We support the request for the prevention of aggressive riding, particularly through stewards able to exert their authority – irrespective of the rider’s standing and reputation.
However, we cannot accept that a horse can be forced into a deep and short neck position for 10 minutes through rein aids.
It is contrary to all training principles and rules of biomechanics to ride a horse for any length of time in one fixed position. A frequent change of the position of the horse’s head – an alternation between stretching and a more collected, self-carrying posture – is both valuable and important. Both physiologically and psychologically, this change of head and neck carriage is of decisive importance for the creation of optimal performance capabilities and performance willingness, as well as for the horse’s welfare.
A forced neck position achieved through the hands of the rider – irrespective of whether this happens aggressively or not – inhibits the tension and relaxation of the whole torso extensor system and thus prevents a supple swinging back.
From a psychological point of view, this is all about subordination. The clever rider is able to achieve this without using visibly aggressive aids, provided that the horse has been sufficiently conditioned at home.
It is not enough to condemn aggressive riding because the steward will only want to and be able to sanction visible, obvious aids but not the subtler or hidden ones which are equally stressful for the horse.
These guidelines are formulated in such a way that hardly any steward will dare reprimand a rider, let alone force him/her to ride in a more horse-friendly fashion. We hazard to guess that the announced diagrams will be of no help at all in this matter.
Overall, it is doubtful whether these decisions will result in any progress: through this renaming, it is only the negative connotation now acquired by the term ‘Rollkur’ that will be changed, but not the actual existence of the practice itself. In fact, the very same manner of forced riding will become legitimised.
We want to see horses who show a naturally supple self-carriage in both test and warm-up, as set out by the rules of national and international federations. As a consequence, a horse’s training, especially in the warm-up arena, must follow a method which is in accordance with those regulations and which demonstrates total respect for the horse.
-- Press Release issued by the Xenophon Society
Related Links
Guidelines for FEI Stewards Approved in Geneva
FEI Working Group for Steward Guidlines Established