What happened?
In early March, Ingrid Klimke competed with the horse Vayron at a CDI tournament in Lier, Belgium. The following observations can be made in a video of the performance:
Repeatedly, the horse shows an open mouth—as far as the noseband permits—which indicates resistance against the bit and/or harsh rein aids.
The horse is repeatedly "pinched" by strong hand actions, then briefly released through sudden yielding—perhaps momentarily lulled into a false sense of psychological security—only to be suddenly, and sometimes jerkily, pulled back together in a way that is incomprehensible to the horse. (This was an attempt to explain it from the horse's perspective.)
These violent hand actions are accompanied by almost continuous spurring or "drilling" with the spurs. Of the tool so often described as a "refinement of the aids," we see here what it is in reality: a tool for permanent use, for constant stabbing and drilling, with only the briefest of interruptions. You can read more extensively about the subject of spurs in the preceding book: "A Book That Never Appeared – On the System of Violence Against the Horse."
Second Place Instead of the Bell!
A horse that is quite obviously completely overwhelmed is rated so highly by the judges that it ultimately reaches an unbelievable second place. Unbelievable, because the performance should actually have been "rung out" (disqualified/stopped).
My still images show not only riding behind the vertical but also the use of spurs. Both can be clearly verified in the video from ClipMyHorse.
Rescued into Bizarre Distortions!
What is somewhat harder to see due to the speed of the movement, but clearly recognizable in the still images (which I cannot publish for copyright reasons, though they serve as evidence), is that the horse repeatedly has to resort to bizarre distortions to somehow master the movements, such as the pirouette. In one still image, we can see the horse's mouth pointing to the left while the poll points in the other direction—which is more than just being "a little tilted at the poll." The neck is bent, and the horse is pulled together and contorted in a surreal manner. There are still images that would be well-suited for a quiz titled: Guess which movement/gait is being ridden here? There are images where the horse is in the air with both hind legs parallel and a high croup. Sometimes one front leg is also in the air, sometimes both are on the ground. A horse is not a kangaroo!
It Can Also Work in a Horse-Friendly Way!
This no longer has anything to do with dressage. Everyone involved has failed here, and it is precisely they who desperately want to keep this system running. In my follow-up book, I will describe in exact detail how equestrian sport can function in a completely different, horse-friendly way according to the latest scientific findings and studies!
Why did I file this official complaint?
My goal is clearly a change of the system, because I am firmly convinced that it can no longer truly develop in a horse-friendly way on its own. The analysis for this is the book I am currently writing. The fact that I am, for once, focusing on a specific individual is primarily due to the—one might almost say—shock that overcame me when I saw the video.
After all, we are dealing here with a rider who was, or still is, considered by many to be a role model for horse-friendly riding. I believe that such a ride cannot simply be left unchallenged; it requires education first, and secondly, an attempt to ensure such performances do not go unpunished. That, too, eats away at the sick system.
With horses, we are dealing with highly sensitive beings for whom we are actually far too coarse and clumsy in our signaling. Therefore, everything we do with the horse must be put to the test; a new system is needed that leads us to a true partnership. I want to contribute to this and, if necessary, lead such a movement, which is very slowly gaining momentum.
Follow me on the new path!
https://www.regina-rheinwald-das-pferde-atelier-fuer-wort-und-bild.com/
For those who wish to delve deeper, the following study can be accessed online:
"Hyperflexing the horse's neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis"
Publication Date: October 2, 2024
Journal: Scientific Reports (part of the Nature Portfolio)
Authors: Uta König von Borstel, Kathrin Kienapfel, Andrew McLean, Cristina Wilkins, and Paul McGreevy.
The study evaluated a total of 58 scientific articles from the last 20 years and concluded that the negative effects of hyperflexion on animal welfare (pain, stress, respiratory restrictions) far outweigh the potential gymnastic benefits.
Übersetzung: Google Gemini