In October ‘ROLLKUR’ explosively re-entered the public arena, when shocking video footage was captured and posted by EPONA TV on YOU TUBE of Swedish Dressage rider, Patrik Kittle, in the warm up area at the October World Cup Qualifiers in Odense, working his horse Watermill Scandic in prolonged Rollkur/Hyperflexion. The start of the footage showed Scandic’s blue tongue lolling out of his mouth, until Kittle pushed it back in from his position in the saddle and continued riding in ‘rollkur’ allegedly for some 1.5 hours!
Outrage within the equestrian communities and condemnation of Rollkur on a global basis erupted. Within a week of the release of the video the FEI (the governing body of Dressage and all equestrian sport) issued a full investigation of Kittle, their own stewards (who were present and did not react “because other riders were also doing it”) and Rollkur science. Too late, websites and petitions sprung up across the world…networking in action!… FEI then asked recently appointed trustee, WHW to be a partner in the investigation of events in Odense and rollkur.
NHTEC wrote to the WHW on the issue of rollkur (also known as Deep and Round & Bite The Chest). We endeavored to reiterate the damage caused to horses both mentally and physically, focusing on the consequent impact on the welfare of horses when ridden with conflicting signals and prolonged force. The last letter from NHTEC to WHW (copied to BHS/CRC/ISES) in December 09’ was forwarded to the FEI by Roly Owers of the WHW on our behalf. We know at least, that our views have been aired at the highest level, this is all that we ask and we are extremely grateful to Roly Owers at WHW for forwarding our communication, where NHTEC call for an immediate and outright ban of Rollkur.
Copies of letters below:
Letter to Mr Roly Owers, Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare
10 November 2009
Dear Mr Owers
'Blue Tongue World Cup' You Tube - Rollkur - FEI investigation
I am sure that you are aware of the strong emotional and global response to the current ROLLKUR debate relating to the video clip posted on Youtube of Swedish rider Patrik Kittel warming up Watermill Scandic at the Olympic World Cup qualifiers in Odense last month.
The FEI have said they will investigate the incident and 'rollkur' at their meeting on the 15th November in Copenhagen, the BHS have written a letter to Princess Haya and the FEI, as has BHS partner Sylvia Loch and the Classical Riding Club, the contents of which are now public knowledge.
I represent the ordinary horse owner, I am a fund raiser of WHW, I am a member of a BHS riding club and Secretary of Norfolk Horse Training and Equitation Club and I am also the Welfare Officer Ridden, for the Classical Riding Club, you may remember I also train remedial horses incorporating conflict free - equine learning theory principles , I along with many other people wonder why the WHW have yet to comment on this matter and hope that you will be able to soon make a public announcement.
Today EPONA TV have issued another statement relating to Rollkur entitled Rollkur Roundup Fact and Fiction - in essence it deals with the Rollkur workshop in Lausanne, welfare subcommittee (Tony Tyler is quoted) comments, Veterinary committee, statements of the FEI and scientific studies such as they stand, for, undecided and against.
In particular I am most concerned with the statement that 'FEI condemns Hyperflexion' which was the statement issued by the FEI, Veterinary Committee in 2008, subsequently the statement was removed from the document posted on the FEI website without further comment or reference. I have asked the FEI if indeed the Veterinary committee have retracted that statement and if so on what empirical evidence?
As I have said on numerous communications over the past months (you will remember NHTEC referred to Rollkur and conflict abusive practices at its 'If Horses could Talk' conference at World Horse Welfare in March this year in conjunction with Dr Andrew McLean, FEI trainer and Equine Ethologist) that whether evidence exists or not, that no-harm-is-done-with-rollkur - there is doubt, by a growing and alarming list of academics, scientists, elite riders, trainers, authors and the general horse owning public. Therefore, whether as a federation, charity, riding association or as an individual if we have investment, interest or concern at all about the physical or mental effects on horses welfare when trained in Rollkur, because doubt remains - we must ban Rollkur/Hyperflexion/Bite the chest/Deep and Round immediately.
I would be interested to know WHW opinion and any comments you may have made to the FEI, since you are a member partner of the FEI and if any way NHTEC can support or assist you.
Yours sincerely
Johanna Macarthur
NHTEC
cc
BHS Patrick Print and Graham Cory
CRC Sylvia Loch
NHTEC membership
Response from Mr Roly Owers, Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare
30 November 2009
Dear Ms Macarthur
Thank you for your email dated 9th November
There are current issues with Rollkur (hyperflexion) and the incident in Odense last month has brought this sharply into focus. The FEI has asked WHW to work with them on this matter and we are happy to provide an independent opinion throughout this process.
Current FEI rules do ban ‘ excessive and prolonged ‘ use of hyperflexion. Clearly FEI stewards need to further guidance as to what this means in practice so that they can consistently apply the rules at every competition. This is something that the FEI is reviewing and I understand that guidance will be sent to all FEI stewards within the next fortnight.
The matter of scientific evidence relating to the outcomes of Rollkur is clearly a matter of debate. I am encouraged to hear that earlier this month Andrew McLean wrote to the FEI suggesting a way forward on this matter. WHW will certainly encourage the FEI to fill any identified knowledge gap on rollkur through robust scientific research. Rollkur is poorly defined and to this end the FEI will be issuing further guidance to the stewards. To ban it outright at this stage might well drive the technique underground to the detriment of horse welfare
Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your email.
Yours sincerely
Roly Owers
Chief Executive
World Horse Welfare
Letter to Mr Roly Owers, Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare
Dear Mr Owers
Thank you for your letter dated 30th November concerning the Rollkur/Blue Tongue
investigation by the FEI.
Whilst we do understand and concur with the majority of the content of your letter concerning the need for more robust research and acknowledgment of areas such as learned helplessness and mental abuse, we are concerned by your last comment regarding an outright ban, “To ban it outright at this stage might well drive the technique underground to the detriment of horses welfare”.
We believe an outright ban of Rollkur would send a very strong message that ‘excessive and prolonged force’ of this so-called training technique would not be tolerated. The equine federations could advise judges, trainers and prospective competitors that they risk a life ban, should any rider be found guilty of performing such a technique whether in training, warm- ups or competition proper. The message must be crystal clear – at the moment all and sundry can ‘have a go’ on their horse, resulting in riders see-sawing mouths, whilst spurring, whipping and kicking horses that do not comply. Even elite riders have to resort to draw reins to reinforce the Rollkur technique.
Rollkur is being practised (and we believe horses are suffering greatly) globally, in competition yards, private yards, livery yards and riding schools and by every standard of rider – and this is because Rollkur is legal, and is tolerated or even encouraged at competition level .
A ban on Rollkur at the national and international level of competition and training would remove high-profile role models from the attention of amateur riders – far from driving the technique underground, there would be nowhere for it to go.
NHTEC endorses ethical, sustainable horse training, immersed in equine learning theory: this ensures that conflicting signals are not given to the horse. Conflicting signals cause confusion in the horse and this can lead to violent conflict behaviour – the horse being ultimately labelled as a ‘problem’ animal. The consequence of poor horse training is that some horses fall into a downward spiral of abuse, culminating in transport on a lorry across Europe for live slaughter.
NHTEC claims that there are strong associations with horses being trained using abusive, excessive and forceful methods such as draw reins and Rollkur and the increase in the percentage of young horses being slaughtered throughout Europe. Both Dr Andrew McLean and Dr Gerd Heuschmann hold identical opinions on this. There is a limit to the contribution of research here, in that ethical considerations would prevent any meaningful simulation of
Rollkur on a live animal for experimental purposes.
We therefore urge WHW to raise NHTEC’s concerns with the FEI as a matter of urgency – The Welfare committee ‘condemned hyperflexion because of mental abuse’ in 2006, and we wish to see this statement reinstated. We are mindful of public awareness in the matter of Rollkur and the overwhelming dislike and distrust of many thousands of people around the globe who believe that money takes precedence over the welfare of the competition horse by the FEI. NHTEC hopes that views of all organisations and individuals alike will be taken into account and that a decision may be reached in the near future.
Yours sincerely
Johanna Macarthur
Secretary and Training Liaison officer
On behalf of the NHTEC Welfare sub-committee
Cc
Graham Cory CEO BHS
Patrick Print Chairman BHS
Sylvia Loch Classical Riding Club
Response from Mr Roly Owers, Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare
17 December 2009
Dear Ms Macarthur
Thank you for your emailed letter dated 8 December.
Clearly we have a difference of opinion as to whether a ban on Rollkur would be an appropriate step to take. However I will forward a copy of your 8 December letter to the FEI so that the concerns of NHTEC are registered with the FEI.
I agree that decisions need to be reached in the near future. As I mentioned in my letter of 30 November, my understanding is that the FEI will be circulating revised guidelines to stewards in the next few days.
Yours sincerely.
Roly Owers
Chief Executive
World Horse Welfare