeting. Sign your name to a list Dr. Heuschmann will take with him by going to Wu Wei Verlag (the publishers of his book) and clicking on Officials! Stop Hyerflexion!. You will have to verify by email.

Now is the time to stand up and be counted for the good of horses in the discipline of dressage. If you want to help Dr.Heuschmann prevail, I suggest posting this message on your blog and Facebook wall. It will take many voices to get the attention of the FEI.

Don’t let Dr. Heuschmann stand alone, let your voice be heard with his and fill that room with compassion and a plea to end a practice that robs our beloved horses of their dignity, strength and beauty.