For the second Sunday in a row German stallion owner Paul Schockemohle organized a stallion show at the Oldenburg equestrian centre in Vechta. Last weekend Rath and Totilas made a disappointing come back to the public arena with the horse throwing the tongue over the bit. Yesterday the pair showed an improvement.
Yesterday's appearance of Totilas in the stallion show was a far cry from their mediocre public debut since the 2011 European Championships. The 27-year old Matthias Rath had more control over his stallion and seemed more self-confident in his riding. While the black was visibly much tighter in the neck and almost never had the poll as highest point, the ride was a relief and should slightly calm down the hysterical detractors.
The combination showed reasonable tempi changes and piaffe and passage but the horse was not yet at a required performance level nor revealed the show frame needed for competition. Totilas (by Gribaldi x Glendale) did not show any half passes.
"We're not allowed to ride traversal movements because Totilas was injured," Rath told German equestrian magazine St. Georg in an interview. "We're waiting for the OK from the veterinarians for that."
To improve on last week's performance, Rath spent a week of intense training on Totilas in Muhlen, Germany. They also trailered the horse back to Vechta to ride in that area once again. "Today I had a super nice feeling. Because of the long break Totilas was just over-motivated (last week)," said Rath.
St. Georg also questioned Matthias on his choice to train with Sjef Janssen after the Olympic Games. "It's an interesting continuation of my development," said Matthias. "You can not lie about the extraordinary successes Sjef Janssen had in the past ten years. All his horses compete for a long time."
"Everybody can see that Totilas needs to improve," Sjef Janssen told Der Spiegel about him coaching Rath after the Games.
"Brave Enough to Look Into New Training Systems"
Matthias' father and trainer Klaus-Martin Rath is very positive about his decision to go Dutch. "I'm happy that Matthias is brave enough to look into new training systems. I believe it's important for such a young rider of his age."
Rath senior brushes off all animal welfare issues relating to rollkur/LDR/hyperflexion training as Janssen is known to apply these controversial training methods to the extreme. Klaus-Martin justifies his step by referring to the scientific evidence and FEI workshops, which any critical and scientific mind has labelled as inconclusive, insufficient and invalid.
"We are against anything that does not conform with animal welfare, but there have been many research studies which concluded that rollkur does not damage when applied in a moderate way," Klaus Martin told Der Spiegel. "In Germany one has to learn to recognize different successful training systems like they do and appreciate in The Netherlands. And there is more to Sjef Janssen's system than the rollkur method."
According to Der Spiegel Klaus Martin Rath was one of the people who signed the petition for the German Equestrian Federation to abolish the rollkur in 2010. "It's part of life to change one's mind. We have been looking intensively into the issue and have made the careful consideration to go this way. We will automatically intervene if something is done with our horses that does not comply with our principles."
"Looking Beyond the Border"
In an interview with Deutschlandradio, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff voiced a similar opinion. "Much has been said about the rollkur and the international equestrian federation held workshops. There are rules about and much more," Linsenhoff said. "You can be asured that we won't do anything that brings animal welfare into trouble. We have chosen this way because Sjef Janssen has trained this horse with Edward Gal for the past 10 years and with this rider the horse became World Champion and broke all record. On the other hand Janssen also trains the current European Champion, the European bronze medallist Patrik Kittel. He is a successful trainer and I believe it very important that one looks beyond the border and that Matthias learns new things."
On the contrary, Edward Gal and Totilas were never coached by Sjef Janssen. Team Gal confirmed to Eurodressage that Gal only rode Totilas with Janssen "a few times when he was still going on small tour level and afterwards not anymore until a team training for Windsor and one for Kentucky."
Linsenhoff stressed again that Totilas is not for sale. "It's inconceivable to me and I regret that Gal's trainer (Nicole Werner) continues to make offers, not to me personally, but always to Paul Schockemöhle. The horse is not for sale; we have too much joy in him and we don't live from the sport."
A few days ago Klaus Martin Rath made the harsh statement to Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung that "for months Gal has been after Totilas and wants him back by hook or by crook. Why had the horse been sold to us in the first place then, just for a commission fee? I experience this interest as disruptive."
Edward Gal's team considers that remark "below they belt" as they told Eurodressage. "Edward never wanted to sell Totilas for a commission fee. He never took the decision to sell. (...) We couldn't prevent a sale and had no rich family behind us."
When Edward rode Totilas the stallion was fully owned by Dutch business man Kees Visser.
Photos © LL-foto.de - Ridehesten
Related Links
Klaus Martin Rath: Sale of Totilas to Austria is "Ridiculous"
Totilas and Rath Return to the Ring at 2012 Paul Schockemohle Stallion Show