Dear Friends,
Hyperflexion, otherwise known as “rollkur,” is such a strong reminder of how much horses do for us in spite of our ignorance, our mistakes and, in this case, our need to win. I think any real horse lover gets a terrible feeling in their stomach when they see this kind of torture all in the name of performance. You should see the look on Walter Zettl’s face when we talk about the situation, as we did the other night together with Keith Dane from the Humane Society of the United States.
How can you do this to a horse and say you love him? Not only is there the potential physical damage and pain, but the mental and emotional indignity is, to us, even worse. Here is this beautiful animal forced into a helpless position where he can see nothing but the ground underneath him…and what for? To win a prize that means nothing to the horse?
Dressage is supposed to be all about the art of bringing a horse to his fullest potential, mentally, emotionally and physically. Hopefully, through the actions of some high profile people in the sport and the support of horse lovers like you, we can help change the world for dressage horses. Thank you to those who have already signed the following petitions to stop rollkur. If you haven’t yet, please consider adding your name now.
Yours Naturally,
Linda
No-Rollkur.com, currently 23,000 signatures.
The signatories to this petition ask the FEI to oppose the training method of the“Rollkur”/Hyperflexion clearly and resolutely. The FEI rules are to be adapted correspondingly to ensure that in future the use of the method of the “Rollkur”/Hyperflexion will be regarded as a violation of these rules.
Wu-wei-werlag.com, currently 8500 signatures.
Register your support to ban rollkur by adding your name to a petition which will be presented by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann – veterinarian, clinician and author of the book Tug of War; Classical versus Modern Dressage – at the FEI meeting on February 9, 2010.
