Rollkur, aggressive riding, and “coerced” horses are the focus of the second part of the Operation X documentary filmed undercover at Helgstrand Dressage.

Yesterday (23 November) H&H reported on part one of TV2’s Operation X: The Secrets of the Horse Billionaire following its release in Denmark. The programme, hosted by investigative journalist Morten Spiegelhauer, is based on footage filmed on a hidden camera by reporter Rebekka Klubien, who went undercover as a groom at Helgstrand Dressage in January.

The first episode included footage of conversations between Rebekka and grooms and staff members of Helgstrand Dressage, which focused heavily on spur and whip marks on horses at the premises. Equine experts gave their views of the footage, and former staff spoke out about negative experiences working at Helgstrand Dressage.

H&H has been granted access to part two of the documentary and has now viewed it in full, ahead of its airing on Danish television on 29 November. (Nb: it is available now to Danish viewers who are paid subscribers of the TV2 app). It is not currently available in the UK.

The second episode shows Rebekka gaining access to the riding hall at Helgstrand Dressage, where she filmed horses being exercised, on a hidden camera. Throughout the clips, horses can be seen being ridden roughly, and some in rollkur (hyperflexion) with tight draw reins. A number of horses can be seen reacting explosively; lunging forward, evading and going backwards, and rearing. One clip shows a rider aggressively kicking a horse, and although the camera is hidden, the sound of the impact against the horse’s side is still picked up by the microphone.

As in the first episode, Morten conducts interviews with equine vet Heidi Nielsen, trainer John Randskov, and former team rider Susan Kjaergard, during which he shows them Rebekka’s recordings.

Hours of footage was captured, but the experts are first shown 25 minutes of uncut recordings, and asked for their initial impressions. Heidi said there is “so much continuous pressure on the horses”, and Susan said she got an “enormous overwhelming feeling” seeing horses going through “this type of coercion” for such a long period of time without breaks.

Other experts are shown footage. Equine vet Karin Leibrandt described the riding as “animal abuse”, and animal researcher Kathrin Kienapfel said she has never seen so many people “riding so rough” all in one place, at the same time.

Later the documentary shows a conversation between Rebekka and a blurred-out rider – it is not known if this individual is one of those filmed in the riding hall.

 When Rebekka asks about the training of the horses, the rider responds that it is a “vicious circle”.

“Many [horses] do not fit in here. It is too stressful – or too much is demanded of them,” they said, adding that the stable is like “a factory” producing so many horses quickly, and this puts pressure on the riders.

Another conversation takes place between Rebekka and a groom over marks on the mouth of a horse named Devolution. The groom tells Rebekka that Devolution bleeds from the mouth “once in a while”, but that this is a regular occurrence for horses Bonjour, Darwin, Natural Spring, and Naxos.

When shown this conversation, Susan points out that even though the groom knows this is wrong she is still a part of it and it becomes normal there – which “shows the culture” at Helgstrand Dressage. 

Discussions around draw reins – and rollkur – feature throughout the programme. In one recording a member of staff tells Rebekka that customers are visiting and so the horses should not be in draw reins when they arrive. When asked why, the staff member states that the stud does not want to be known for using them.

Other clips show horses being lunged with their heads in a hyperflexion position, and Susan states the force almost seems stronger without a rider, because it becomes clear “exactly how much coercion is involved” – while John describes the frame as “completely unnatural”.

The Danish Animal Ethics Council (DAEC) states in its ethical guidelines that horses: “must not be subjected to physical or psychological violence, understood as jerking/pulling/see-sawing on the bit in the mouth; the use of the whip beyond what is characters as correction and/or reprimand; unrestrained use of spurs; other violence that has the features of punishment; as well as well as rollkur and hyperflexion”

Morten interviews Denmark’s national head FEI vet Mette Uldahl and shows her 10 hidden recordings from Helgstrand Dressage to assess whether they comply with the ethical guidelines. Mette agrees that they do not and points out the heavily tightened draw reins, hyperflexion, and whip use.

Mette prepared a report for the Danish equestrian federation, Dans Ride Forbund (DRF), about Helgstrand Dressage. In this she concluded that there were “serious cases” where horses were being treated in a way that was “not acceptable”, a “systematic and continuous approach with too high a degree of mild to serious discomfort in the horses during training”, and a culture that is not appropriate.

The second episode concludes with footage of Rebekka confronting Andreas Helgstrand over concerns she has about some of the riding she has witnessed, as well as spur marks and horses bleeding from the mouth.

Andreas responds to Rebekka that “sometimes you can’t help it” and that horses can bite themselves. He said that draw reins are only used on some horses, and when Rebekka tells him she has taken a picture of a horse, a chestnut, in a hyperflexion position Andreas asks if she is “there to make trouble”, before asking to view the picture. He says that it “doesn’t look good” and that he cannot know what is going on all the time. He then asks if she is recording the conversation and to see her phone.

A voiceover states that although Andreas became suspicious, he only found out about the hidden camera later when he was informed in the phone call with Morten, shown in the first episode.

Helgstrand Dressage issued a response on Wednesday evening (22 November) – after the first episode aired (and the second was available for subscribers on the TV2 app) – and said the footage had made a “big impression” on the stud, and was “not ok”.

The statement said it was bad riding and treatment of horses, did not live up to Helgstrand Dressage’s guidelines and values, and is “not an expression of our culture”.

“We can see that some of our training equipment has been used incorrectly during filming. It must guide and correct the horse, but they must never be used as punishment,” read the statement.

“We would like to state that rollkur and overuse of whips or ‘sliding reins’ [draw reins] are not accepted with us.”

Helgstrand Dressage’s full statement can be read in H&H’s report on the first episode published yesterday (23 November). The stud has also introduced a “large number of improvements to its business” as reported earlier in the week.

In response to the Operation X broadcasts, the DRF held a board meeting on Wednesday, resulting in Andreas being excluded as a national team rider. DRF competitions have been withdrawn from Helgstrand Event, and riders of Helgstrand Dressage have been asked to come forward to face the federation’s disciplinary committee.

A spokesman for Waterland Private Equity which owns the Global Equestrian Group – of which Helgstrand Dressage is part – told H&H:

“We endorse Helgstrand Dressage’s distancing from the horse training activities shown in the documentary from TV2. Since TV2 obtained the hidden footage in January, Helgstrand Dressage has undergone a thorough review and has implemented various measures and improvements on animal welfare and in its business practices and employee working conditions,” said the spokesman.

“We note that Helgstrand Dressage has taken the criticism to heart and will learn and evolve from this and we are confident that the company will continue to advance its frontrunner position within the sector and set high standards for the equestrian industry.”

You might also be interested in:

Uproar over ‘appalling’ footage shown in undercover documentary – as top rider excluded from national team

Undercover TV documentary on Helgstrand Dressage to air this week – as stud announces measures to improve welfare

Major stud launches legal proceedings over TV production company’s undercover filming

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Anti-rollkur campaigner Dr Gerd Heuschmann is under fire after photos of him schooling a Friesian horse and pulling the horse’s head behind the vertical appeared on the internet.

The German vet has fought against the use of extreme training methods such as rollkur — forcing the horse into a very short, deep neck frame.

He was vice-chairman of The Xenophon Society for the preservation and promotion of classical riding culture — until he resigned in May.

In June, he held a clinic near Mainz where he rode a horse for 25 minutes. Having seen photographs of the session online, even supporters were critical of his techniques.

H&H forum user Booboos started a thread labelled “Shocking — and this from the guy who opposes rollkur”, to which another user contributed: “I see a stressed, tense, uncomfortable horse being forced to do things.”

But Dr Heuschmann feels he is the subject of a witch-hunt.

He told H&H: “[The Friesian] had a completely insensitive mouth and no reaction to the legs. I tried to get some reaction to the rein aids and then get his back up by using lateral movements.”

Dr Heuschmann has argued rollkur is detrimental to the horse. The Friesian, though not in rollkur, looks to be in an uncomfortable neck frame.

Dr Heuschmann explained: “The moment this photo was taken was a short second of teaching the horse to listen to the aids. I did not try to position the head in any way.”

The Xenophon Society received complaints and Dr Heuschmann confirmed chairman Klaus Balkenhol tried to dissuade him from riding in his clinics.

The society did not return H&H’s phonecalls.

But Dr Heuschmann said: “The society warned me that negative pictures of badly ridden horses could damage my reputation. They were right.”

Dr Heuschmann is currently touring the US and intends to continue with the work he has carried out for the past 12 years, saying: “I will try to avoid negative pictures, but it never can be 100% prevented.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (2 September, ’10)

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The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has unanimously approved new guidelines on warm-up techniques at competitions, to stop rollkur and other abuse of the horse.

The new guidelines for stewards, which will be implemented from 15 May, are:

* Movements which involve having the horse’s head and neck carriage in a fixed position can only be performed for periods not exceeding 10 minutes. Diagrams defining the head and neck positions will be provided to the stewards.

* No single neck position should be maintained which may lead to tiredness or stress

* The rider is not permitted to use rough, or abrupt aidsor apply constant unyielding pressure on the horse’s mouth through a fixed arm and hand position

Stewards will also intervene if they see:

* Neck stretching achieved through forced or aggressive riding

* The use of extreme flexion if it does not comply with the above

* A rider deliberately maintaining a sustained fixed head and neck carriage longer than ten minutes

* If the horse is in a state of general stress or fatigue

The rules also say that all training should take place in the official warm-up arena, under the supervision of stewards.

Pre- competition training sessions should not exceed an hour and there should be at least an hour’s break between training or warm-up periods.

And post-competition training may not exceed a period of 10 minutes.

The FEI is considering introducing CCTV in the warm-up rings at some competitions.

National federations, including the British Equestrian Federation, have been asked to send the new guidelines to all their Stewards immediately to prepare for implementation on 15 May.

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Horse sport bosses have agreed that hyperflexion or “rollkur” is not acceptable in the warm-up at international events.

A round-table conference hosted by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) today (Tuesday 9 February) unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must lead to punishment under FEI rules.

The group — which included vets, welfare experts and eventing, dressage and show jumping officials — redefined rollkur or hyperflexion as “flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force”.

And they made a differentiation between rollkur and the technique of riding a horse in a low, deep and round outline, which is not achieved through force and therefore is not outlawed.

Now a working group will be set up, headed by FEI dressage committee chairman Frank Kempermann, to expand guidelines for stewards to enable them to spot rollkur in the collecting ring.

They are also considering installing CCTV in warm-up areas at selected shows.

FEI president Princess Haya also accepted a 41,000-name petition against rollkur that was presented by veterinary representative Dr Gerd Heuschman.

Has the FEI gone far enough with this ruling? Join the debate on the H&H forum

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The full International Equestrian Federation’s statement over the incident involving Patrick Kittel:

“The FEI investigation into the training methods used by Patrick Kittel on his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark on 18 October 2009 has been concluded.

Witness statements and video evidence have been thoroughly reviewed and the investigation findings are that there is no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive.

As a result, the FEI Legal Department has ruled that no formal claim against Mr Kittel will be submitted to the FEI Tribunal.

However Mr Kittel has received a warning letter regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of warm-up techniques and has been made aware that his actions will be watched very carefully going forward to ensure that there are no subsequent violations of FEI rules relating to horse welfare.

The FEI is conducting a major review and analysis of its current policy on pre-competition warm-up activities, with an emphasis on hyperflexion.”

No action will be taken against Patrick Kittel, the dressage rider at the centre of last year’s controversial “blue tongue” row.

The governing body of horse sport — the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) — has made the decision after thorough investigation of the incident in Odense, Denmark on 18 October.

The row erupted after a video clip of Patrik Kittel warming up his horse Watermill Scandic using hyperflexion — or rollkur — was posted on YouTube by a Danish journalist.

At one point, the horse hangs his tongue out of the side of his mouth and it appears to go blue. Afterwards, Patrick told H&H he had received hate mail over the incident.

The FEI immediately launched an investigation, and has ruled this week that no further action will be taken.

In a statement, the International Equestrian Federation says studies of video evidence and witness statements concluded that there is “no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive”.

The Swedish dressage rider has received a written warning regarding the “appropriate and inappropriate” use of warm-up techniques.

Horse sport’s governing body will continue in its review of warm-up activities.

To read the FEI statement in full.

Join in the debate on the H&H forum

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More research being done into rollkur will help to clarify whether the controversial training method constitutes abuse of the horse.

This will also put to rest the minds of hundreds of equestrians who raise concerns whenever this practice — riding the horse overbent from the wither along the poll — takes place in public.

A spokesman for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said it still has no official position on rollkur, but is “working to create guidelines for stewards so it can spot extreme usage”.

The rollkur debate has been rumbling since 2005. Following its re-emergence in October, the FEI announced that stewards must enforce welfare rules more robustly.

Under these rules, abuse of the horse is categorised as: rapping, riding an exhausted horse, excessive pressing of a tired horse, riding an obviously lame horse and excessive use of whip and/or spurs.

But what level of use of rollkur constitutes abuse is undetermined — and the FEI has still not announced a clear plan to investigate it scientifically.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “We will be providing opinion and will encourage the FEI to carry out robust scientific research on the implications of training techniques using hyperflexion.”

But Dr Sue Dyson, from the Animal Health Trust, said: “There is little hard evidence to show there is anything wrong with rollkur if it is done well.

“If you have a horse in any position for a long period it’s going to tire, which leads to injury. But you could say that working in any manner will do that.

“We see show jumpers warming up using draw reins, but nothing is said.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (3 December, ’09)

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The vice president of the FEI has publicly slammed the decision taken today to re-introduce bute into horse sport.

Sven Holmberg addressed the 102 national federations gathered in Copenhagen for the FEI’s general assembly just before he was voted to remain chair of the show jumping committee.

“I support 100% the clean sport programme but the progressive list cuts the legs off that,” he said to a quietened room.

“It allows treatment of horses in competition, and it will be rejected by the social media.”

Mr Holmberg, who is number two to Princess Haya, FEI president, added: “If you thought recent media reaction against rollkur has been tough, just wait to see what happens with this.

“I still wish to stand for election, but understand if you don’t want me know I have made my position known.”

Mr Holmberg was re-elected as chair of the jumping committee, and Frank Kempermann — another very vocal detractor — was elected chair of the dressage committee.

As the general assembly broke for lunch, talk around the buffet table centred on a possible challenge to the decision.

Although the FEI maintains it released details of both lists to the national federations on 13 November, many say today the plans came as a complete surprise.

Where moves for the “progressive list” came from is not yet understood.

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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.”

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Rollkur will be debated at the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) general assembly later this month, following the so-called “blue tongue” row that broke out two weeks ago.

The row erupted after a video of Swedish rider Patrik Kittel warming up his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark, using hyperflexion — or rollkur — was posted by a Danish journalist on YouTube.

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

The FEI immediately announced it would investigate, and last week said it was giving the issue of rollkur “special attention”.

A spokesman said: “The topic has been put on the agenda of the FEI meeting on 15 November in Copenhagen and important developments will be announced as soon as possible.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 November, ’09)

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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.

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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.

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The rollkur debate, so passé right? So 2006. No, so back. This bone of contention has a spooky habit of giving the dressage fraternity jip prior to the annual Global Dressage Forum in Hooge Miedre, the Netherlands.

In 2007, images of the Dutch team pony Power And Paint being lunged in very short side reins got people’s attention. Back then, Coby van Baalen was invited to the forum to explain the situation with the pony under her tutelage.

This time, the subject under fire is Sweden’s European team rider Patrik Kittel. Patrik is currently starring on youtube in a 4min26sec clip that shows him schooling his horse in hyperflexion — rollkur, basically. At one point, (in slow motion) the horse’s tongue is lolling out the side of its mouth.

Patrik isn’t here at the forum to explain the situation, but David Holmes, Executive Sports Director of the FEI, did open the day’s seminars with his organisation’s statement on the issue, reiterating that the FEI’s main concern is the welfare of the horse. He insisted they 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 which will be made public in due course. He said it was difficult to answer any further questions on the topic at this time and could only refer people to this statement.

But because this is a place of “open discussion”, Global Dressage Forum moderator and H&H columnist Richard Davison then invited questions on this topic….which, oddly enough, David referred to his previous statement. He was also able to refer journalists to the FEI’s 2006 statement following their investigations into hyperflexion, which, in a nutshell, says they don’t have a problem with hyperflexion in moderation.

“[That the FEI is investigating] is not a negative thing against Patrik,” Daivid added. “We are looking at all the facts and will arrive at our conclusion as quickly as possible.”

So that was the first five minutes of the forum — there’s so much more to tell but you’ll have to pick up H&H 5 November issue for the full story because as I write Steffen Peters is gearing up for his presentation which appears to include two big old arm chairs and a collection of candles… I’m expecting him to come in smoking a pipe… if he does, I’ll let you know.

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“Riders need freedom to ride in a way they feel is right and don’t have to feel guilty about,” said President of the International Dressage Rider’s Club Margit Otto Crepin during the Global Dressage Forum, Holland, 29-30 October.

The former Olympian felt that debate comparing the use of different neck frames in schooling (including low, deep and round, hyperflexion or rollkur) was preventing riders from training as they thought best.

“We need to concentrate on the body of the horse and the best way to train that individual,” she said.

This comment came after Spanish national coach Jean Bemelmans refrained from demonstrating hyperflexion (or rollkur) in his lecture, preferring to stretch the horses’ necks with their noses out.

Afterwards he admitted: “I don’t have a problem with hyperflexion, I use it at home sometimes for short moments. I’ll use draw reins, too, just not everyday. It’s when people exacerbate these methods that it’s wrong.”

Dutch Olympian Coby van Baalen has come under fire from the press and welfare groups after pictures were published of her lunging Power And Paint in short side-reins at the European pony championships.

In her demonstration at the Global Dressage Forum, she said: “It was a mistake that the reins were so short and it was corrected after a short time, that is the truth.”

The photographer who took the images claimed the pony was in short side reins for at least 10mins. The Dutch Federation have launched an investigation into the incident.

To find out how riders felt about the idea of a 70 second grand prix test, plus debate on more topics from the Global Dressage forum, don’t miss Horse&Hound 8 November issue.

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The Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has launched an investigation after photographs showing Dutch dressage team pony Power And Paint being lunged in short side-reins were published in a Swedish magazine.

The pictures, published in Tidningen Ridsport at the end of September, show Olympian Coby van Baalen and pony rider Angela Krooswijk, 15, lungeing Power And Paint in a very round, deep neck frame. French photographer Gilles Levesque took the images at the European Pony Championships in Freudenberg, Germany, from 20-22 July.

Coby van Baalen responded in a statement: “The photographer took these pictures in the first minute of the lunge with Power And Paint and they do not tell the whole story. It serves no purpose to lunge in this way and this was a one-off incident, which lasted no longer than half a minute. This is not our daily training mode.”

But the photographer claims that the pony was being lunged in this way for 10min and then another 10min with the reins lengthened a few holes.

The KNHS has appointed prosecutor Aukje Kroondijk to interview all parties, saying: “The KNHS believes the welfare of the horse should be the starting point for every aspect of horse sport.”

The Dutch Animal Welfare Society (Dierenbescherming) has also reacted strongly, saying the “low, deep and round” practice was “questionable”.

In a statement, the society said: “Last week there was commotion in the horse world over photographs where a pony appears to be maltreated, with his chin restrained on his chest.

“This is a regular occurrence. It is an extreme form of what is known in the horseworld as ‘low, deep and round’, a practice we find questionable.”

The organisation hopes the issue will be raised in a welfare statement to be released by the Dutch government later this month.

Angela and Power And Paint finished fourth at the European Championships.

In 2005 German magazine St Georg criticised Dutch Olympic Champion Anky Van Grunsven’s training methods and suggested that riding a horse in this deep neck position — referred to as rollkür — was harmful. The FEI launched an investigation into the training method in February 2006. Read the FEI’s findings

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (11 October, ’07)

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The final report of the FEI’s welfare workshop on the use of over-bending (“rollkür”) has been published on the FEI website. The practice of rollkür — riding the horse overbent from the wither along the poll — came under scrutiny at the workshop held in Lausanne, Switzerland last month. But research presented at the meeting by leading dressage riders and veterinary surgeons showed that the practice is not inherently abusive to horses.

However vets, scientists and equestrians agreed that more scientific research is needed to fully establish the impact of rollkür on a horse’s physical or psychological well-being. It was also suggested that the term “hyperflexion” should replace “rollkür”, as it does not have negative connotations.

Full details of the welfare workshop and the topics discussed in it have now been posted on the FEI website. Meanwhile, the FEI is working hard to develop a detailed definition of what forms of rollkür can be considered abuse. The Federation also aims to educate stewards to identify possible abuse within dressage and other sports, including show jumping and eventing, where the technique is also common practice.

The full report can be found here.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now