Latest from Horse & Hound in Blue-tongue

Leading dressage rider guilty of ‘improper use of bit and bridle’

Sophia Heath — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:25:12 +0000

A case against a leading Danish dressage rider’s training techniques has finally been completed by the Danish Equestrian Federation (DRF).

Andreas Helgstrand has been under fire since last April after a social media campaign accused the rider of using abusing his top ride Akeem Foldager.

His national federation stated yesterday (2 February) that the appeal committee ruled that he was guilty of “improper use of bit and bridle.”

Andreas was warned not to repeat the offence within the next two year’s otherwise it will be considered “aggravated circumstance”.

The case was started after pictures of Andreas riding Akeem Foldager at an open day last year (12 April) were released by Danish TV station Epona.tv (pictured).

The pictures showed the horse being ridden in a double bridle with its mouth open, revealing a blue tongue — thought to be caused by a lack of blood supply. There also appeared to be spur marks on the horse’s side.

Continued below…

(Image credit: free)

Danish rider has been accused of 'improper use of equipment,' after his horse was pictured with a blue tongue last

The week after the open day (19 April), the DRF sent a vet to his yard to check the horse.

The investigation concluded that Andreas’ use of the double bridle had been “completely unacceptable”.

“The bluish discoloration and reduction in reaction of the right jaw is a clear case of improper use of equipment,” the report stated.

The incident led to several high-profile sponsors dropping Andreas and also meant he was not eligible for selection for last summer’s World Equestrian Games.

At the end of last year (28 November) a court in Aalborg acquitted Andreas of all animal cruelty charges.

”I am very happy about the ruling of the court; it is important for me personally, but also for the sport in general,” Andreas said in a statement afterwards.

“It has been quite tough to have these accusations hovering, but my family and I are now focusing on the future instead.”

Andreas’ father Ulf has served as president of the DRF since 2003.

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Dressage rider cleared of animal cruelty

Sophia Heath — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:55:39 +0000

A leading Danish dressage rider has been cleared of animal cruelty, after a social media campaign accused him of using abusive training techniques.

Pictures of Andreas Helgstrand riding his top horse Akeem Foldager at an open day earlier this year (12 April) were released by Danish TV station Epona.tv. The images showed the horse being ridden in a double bridle with its mouth open, revealing a blue tongue — thought to be caused by a lack of blood supply. There also appeared to be spur marks on the horse’s side.

The week after the open day (19 April), the Danish Equestrian Federation (DEF) sent a vet to his yard to check the horse.

The investigation concluded that Andreas’ use of the double bridle had been “completely unacceptable”.

“The bluish discoloration and reduction in reaction of the right jaw is a clear case of improper use of equipment,” the report stated.

The pictures and vets report led to several high-profile sponsors dropping Andreas.

However, last month (28 November) a court in Aalborg acquitted him of all charges. The verdict found the prosecutor did not prove Akeem suffered any harm on 12 April 2014 according to Danish animal protection laws. The decision was based upon the photos and the results of the vet examination carried out by the DEF.

”I am very happy about the ruling of the court; it is important for me personally, but also for the sport in general,” Andreas said in a statement.

“It has been quite tough to have these accusations hovering, but my family and I are now focusing on the future instead. “

Andreas’ father Ulf is one six candidates hoping to elected as president of the FEI this Sunday (14 December). Ulf has served as president of the Danish Equestrian Federation since 2003.

Rollkur to be investigated by FEI and World Horse Welfare

Horse & Hound — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:37:47 +0000

The controversial training method rollkur will be investigated by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), following the so-called “blue tongue” row that erupted three weeks ago.

Rollkur – or hyperflexion – has been a contentious issue for a number of years, and was last investigated by the FEI in 2006.

But three weeks ago the discussion was opened again following public outrage at a video clip of Swedish rider Patrik Kittel that was posted on YouTube. Patrik was filmed by a Danish journalist warming up his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark using hyperflexion.

At one point, the horse hangs his tongue out of the side of his mouth and it appears to go blue.

Today, the FEI announced a condemnation of any training methods and practices contrary to horse welfare, requesting all stewards to use disciplinary measures — yellow cards — to prevent infringements of the rules from now.

But whether rollkur is actually against FEI rules is still subject to debate.

“And that is exactly what we need to clarify, we have realised much more needs to be done in this area,” said FEI veterinary director Graeme Cooke.

“Clearly, anything inappropriately done to excess is something we have concerns about. And there needs to be more clarity about rollkur — whether it is acceptable and to what level.”

The FEI will work with its partner, international equine charity World Horse Welfare, on the issue of hyperflexion.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H: “There are issues with rollkur (hyperflexion) and the incident in Odense last month has brought this sharply into focus. We are happy to work with the FEI on this.

“However let us be clear that hyperflexion cannot cause a horse’s tongue to turn blue; much of the reaction around the You Tube video seems to imply this.”

“I’ve had hate mail” says dressage rider at centre of blue tongue row

Horse & Hound — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:09:54 +0000

The Swedish team dressage rider at the centre of the “blue tongue” rollkur row has spoken exclusively to Horse & Hound.

In our 5 November issue, Patrik Kittel says he has received hate mail after a video of him warming up his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark was posted on YouTube.

At one point, the horse hangs his tongue out of the side of his mouth and it appears to go blue.

Patrik Kittel accuses the Danish journalist who posted the video footage of misrepresentation, and warns other riders to beware.

He told H&H: Scandic was a little hot at Odense, so I rode him for longer than usual. Throughout every training session, including this one, I give my horses walk breaks. I did not ride Scandic in this depicted frame for the entire duration of the training as implied [by Epona].

“Scandic sometimes plays with his tongue. During the filmed period of my training, he caught his tongue over or between the bits. I stopped when I noticed and put it back in the right place.”

Kittel says he has received threats, as have his sponsors and owners, saying: “It is scary that a small piece of footage can be portrayed in such a way.”

• Read the full story in Horse & Hound, 5 November issue — out now.

‘Blue tongue’ rollkur dressage video row escalates

Horse & Hound — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:02:24 +0000

Pressure is mounting on the FEI to look again at the practice of riding horses in a very deep and round neck frame known as hyperflexion or rollkur.

This is in response to a video circulating the internet showing Swedish team dressage rider Patrik Kittel schooling his horse in hyperflexion at Odense, Denmark, 18 October.

At the Global Dressage Forum on Monday, FEI executive sports director David Holmes announced the FEI’s decision to investigate, saying: “The FEI’s main concern has always been and will always be the welfare of the horse. We are taking the issues raised in the video and in the comments made by other Youtube viewers very seriously and have opened an investigation. The conclusions of this investigation will be made public.”

However, BHS chairman Patrick Print has since written to HRH Princess Haya requesting the FEI launch a second investigation into the practise of hyperflexion.

Print’s letter reads: “The concerns so widely expressed are reasonable and therefore deserving of an urgent two-part investigation: first, an inquiry into the treatment of this particular horse on this particular occasion; and, second, a broader inquiry into the ethics and consequences of hyperflexion. In this second aspect The British Horse Society stands ready to assist the FEI in any way it can.”

Forums are rife with angered comment on the topic and several facebook groups have been set up in condemnation of rollkur.

The Classical Riding Club have also written to the FEI and are urging all members to sign their petition to the FEI to ban all hyperflexion in competition.

In 2006, the FEI investigated hyperflexion. Their most recent statement on the subject in 2008 reads: “The FEI held a successful seminar on Hyperflexion in 2006. There has been no change in the scientific evidence since that review. There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion. However, there are concerns for the horses’ well-being if the technique is not practised correctly. The FEI does not permit excessive or prolonged hyperflexion in any equestrian sport, and has a strict stewarding program to protect the performance horse in all disciplines.”

See Horse & Hound 5 November issue for latest developments on this issue and views from those within the sport including Sweden’s Patrik Kittel.

Foot and mouth risk area reduced

Charlotte White — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:16:54 +0000

Defra has today (Monday) announced that Kent, Essex, East Sussex, Southend, Thurrock, Medway, Brighton and Hove will be removed from the foot and mouth disease (FMD) risk area.

From midnight tonight these counties will fall within the FMD low risk area and be subject to the movement controls that apply in this area.

This decision follows a veterinary risk assessment revealing no evidence of movements of FMD susceptible animals to, or have cause to suspect FMD in, those counties.

Areas remaining within the FMD Risk Area (West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London) are kept under constant review.

This decision means that livestock keepers in these areas will now be able to move animals from farm to farm.

Pigs will also be allowed to move an unlimited distance. The control measures in place within the Bluetongue Protection Zone remain unchanged.

Movement to market in foot and mouth ‘low risk areas’

Charlotte White — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:33:58 +0000

Defra is to amend the current foot and mouth disease (FMD) restrictions so that, subject to no further changes to the disease situation, movements to livestock markets in the low risk Area will be permitted from Thursday 4 October.

The low risk area covers all England, Wales and Scotland excepting Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.

The allowed movement will be subject to stringent biosecurity measures, and the current control measures in the FMD risk area remain in place.

In addition, following negative laboratory results the Foot and Mouth disease temporary control zone in the Maidenhead area has now lifted. Laboratory tests also show that the strain of FMD found on the seventh infected premises is the same strain as that found on the other premises in Surrey.

Defra has also today received positive test results for bluetongue for a fifth animal on a fourth premises near Burstall, Suffolk. This animal will be culled.

Animal movements allowed in FMD “low risk zone”

Charlotte White — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:23:21 +0000

Farmers are now allowed to move animals off farm if they are within the new foot-and-mouth (FMD) low risk zone, but two new bluetongue zones have been set up after four confirmed cases in Suffolk.

Defra says there are currently seven FMD infected premises, all within the Egham area, and a temporary control zone at Maidenhead.

Two new foot and mouth risk areas came into effect on Tuesday 25 September.

They are a risk area consisting of Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.

And a low risk area covering the rest of England, Wales and Scotland.

In England, farm to farm movements were allowed from 3.30pm Tuesday 25 September under stringent conditions and subject to high levels of biosecurity with enforcement by Local Authorities.

But there are still restrictions for horse riders.

Hunting and point-to-point meetings are banned across the country, as are gatherings of animals (even horses).

Horses may not be ridden into a protection zone, even by road and you must not transport your horse into a protection zone, even to see a vet.

You may transport your horse through a protection zone, but you must do so only without breaking your journey.

There are now two bluetongue zones, one covers Norfolk and Suffolk and the other is temporary surveillance zone covering adjoining counties.

But Defra does not yet class it as an outbreak.

Bluetongue is a viral disease that affects sheep, cattle, goats and deer and camelids like llama and alpaca.

It is transmitted by midges and direct transmission between animals is not possible.

Bluetongue does not affect horses, ponies or donkeys or humans.