FEI outlaw rollkur!

[3BayGeldings]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/compe...90/294724.html


Will be interesting to see how some of the dressage riders inparticular have to change their warm-up and whether it'll affect their performances?

[Booboos]

Stewards will also have a tough time identifying and proving the 'aggressive force' clause which seems to differentiate rolkur from riding long, low and deep.

[rotters13]

Or whether it will be enforced!

[pippipony]

It will be interesting to follow.

[Zebedee]

So will judges now return to penalising the head being carried behind the vertical?

[tigers_eye]

Goodness me this sounds a mess. Whilst I'm not a fan of some of the more extreme versions I've seen (and I must say most of these have been photos, not videos) I think this could bring in cases, appeals, things dragging on forever and all in all not a good thing for dressage's image.

[sleepingdragon10]

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Stewards will also have a tough time identifying and proving the 'aggressive force' clause which seems to differentiate rolkur from riding long, low and deep.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rollkur isn't long and/or low though, it's an extreme head position created by excessive force. I hope that the stewards will have the courage to stick to this and pull up those riders abusing their horses like that. Any rider who thinks that dressage is about forcing their horse to 'perform' is missing the point entirely.

[Rouletterose]

Fabulous news indeed!!! this will go some way to improving things, I'm elated that the FEI are actually appearing to be really doing something about this and obviously listening to a lot of people/experts. I'm sure a lot of riders will have to change their warm-up ways especially if there are cctv cameras that can't be hidden from, and stewards will be well trained in what to look for I'm sure. Most people are not stupid and know the difference between rollkur and riding relaxed long,deep and low. The changes will take time to make a real difference but at least it's starting to show those that ride totally by force that they are not going to get away with it much longer. I can hear PK jumping up and down with triumph right now

[Booboos]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Stewards will also have a tough time identifying and proving the 'aggressive force' clause which seems to differentiate rolkur from riding long, low and deep.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rollkur isn't long and/or low though, it's an extreme head position created by excessive force. I hope that the stewards will have the courage to stick to this and pull up those riders abusing their horses like that. Any rider who thinks that dressage is about forcing their horse to 'perform' is missing the point entirely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well to be fair, this is not true. Neither the people who practice it (Anky) or the people who do not (Kyra) believe that it has anything to do with force.

But either way, I still can't see how stewards will tell the difference.

The FEI statement says "low, deep and round" (at least according to the HH report) which is going to be a bugger to define when it comes to actual cases.

[bahumbug]

It is indeed going to be a nightmare to define and therefore to enforce.....whatever 'it' may be..
But seriously, if it is down to stewards to report, this is really ga-ga.
Most stewards are volunteers, even FEI approved ones, and they are the background people (no disrespect, just fact compared to 'stars' in warm up arenas) who give of their time for the good of the sport. Is it fair to put them in an 'enforcement' position, potentially against people out to win, in the stress of competition situation?
Am sorry, this does not add up to me at all.
And a friend on Facebook (who saw it there) just asked me what 'rein weight measurement' is? B******ed if I know, or want to. Apparnetly it may be a way of measuring whether excessive force is employed.
If horsemanship comes down to that we're all off to hell in a hand cart!