A Necessary Wake-Up Call
Perhaps you landed here by searching for "Isabell Werth." I am using this attention quite intentionally. Why? Because it is time to face the facts—and perhaps time to leave our cherished comfort zones.
When Powerlessness Turns to Fury
The wave of indignation following the recent stallion show (early February 2026) featuring Helgstrand stallions is not mere "hating." There are several reasons why this anger is boiling over. Firstly, it concerns the individuals Helgstrand and Werth themselves; secondly, it stems from decades of officials ignoring criticism from the scientific community, riders, and animal welfare circles.
When we talk about Helgstrand, we aren’t talking about just anyone. By cooperating with Helgstrand and his stallions, Isabell Werth has entered into a fatal alliance. She is presenting horses from a stable that caused worldwide horror through the revelations of the documentary Operation X. Based on that evidence, Andreas Helgstrand was banned from the Danish national team for animal cruelty. (!)
Apparently, Mrs. Werth has now decided for herself and her business that "enough is enough with the accusations." And so, without shame, she presents young stallions at sales shows in a manner that offends critics and causes immense fury among the equestrian grassroots. This anger is the cry of a society feeling a deep sense of powerlessness. A powerlessness against a system that has closed its eyes to the suffering of horses for decades; a system that steadfastly ignores every scientific study proving that suffering; a system that nurtures this treatment of horses and rewards this style of riding without exception; and powerlessness against people who earn vast sums of money from it.
This feeling of running against a wall of ignorance and financial interests is ultimately what leads to the rage we are currently witnessing. We are seeing more and more of a shielding against criticism and, consequently, against the possibility of gathering evidence of violence against horses in equestrian sports.
To move beyond theory and address the hypocritical demand for "objective criticism," I will explain here what was visible during Isabell Werth’s presentation of one of the stallions. It is not what Jens Bullmann (Chairman of the Artlenburger Elbmarsch Horse Breeders' Association as of 2024 and publisher of a standard work for breeders) believed he saw through his rose-colored breeder’s glasses. In a Facebook statement, he vented about the anger of critics and their choice of words. One can certainly argue about word choice here and there, but in my view, not about the criticism itself.
I am highlighting the sequence that triggered massive criticism. You can watch the video on my Facebook page to compare what I am writing with the footage. [Link provided in original text]
My Visual Assessment / Commentary:
Successful rider: Yes. Good rider: No.
Visual training and how it should be:
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Look at the horse’s mouth: We see a horse that is unsettled, opening and closing its mouth (partially in rhythm with the gait), trying (as of yet) to evade the pressure. This is a young horse that has no business being in a double bridle (Weymouth bit). As always, we see the curb bit "at the limit" (fully engaged). The rhythmic opening and closing of the mouth is a typical defense mechanism against harsh hands, sharp bits, and the resulting pain. Riding with the curb reins at full tension is an equestrian "no-go." They should never be at the limit, as the curb bit is a sharp tool originally intended only to refine the aids of true masters.
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Look at the hands: We see restless, harsh hands disturbing the horse, jerking the head down repeatedly through hard, abrupt contact (with a curb bit!). One must never pull on the curb reins, let alone jerk them! The curb is a sharp sword that can cause anything from pain to a fractured jaw.
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Look at the rider’s feet: We see heavy, constant use of spurs! Here is yet more proof that my demand for a ban on spurs is simply right. This cannot be called "refinement of aids." In my eyes, painful, continuous stabbing with spurs is animal cruelty!
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Overwhelmed: We see a completely overwhelmed horse that is nowhere near ready to work on the Piaffe. Consequently, it suffers and escapes into rhythmic irregularity and "fidgeting" that truly brings tears to one's eyes.
The correct way would be to first work on true collection, of which we see absolutely nothing here. Werth masks the lack of training by repeatedly developing the Piaffe from a walk. If a horse moves in collection and carries itself—something Werth has likely never felt—one moves on to developing "half-steps," then self-carrying half-steps, and so on, until the Piaffe. This is, of course, a brief guide, but it illustrates that what we see here is equestrian rubbish. It wouldn't matter if it were a motorcycle, but this is a horse—a sensitive being.
The Strategy of the Wall
The anger gathered under this video represents years of despair over terrible images of competition horses sacrificed to Mammon. Instead of taking this criticism seriously, the system leads us to the "pinnacle of arrogance." Filming at warm-up rings is being partially banned, and by disabling comment sections, they seek to silence the critics. They are meant to become as silent as the horses, who have no vocal expression for pain and must suffer every agony in silence.
There are literal calls on social media like:
"One should deactivate the comment function at such events. The 'Reiterjournal' has had them blocked for a long time. Then the issue with these unspeakable comments resolves itself. It is truly unbearable and is destroying our sport."
Note the phrase: "It is destroying our sport!" That is what causes concern—not the fact that horses are being destroyed mentally, psychologically, and physically.
The Way Out of Powerlessness
My book, Systemkollaps (System Collapse), analyzes the system and identifies the "violence traps." I then develop a new system based on a single question: Does it serve the welfare of the horse?
I hope to see you all in the ruins of the old system to build a new one where we can all feel comfortable—riders and horses alike.
Ban on Equestrian Sports
If we do not change, a ban on equestrian sports is much, much closer than some might currently believe...
Regina Rheinwald Author, Riding Instructor, Equine Behavioral Therapist
Übersetzung meines deutschen Beitrags durch: Google Gemini