Preview Protesting Rollkur: The Path of Transformation by Castlemare Publications

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This month our cover is one brief glimpse of a vision, we hope an inspiration for everyone to join us on the Path to Transformation.

On behalf of all of us at Horses For LIFE may the gift of the horses be with you always.

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Subscribe at http://horsesforlife.com Spiritual activism is to be for the good of all, not the good of a few or the promotion of some. If this is what is happening, then the work becomes tainted. We also then end up becoming a mirror image of those that we protest against. I struggle with this as an editor, as a human being, as somemone who loves and cares about horses. While there is a blessing to raise awareness, how do I decide how many articles to put out for free, how do I decide what information to hold back for when the next issue of the magazine comes out. Covering rollkur has been both a blessing and a curse. Our refusal to let the subject go and decision to talk on and on from issue to issue has hurt us with some I know. Has lead them to say they are tired about hearing about it and has lead some to say goodbye to the magazine. And I know that. But we made a committment. To the horses in those pictures and we will not let it go. But activism can be healing for all if done right, join us on The Path to Transformation. Thank you for joining us in this incredible equestrian journey.

Freedom of Choice Subscribe at http://horsesforlife.com 8

Freedom of choice - Starting a wild horse in outback Australia with Carlos Tabernaberri

What is freedom, really? At first thought it conjures up obvious words like ‘unconfined’, ‘unrestrained’, ‘independent’. But look a bit deeper and you will find it also relates to words like ‘generous’, ‘willing’, ‘relaxed’ and ‘natural’. And that’s exactly what we want to achieve in our work with our horses. To me, it is the very essence of what I mean by ‘give’. When our horses understand what we are asking, they can willingly ‘give’ the softness and obedience we seek in our relationship with them, because it is based on mutual respect and trust. You can’t force the understanding any more than you can demand the trust. Wild horses have the purest of instinct, largely untainted by confusing interactions with humans. But ‘wild’ doesn’t mean ‘untameable’ or ‘savage’. It is simply a distinct, predominant trait with which you are working, like other traits, such as nervous or young. You will see what I mean as I take you through the starting of Spinifex, a Northern Territory brumby. I hope, too, that you will see through her story how freedom of choice has the power to captivate (as opposed to coercion, which merely captures) the spirit, empowering the horse to trust the very thing that in the past had robbed her of understanding, security and, potentially, life. Humans. Free range Luckily, Spin was spotted by Angie Howard, who decided she wanted to work with this brumby, but in a way that would preserve her spirit. Over the next months, Angie watched Spin separate

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For the Dignity of the Horse

Several weeks ago, when I committed to respecting a “no,” I saw a lot of Copper’s rump when I’d arrive with a halter over my arm. But then, in the midst of questioning “how to respond?” to Rollkur, to all the ways “. . . the human heart is not personal: the horses are mistreated, I approached the halter and Copper stepped more we fathom our own hearts, the more with towards me, gently easing her nose we find there the being of others and, be- inside. When I turned and she freely beside me the seventy yards yond that, the very heart of the world it- walked to the gate before I snapped on the lead, what moved me deeply was her self.” willingness to start over, to bravely meet me in trust. Out of that meeting Reginald Ray, “Looking Inward, Seeing Outward” could healing arise.

By Marianne Spitzform

When I look inward, I find a heavy heart. I see now, with clichéd 20-20 hindsight, that it began a year ago, seeing outward, watching The Path of the Horse. Then, the photos of jumper tie-downs, now, the Blue Tongue video, the wrenching articles in Vol. 47, Enough is Enough – each added a bit more weight. At the same time, over the past year, reading and listening to teachers like Carolyn Resnick, Imke Spilker and Klaus Hempfling, there has been a lighter counterpoint, and new possibilities with my own horses. Still, I’ve had to face my own past destructiveness in all the small and large ways I’ve slipped backwards into the mindset and practice of the dominance horsemanship in which I grew up. There have been other threads in my life, like meditation practice, and ecopsychology, in which I’ve felt an inward-outward tension. Out of this mix have come unexpected connections, and a proposal, or a suggestion really, for a way to be present, not only to heavy heartedness, but outrage, and the feeling of helplessness in repeatedly seeing violations of the dignity of the horse. I might not trust these connections and the proposal I’ll make shortly, but for an experience with a chestnut mare I call Copper. I took Copper to a trainer after she spooked, bucked, and as they say, contributed to an unplanned dismount. And I stood by when she was taken to a round pen. I deferred, failed her by disregarding my heart, and allowed her to become panicked and desperate. The trainer was not a bad man and in fact was a superb rider with an excellent reputation. He went on to give Copper much needed trail experience. But I knew I had betrayed her.

What stood between Copper and me was betrayal and distrust. What all of us who care about Rollkur, who sign petitions while feeling outraged and helpless, are also in the midst of - grief and betrayal and distrust. This is where we too, have to start. These dark emotions can overwhelm, and cause us to inwardly constrict, shutting down, because remaining open to them can be at best uncomfortable and at worst, painful. In constriction and resistance, we are pulled to counterattack, to defend what we love. When we humans are in pain, there is the danger of projecting what hurts inside onto those we see as the villains. What is bad is Out There. Out There in those who hurt horses, with harsh use of bits, or torturous methods of ‘training’. It is those riders, or trainers, or stewards, or the FEI who should be blamed. They injure the horse, destroying dignity, fracturing the soul. Except – says a small inner voice – it was me that allowed my mare into the round pen. The problem was ‘in here’ and not just ‘out there’. What began to become clear to me was that whatever shape action was to take, it had to embody compassion. In Buddhism, there is a term called bodhicitta. Bodhicitta is not easily translated. ‘Bodhi’ means awake, or completely open, while ‘citta’ refers to both heart and mind. A completely open heart-mind can be as tender and vulnerable as an open wound. It took me nearly a day to really “get it”. In the midst of uncertainty and angst, when I became still and open inside, my mare turned to meet me in that tender and vulnerable place. So this moment with my mare unfolded smack in

For the Dignity of the Horse

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Torchlight: Life After Kittelgate By Susannah Cord

What a couple of months it’s been since, yes, let’s just call it - Kittelgate. After all, like so many other scandals that exposed truth and upset nations, leaving people calling for investigations and action on the part of their ruling bodies, the blue tongue of Patrik Kittel’s mount Scandic blew off the cover and left the 800 lb. gorilla in the international dressage arena out in the cold and in plain view once again. And this time, it seems, the gorilla cannot be coaxed back under the rug. He’s just sitting there, peeling bananas, right around ‘X’. Bless his little cotton socks. (Yes, MY gorilla wears cotton socks.) So where do we go from here? Do we sit back, relax and believe the authorities when they tell us they are on it, on our side and most particularly, on the side of the horse? OK, that one’s easy for me. That would be – Nooo. Horse and Hound writes that more scientific research is planned by the FEI, supported by their new partner, World Horse Welfare, and that this will eventually: “…help to clarify whether the controversial training method constitutes abuse of the horse. “This will also put to rest the minds of hundreds of equestrians who raise concerns whenever this practice — riding the horse overbent from the wither along the poll — takes place in public.” Well, that may be a touch naïve. I do believe there are more than hundreds of us, and my mind will not be put to rest unless the FEI bans Rollkur and extended periods of overflexing in general. It’s that simple as far as I’m concerned. So far neither the FEI or, I am sad ....it seems, the gorilla cannot be coaxed to say, World Horse Welfare, have back under the rug. He’s just sitting there, inspired much confidence in me. And frankly, no scientific study will peeling bananas, right around ‘X’. Bless ‘prove’ to me that this is just dandy his little cotton socks. when my eyes, heart and common sense tell me it’s wrong. Now, one caveat here. I happen to be one of those irrational people who do not bow down and believe in what science tells us to be some perfect, inescapable truth. I do not hold doctors and scientists above reproach or questioning, or, egads! disbelief, whether I like their study or not. My husband recently went to 4 different doctors and underwent three major tests for severe abdominal pain. It was all a mystery until a massage therapist friend suggested a psoas release. Presto, 45 minutes later, pain gone. So much for doctors. They don’t always find the truth or know where to look either. Looking back over the history of science, for every scientist claiming his key to the truth, there is usually another with his study to disprove it, and preferably it seems, this should be presented with a fair amount of ridicule of the previous study. So far, the Rollkur studies are right on track. A few years back, Dr. Hilary Clayton conducted a by now famous study with force plates, in which she concluded – with no bias or conferring any judgement on this data - that among the horses tested, many were not transferring weight to their hind end.

Life After Kittelgate

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Protesting: The Path of Transformation

any are asking how we can make a difference. How can we create change? How can we do this? How do we transform the anger and despair that we are all feeling about how the horse is being treated like an object to use and abuse, into compassion and purpose? How can I protest against this? What we need to be able to do is “to bridge the gap between spirituality and activism” - bridge the gap between our feelings and caring, between our soul and our actions and purpose. There are those who say we should not be emotional, that it is only in rational thought that we will be able to make a difference. That this is the only way that we can get others to listen. Some look to science to resolve the issue, which has yet to happen. Others wonder why we have to wait, when we can see, taste and feel the harm that is being done to the horses. But we are told that emotion will cloud our minds, will make us act unaware. So often emotion is perceived as being a sign of weakness, and ineffectual. Yet we could also argue that the elimination of emotion is in itself the cause of indifference and the harm that brings about. In the last few days of my father’s life, we knew they were the last days. There was no hope, the doctors said. And I cried. The tears flowed down my face and flowed and flowed. I breathed normally, I functioned as one tear after another trickled down my face. They just wouldn’t stop. But strangely, I was not choked up, I was at peace for myself. Yes, some of the tears were about the knowledge that these were the last days I was going to spend with my father. But it was time. Somehow my heart had accepted that even before he left. My tears were not for him, my tears were for my mother who sat beside him, so very lost. She never left his side, day or night, in the hospital. I am not even sure she ate. Many decades before, she had left her home, her mother, her father, come to a country with a language she couldn’t even speak, to raise a family where her husband was often away for weeks, sometimes in places she was never allowed to know where. She was lonely and, I am sure, sometimes frightened, but she never regretted marrying this man, the man she so adored for a lifetime. The tears were for her. She saw the tears and didn’t understand. And as a caring mother trying to take care of me, she thought that I was weak and not strong, so she decided to lean instead on my sister who she perceived as being stronger because she wasn’t crying. I don’t think she ever came to understand how strong you can become when you allow yourself to feel with love and compassion. Mind you, I think that was the first time that I ever cried and actually became stronger with each 14

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tear I let fall. There was an incredible healing and strength in my love for her at that moment. I was always one of those who cried a lot .... I cried when I was happy, sad, angry - which made me angrier, hard to have a good fight with tears streaming down your face! But since that day I have learned the strength of the difference, of healing tears. They are merely the manifestation, a sidebar if you like, of the

healing process inside when emotions live without judgement. When you allow yourself to be open to what others feel. When compassion lives first in your heart. When empathy means you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t block out pain, because blocking out pain sometimes means blocking out caring and love and compassion. It is through emotion, through compassion that I become stronger and become closer to the person I am meant to be. Susannah, in this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Torchlight article, gave voice to some of that, and then I found these words below and I understand now what I

never understood before, and I wish I could help my mother understand. “Do not insulate yourself from the pain of the world. Shielding yourself from heartbreak prevents transformation. Let your heart break open, and learn to move in the world with a broken heart. As Gibran says, “Your pain is the medicine by which the physician within heals thyself.” When we open ourselves to the pain of the world, we become the medicine that heals the world. This is what Gandhi understood so deeply in his principles of ahimsa and satyagraha. A broken heart becomes an open heart, and genuine transformation begins.” http://www.satyana.org/principles.html

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protesting rollkur The path of transformation

In the moment that was death, my tears became sobs as I watched my mother break down. For a few minutes she was gone, her mind unable to deal with the grief she was experiencing; she could not handle it, and she lost her way. Her mind took her to another time, she did not know where or when she was. I could have been strong, I could have held in the tears. I could have done so many things but I allowed myself and her, my heart. And if you think I am not crying right now as I write these words, you would be wrong. It is through these tears that I continue to pound away at the keyboard, because with love comes compassion and strength. Some would say that with love comes grief and pain, but this is somehow different, difficult as it is to understand that pain is not always painful. With my first and last child, childbirth and the process of that moment when your body takes over and you just have to push, was painful - it just hurt. But with my second child, that moment was just as strong and yes, there was pain, but it was different. It felt fantastic and right and wonderful. The pain was what, strangely enough, I would call good pain. Compassion is like that. There can be good and bad pain emotionally. Not all emotion is wrong or weak or harmful. Sometimes emotion is good and wonderful and strong and transformational. I know the words from Gandhi are true, that we have to open ourselves to the pain to find healing, but I know it is not an easy task. Which is why some of the best, most compassionate, most talented horsemen of this century are not out in the public eye protesting for the horses that they so love.. The pain they see and feel, when they watch the horses, is so painful that they cannot bear witness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What you attend to, you become. Your essence is pliable, and ultimately you become that which you most deeply focus your attention upon. You reap what you sow, so choose your actions carefully. If you constantly engage in battles, you become embattled yourself. If you constantly give love, you become love itself.â&#x20AC;? While we might want to believe that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter how the final result is brought about, whether from a negative activism or a powerful compassion, that is not true. It is how we get there, the underlying intention, emotions and desires that in the end will shape our world in more ways than we know. While it is easy to demonize others, that process in itself can lead us towards 18

never achieving our goals of change and transformation. Those that are demonized will in turn either lash out, if not at us, then at the horse. At best, they turn a deaf ear, as they cannot help but feel defensive, as would we. It is not enough to force them to comply to some arbitrary rules unwillingly, as we cannot protect the horse from over harsh hands or some new training method being supported a year from now, nor can we protect the horse from what people do in their own training barn. We need to reach out and somehow help others find their own compassion. Mother Theresa responded, when asked why she did not attend an anti-war demonstration, â&#x20AC;&#x153; When you have a pro-peace rally I will be there.â&#x20AC;? Pro-peace versus anti-war. It can be difficult to understand what differentiates the two. If we are anti-war are we not pro-peace, if we are anti-rollkur are we not pro..... pro what? The concept of spiritual activism demands that this is for something, not against something. It is is the bringing forward of something beautiful. It must be for the horse, not against anyone. We cannot create out of despair, anger, or destruction a thing of beauty and of truth. We also have to find a way to allow the negative energy to pass through us without harming us. It has to pass through, not leaving tendrils of mistrust and angst in our own souls. Otherwise these tendrils will fester and grow until this darkness continues on inside of us. We must stand up, with compassion, with our love of the horse being much more important and stronger than any darkness that tries to take up residence in our soul. Otherwise we become what we are so focused on, we become embattled, we become embittered, we become as damaged as those we hope to change. When we ask for compassion of others, how can we expect them to feel, let alone display compassion if they do not see it in us first? That is why all of our actions must be based first and foremost on the concepts of compassion, as the action that we take must reflect our spirit and the beauty we are trying to create.

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Insert - A Vision of the Future Against the backdrop of the inky sky, black and dark navy blue, a single voice rises and soars into the sky, easy to hear against the quiet vigil of those holding the flickering candles, whipped by the wind, each candle representing a flame of the soul that each is a part of. For a few moments there is respectful silence from the crowd as they bow their heads and close their eyes to better hear the beautiful melody as it enters not only their ears, but into their hearts. One voice quietly joins with the first, and then one more and it is not long before all the voices join in, as they have been joined through vast distances through their love of the horse. The song that by now is so familiar to them. One single soul found their spiritual healing against the despair and pain of rollkur in writing the precious melody and words and with dignity and some fear, had first sung it so many months ago in love and support of the horse. Her/his song that began as a quiet whisper, her/his voice too timid at first to give voice to the song in so public a stage. But strength gained as she/ he kept watching. Refusing to look away. The longer she/he looked, the louder the voice became, as the voice tried to express the pain/compassion/love that filled the soul. Her/his fear of standing out, of being center stage to all the thousands of eyes present, disappeared as their soul was filled with the compassion/love/pain of the horse that she/he saw in front of her/him. Transformed into being a stronger person. The first time was the most difficult, but the song begged to be released. Soon others took the song as their own and now, today, it soars into the black night as the many voices that had never met before joined together as if they had always been one, as of course they always had been. And in that magical moment these desperate strangers truly felt that. As their voices joined, they felt what they had always known, somewhere inside, that they had never been alone. That all these strangers here, were friends. That all these people were just like them. They cared and loved enough to be here together. 20

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protesting rollkur The path of transformation

It is in this interconnectedness that we build together, each of us bringing something unique, and each of us building up the strength of the other. The sum of us can do what not one of us can do alone. In your spirit, your soul, you can find what you must do. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We together are the whole, the sum. You are one part of a whole. You are the one who wrote or will write the song; you are the one who brought the drum; you are the one who made the posters; you are the one who started the blog that started it all; you are the one who cannot make it to the WEG that night but who wrote to everyone you knew, from official to sponsor, asking them that they too look into their hearts, so you are there too. We are the parts of a greater whole. We are together. In love and truth, in the effort of changing ourselves, of becoming more loving and hence stronger, we begin the journey, the many steps that will lead up to the WEG and our own transformation. There our spirit will shine and the healing can begin with your spiritual activism. If you hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t noticed, it already has. It began with a letter a few weeks ago; it began with one website several years ago; it began when you first woke up, with your very first breath in this world knowing that you loved this incredible animal which is called a horse. From the very beginning you probably could not understand how this four legged animal can be so much a part of you. How you are not complete if you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a horse as a part of your life. Perhaps we should not be so surprised. The lesson was always there, we are all part of each other, a part of all life, and the horse somehow can be/is our conduit to understanding that. On the back of the horse, I first felt my connection to Gaea, to the mother earth, to all life forces, and the feeling was a sweetness, a gentle goodness. Life is precious. Understanding and compassion can only come from realizing the connection between all of us. All life, every atom of life, is special and connected in some mystical way that we may never understand. But we are blessed to be given the opportunity to feel that even for a few moments, to be transformed, to be shown the path by those who chose to be horses in this life, who give of themselves so we can get closer to the best in all of us. Because in the end, that is what the path is all about. We may think we are here helping the horses, but in the end, we are really only helping and transforming ourselves. 22

We can only begin by working on ourselves. On our love of the horse, and invite all others to join us in loving the horse as much as we do. This is the message that they will understand.

Insert The deep drum beats against the night, it sounds like the voice of the wolf, the pounding of the horse’s feet. Images flash of a blue horse running in the twilight against the windows and concrete of the building as the images play out, another horse, this one real, white as a ghost, a painted pony, a healing horse with the red outline of a human hand on its rump, representing us, the eagle’s wings on its shoulder representing where we want to go to. A native American Indian begins the chant and the dance - a voice to the whole, to mother nature, to life.

Any of these visions may come to life, or none may. These visions are mine, and perhaps yours to make true. Perhaps you are the drummer, perhaps you are the painter, or perhaps your vision, your dreams will take you in another direction, inspiring a nation, or a world. It is your integrity, your honour, that you bring to this, that in the end mean the success or failure of raising us up all together. The most powerful gift that we can offer the horses is our presence, our witness, our own willingness to step out onto the path of transformation. And along the way, others will hear our voice, feel what we feel, see how incredibly beautiful they can be when we allow them to be, and know the horse deserves so much more. Start your journey, your quest, your equestrian’s quest, with one small voice, one small candle, held up the next time you see a horse ridden in rollkur. Think in compassionate terms of how you can be a spiritual activist and heal your own heart and give re-birth in others to the same. Give action at every event, starting today, and ask others to do the same. Every time you see a horse in rollkur, light a candle, hold a flame, or lift a banner of a horse running free proudly, or turn your back in silence, or sing a song of hope, find your voice, your spiritual activism, and lead us towards the WEG where there are already others waiting to meet you there, so that we all can speak in one voice. For the horse. Horses For LIFE

The Great European Schools of CLASSICAL DRESSAGE by Alain Laurioux and Guillaume Henry Reprinted with kind permisson from CADMOS http://www.cadmos.co.uk/ and Trafalgar Square http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/

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Garrocha Rider by John Saint Ryan

Willing communication between horse and rider Often I am asked how it is possible that I can help horses and people from various disciplines -- Hunter/Jumper, Reining, Dressage, etc., sometimes all working in the same arena. Let me give you a little background to my life. I was born in England, raised in Ireland. I taught Martial Arts for 27 years throughout Europe and coached 12 individuals to become National Champions. I rode horses for fun. In between all this I managed to fit in an acting career, which included the usual theatre work in the provinces, a stint in the West End, followed by guest star roles on TV. I’ve worked alongside a number of star names; written and co-produced several independent films, and costarred in a couple of international features. I came to the USA in ‘92 on a three-picture deal; and that’s where it all went askew. I was invited to Robert Wagner’s ranch just outside LA to watch a man called Ray Hunt work with horses. I spent four days entranced by this man’s philosophy and work. Having said that, Ray would continually give credit to a man called Tom Dorrance: “If I’m doing anything good with a horse, I got that from Tom.” I had to find Tom Dorrance. I met Tom for the first time at Bill Devane’s ranch in Indio, California where Tom was also doing a 4-day clinic. It was about four hours from LA, so I drove down there for the first day. My theatrical agent called and said I needed to be back in LA for a meeting with a famous director the following day. I never made that meeting. I spent the next four days with Tom

and have never regretted a moment. From about that point forward my life changed tremendously. Having recently brought my wife and three children over to America to continue my career as an actor, I became absolutely focused on this work with horses. We had bought a ranch just outside LA, so I was riding and trying my best to apply this ‘way’ of working with horses that was so extraordinary to me. Perhaps it was some residual effect from the Martial Arts, but I was getting what was considered good results with my horses. One thing led to another and people began asking me for help with their horses. Now this gave me concern - despite teaching Martial Arts for so long, I did not consider myself able to ‘train’ horses for people. However this changed when Tom invited me up to his ranch in Salinas and suggested I bring some horses. I am still so thankful for this. It was then, and is now, one of the most profound moments in my life. Over the years, I took several horses up to work with Tom. Some were pretty straightforward and some were one step from the cannery. Tom treated them all the same and showed me how to get the results I so wanted. When I look back on the earlier days, I can’t imagine how or why he had so much patience with me I remember one horse in particular that I took up. She was a big warmblood mare who had developed a nasty habit of rearing, bucking and biting, and that was even before you got on! I picked her up from the barn where she was boarded and the trainer there had put a muzzle on her, just to get her in the trailer. Over the next three days, Tom showed me how to feel where she was having trouble and how to head it off. Just bridling this horse was dangerous because she was liable to bite you, and this gave me quite some difficulty. It also caused Tom some frustration as he tried to help

Garrocha Rider

me verbally with my feel and timing. After a while, he just got up from his chair and walked up to the mare himself and put the bridle on. At that time Tom was already in his 80s and I was so apprehensive as I watched him, because this mare had literally picked me up by the arm and thrown me in the air. Needless to say, Tom’s feel and timing was so in tune with the horse that the mare looked like “Grandma’s” horse. I once thought Tom’s ability with horses came through because of his innate sense of their nature. On reflection, I don’t believe the word “innate” to be strictly true, because I believe Tom worked at this skill and understanding very hard. As he would say, “this is something I have

had to develop in myself, for myself, by myself. ‘True unity and willing communication’ between the horse and me is not something that can be handed to someone – it has to be learned. It has to come from the inside of a person and the inside of a horse.” He always worked from where the horse was at, at that moment in time. Be it good, bad or mediocre. And from that understanding, he was able to make the progress he needed and to help the horse feel better about everything. As in all pursuits if one is to progress, then it is absolutely essential to study. One of the most important pieces of advice I got as an actor was from Peter O’Toole, who said that the ‘back-

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How to Use the leg

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Nuno Oliveira Defines what Forward Is and How to Actually Use the Leg By Eleanor Russell [ER]: Yes. I’m trying to remember how he put it. I’m sure it comes up in the chapter on legs. “….to obtain lightness, you must not only be attentive to the principles but especially to the quickness necessary for understanding the sensation the horse gives you.” And that, to me, is terribly important. People don’t try to feel what the horse is thinking. [HFL]: What a wonderful line. To be able to feel what the horse is thinking. I love that. [ER]: So do I. [On] page 8, “the legs of the rider - some people have the tendency to use too much pressure with the legs. I would try to use a very simple explanation to make you lose the tendency to use too much legs. The horse breathes and if the pressure with the legs is continued, then he must breathe with his chest contracted.” Now who thinks about that? How many riders do you know who would register that, least of all think about it? “The legs would be near the horse, but soft without moving, and they must be touching with very quick instances. They must touch and relax.” They must touch and relax and if necessary, touch again, but only for a fraction of a second. I see most riders with their legs glued tight to the horse. [HFL]: Let’s go back to the part about the horse breathing and that legs are literally wrapped around his lungs. And you’re right. Not enough people think about that. [ER]: I don’t think it even registers let alone think about it. That’s why your legs must be wrapped around the horse - soft. We’re all taught at Pony Club to grip, and I think it’s very hard for people to get over it. We have a young horse here that was broken in and that was going very pleasantly. He hadn’t been broken in very long. And I had a woman who actually couldn’t keep her bottom in the saddle who wanted to try him and see if she wanted to buy him. She got on him and he took it all very quietly and calmly. About a month later, there was a visiting pupil here who was clearly arrogant. She got on this horse and I now know that she’s got an incredible grip in her legs because that

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On the Vertical: A Fashion that is Failing the Horse 30

or Ramener, Rassembler, Collection and The Process of Training Techniques So why is it considered a good idea to have the horse’s head on the vertical?

What happens whne you think on the vertical and collection are the same thing. If you only understand a part, not the whole, then your foundation is false and you can never succeed. Throughout the centuries, there have been two levels of involvement with horses. Those that have used the horse as a beast of burden, an implement to be used on the farm or as transportation, and those who enjoyed horses for excitement and pleasure, such as jumping, polo, barrel racing, racing. At the same time, there has always been still another level of rider, one who looked beyond, looking for something more. To many, this was expressed as not the sport but the ‘art’ of horsemanship. An art that expresses itself as an ultimate goal, the concept of collection. The concepts of the ‘art’ were often expressed in what was called dressage and collection, with the idea being that not only were you to create something beautiful, but that was also as sustainable as it was good and healthy for the horse, as it is beautiful. So over time, collection became synonymous with being good for the horse. But the art of horsemanship was so much more. It was about discovery, excellence, and the journey of an equestrian lifetime. While collection became synonymous with being good for the horse, and also the ultimate achievement, there were those who were starting on their equestrian journey who began looking for instructions, a way, or a map that could provide them with a guarantee of success, and they were often looking for an instant, quick way to achieve that success, in the belief that if they could find the right attributes, they too could be successful. Riders were looking for a formula. There are always those who will try to help those looking for the formula, who end up promoting themselves while marketing the newest, latest, best method that is going to work for you. In the process of creating the formula, there is always simplification. Sometimes simplification can be a good thing: a way to cut to the essential truths and cut away the more confusing detail. But sometimes one simple small detail that is lost can mean the difference between real and false success.

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It is all the stewardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fault. or The IODC Speaks Out IODC = International Dressage Officials Club The long awaited response from the FEI came out when once again rollkur became front page news. FEI Statement on Horse Welfare 17/11/2009 The FEI condemns all training methods and practices that are contrary to horse welfare. The welfare of the horse has always been and will always be at the core of every aspect of the Federationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work as the international governing body for equestrian sport. During its meeting in Copenhagen (DEN) on 15 November, the FEI Bureau had extensive discussion on the issue of hyperflexion. The FEI Bureau insists that, with immediate effect, stewards in all disciplines use the disciplinary measures available to them, such as verbal warnings and yellow warning cards*, to prevent any infringement of FEI rules. The FEI is now engaged with World Horse Welfare, a leading international equestrian organisation, in addition to continued consultation with riders, trainers, officials and veterinarians to thoroughly research the issues. The further education of stewards will also continue to ensure that welfare issues at FEI events are dealt with promptly and professionally. The FEI acknowledges and welcomes public opinion and will continue to ensure that the welfare of the horse, which has been central to this debate, will remain its absolute priority. * If a rider receives two yellow warning cards within one year, he / she is automatically suspended for a period of two months immediately following the event at which the second yellow warning card was received. Are you happy with this response?

They say they welcome public opinion. They say they ensure the welfare of the horse. They say this is an ‘absolute’ priority. They say they condemn all training methods that are contrary to horse welfare. Well, obviously they don’t see rollkur as ‘contrary to horse welfare.’ Because if they did, they would be condemning it. That is what they actually said when they made the above statement . If they condemned all training methods that are contrary to horse welfare, then they would condemn those that are contrary. If they are not condemning rollkur, which they are not, then logic insists that rollkur supports the welfare of the horse. That rollkur must be good? They also, in the statement above, say that after an ‘extensive discussion.’ this is all the stewards’ fault. Didn’t quite follow the logic? Well, they say after ‘extensive discussion’ on ‘hyperflexion’ that they ‘insist’ immediately that stewards use the disciplinary measures available to them. Which means obviously or logically that they didn’t use the disciplinary measures available. Bad stewards. So now what? Well, the stewards, caught in the middle of all of this, saw the faulty logic just as easily that the rest of us did. Here is what they have to say.

International Dressage Officials Club Kerkendijk 21, bus 2 2140 Antwerp (Belgium) Email Secretariat : osmeets@benelux.amadeus.com Antwerp, December 1st, 2009 International Dressage Officials Club Statement At its General Assembly in Stuttgart, November 20th, 2009, the International Dressage Officials Club (formerly IDJC) expressed its grave concern

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it’s all the stewards fault

regarding the abusive treatment of horses during the warm-up phase at FEI competitions. The recent publicity has created a public outcry that cannot be ignored and is clearly bringing the sport of dressage into a state of disrepute. The International Dressage Officials Club wholeheartedly supports all officials at FEI competitions in their efforts to bring this intolerable behaviour under control, in order to prevent any further perceived abuse of all horses being ridden under FEI rules. Competing at a dressage event is not limited to the short time spent in the actual competition area; it includes stable management in general, as well as the more extensive time spent in the warm-up and training arenas. The International Dressage Officials Club urges the FEI to bring clarification to the rules that FEI Stewards are expected to enforce and to provide the necessary back-up and support to their Stewards when needed. It is in the International Dressage Officials Club’s opinion that those rules, applicable to all equestrian disciplines, should re-emphasize the fact that any type of abuse of the horse is strictly prohibited. With respect to hyper-flexion, it should be made clear that it is a tool that may only be used briefly and solely for corrective purposes, but not as a continuous training method. Further attention should be directed at observing that the horse’s chin should not touch the horse’s body as a result of a method of training. The International Dressage Officials Club recommends that judges be present in the warmup area whenever possible to support the Stewards in this difficult and delicate task. The FEI rules are based on the philosophy of the horse as a happy athlete, which implies riding in harmony avoiding negative tensions and practices harmful to the horse. In this respect, the International Dressage Officials Club will remind all the dressage judges to strictly observe such an important aspect of dressage, first and foremost to preserve the welfare of the horse but also to give a proper positive image of our sport to the public and the media. Last but not least, the International Dressage Officials Club would also like to point out that is it clearly in the best interests of our sport that the International Dressage Trainers Club and International Dressage Riders Club take responsibility for the actions of its members and are on hand at future competitions to ensure that their members are made fully aware of how to convey a correct impression to the public by treating their horses fairly and with respect. This statement by the stewards is nothing but impressive. They express ‘grave concern’. They talk about ‘abusive treatment of horses.’ Which means they see it, acknowledge it and are willing to stand up and say they are seeing it. They talk about and realize that this is ‘clearly bringing the sport of dressage into a state

of disrepute.’ They want to ‘bring this intolerable behaviour under control.’ They recognize and are willing to say that there is ‘intolerable behaviour.’ They also quite clearly point out they cannot in any way do anything. That the words of the FEI statement are quite hollow. As how can they enforce when there are no clear cut directives or rules from the FEI on the subject of rollkur? How the heck are they to enforce rules that do not exist? Thus not only has the FEI passed the buck, but the buck they passed was a hallucination - as it didn’t exist to start with. Any magician or politician would be proud of the sleight of hand so cleverly displayed by the FEI. It is no wonder that so many have lost faith in the FEI. We don’t believe the words that you say. Is it any wonder?

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“If you thought recent media reaction against rollkur has been tough, just wait to see what happens with this.” Sven Holmberg spoke before the representatives of the 102 national federations gathered in Copenhagen for the 2009 FEI General Assembly. Knowing that his words might affect his potential re-election as Chair of the jumping committee and his position as the number two to Princess Haya, President of the FEI, he said, “I still wish to stand for election, but understand if you don’t want me now I have made my position known.” “I support 100% the clean sport programme but the progressive list cuts the legs off that,” Mr Holmberg was re-elected as Chair of the jumping committee, and Frank Kempermann — another very vocal detractor — was elected Chair of the dressage committee. Warned that this is going to be more explosive than the rollkur protestations, this proposed change to the rules has had an instant negative reaction from show organizers, judges, riders and veterinarians just as Mr Holmberg stated it would at the FEI General Assembly.

FEI Clean Sport The ‘Progressive List’ 24 November 2009 To: FEI President Your Royal Highness, As a group of senior veterinarians with experience of equestrian competition at international level, we write to express our grave concern at the recent decision of the FEI General Assembly to adopt the so-called ‘Progressive List’ that allows the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses. This resolution has seriously over-shadowed the commendable clean sport campaign recommended by the Stevens/Ljungqvist reports, which offered a major step forward in equestrian sport.

We would like to emphasise that we are fully behind the concept of ‘clean sport’. The ‘Progressive List’, which we understand was seen for the first time by the delegates when they arrived for the assembly, has not been debated sufficiently and we believe a decision has been made that was premature, ill-considered and seriously retrograde. Permitting the use of NSAIDs will lead to abuse, and the participation of horses in competition that are unfit to compete. It also removes the ‘level playing field’ that has been a crucial and fundamental ethos of the FEI since its foundation. We believe the decision must be reconsidered and would draw your attention to the following historical facts. Firstly, following extensive consultation, the General Assembly meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, finally removed the ‘maximum permitted level’ for phenylbutazone (PBZ). Over a number of years this had been reduced from 5 μg per millilitre of blood to 2 μg/ml. Under the ‘Progressive List’, PBZ will be permitted up to a level of 8 μg/ml, a four-fold increase on the level rejected by the Rio meeting. This decision will have a serious and negative effect on welfare and profound repercussions for equestrian sport. The ‘Progressive List’ also permits flunixin, another NSAID, to be used up to a level of 0.5 μg/ml in serum or plasma. Secondly, the ‘Progressive List’ raises the salicylate threshold. We would point out that this threshold was lowered in 1999 on the advice of the Veterinary Committee and again following extensive consultation. Salicylic acid had been found in CORAL COVE at the 1998 World Equestrian Games (see http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/coral-cove-findings-castdoubt-on-thevet-741672.html) and it was apparent at the time that intravenous ‘topping up’ to the threshold was not a rare occurrence. After analysis of 650 equine urine samples collected worldwide and considerable discussion it was decided to reduce the FEI threshold to below that used by racing (where there was no evidence of similar abuse). The work was reported to the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians in 2004 and was subsequently published. There was therefore a clear rationale for the threshold of 625 μg/ml in urine or 5.4 μg/ml in plasma. Thirdly, national legislation in many European countries prohibits any medication in competition animals. This does not apply in parts of the US where ‘permitted levels’ are more common. A ‘controlled restricted’ list will surely be unenforceable where it is in conflict with the national laws of a country. In conclusion, we would urge you to reopen this debate, encourage extensive international consultation and invite National Federations to reconsider their decision in Copenhagen in the interests of the health and welfare of the competition horse. Sincerely yours, Leo B. Jeffcott (former Chair, FEI Veterinary Committee)

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Cornille - To Save a Life Not a typical rescue

Manchester started life with all the advantages. Well bred, born into a good home, and caring owners. He is a very athletic and well bred warmblood born into a breeding program producing numerous international level dressage horses. He was always beautiful. Beautiful and black. But even with all of that, his owners having tried everything, were exhausted from the years of trying to solve a lameness issue that just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to be solved. No need to say that the lameness has been diagnosed and treated from every possible angle offered by traditional and alternative therapies. Despite all efforts the problem has persisted for 38

But there comes a point that no matter how much money you spend, no matter how many years you try to find a solution, eventually you run out of options and the time comes for you to make a heart-wrenching decision. A decision that has you second guessing yourself as to how it makes sense to take away a life that is still so young, so vital. It is that much harder, for all the time, thinking, and caring that you have done, trying to find a way to help this horse. Jean Luc Cornille had been preceded by his reputation. A man known for his knowledge of biomechanics and taking on horses that everyone else had given up on. Strangely, few know of his participation in the Cadre Noir or the incredible skill and success that he has had as a top level competitor, as instead he has made it his life’s mission to first of all understand the mechanics of the horse and then next, to find a way to share his knowledge to help others learn what he has. Too modest to even think that those around him might be interested in his past success, instead he presents himself as a humble rider, who is always there for the horse. Hearing of his reputation for helping to heal horses that others had given up on, Manchester’s owners decide, well maybe one more time. One last chance, anything to delay the inevitable. They load Manchester up in the trailer and take him to the clinic hoping against hope that Jean Luc will suggest a solution that they have not been able to find through the years. Already in 2005, the diagnosing vet forewarned of a locking patella in both hind legs, intermittent abnormal hind leg movements, but the flexion tests showed nothing, x-rays, neurological exams showed nothing. This is the immense frustration of idiopathic lameness: you know there is a problem, but you don’t know what the problem is. The owners gave their permission for Jean Luc to ride him, after warning him that Manchester had not been ridden in several months. During the ride there are a few moments when Jean Luc feels the lameness become not as intense. Manchester’s owner confirms that he sees the same thing. Those moments make Jean Luc think that maybe, just maybe, this horse can be helped. This momentary reduction in lameness prompts the thought that this horse might, just might, be recoverable.

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years. Manchester is a case of “idiopathic lameness,” a lameness where no one can really find the cause, and if you can’t find the cause of the lameness how do you find the cure?

Cornille to save a life

Can every horse that has been this far gone be rehabilitated? No, not necessarily. It takes a very special horse. A horse Jean Luc says that has good conformation, great athletic abilities, intelligence and above all is very, very courageous. His heart must be big and strong so that he can face the upcoming challenges. Without the guts, without the heart, to face the challenges day in and out, ongoing for months, the chances of success are slim. In the process of the ride, Jean Luc senses that this horse has the courage and the intelligence to make it through, if somehow, just somehow, arrangements can be made. There is no guarantee, there never is, and with this horse it is that much more problematic to know for sure. The owners hope against hope that Jean Luc can suggest a few exercises to the trainer, but unfortunately it is going to take so much more than that.

Jean Luc finds himself in some way touched by this horse: “I only rode the horse for a relatively short period of time. However, there is a phenomenon that cannot be explained. I liked him at first sight. I have very good reasons to believe in this instant impression. This is what happened when I met Helyn (his wife) for the first time and life has shown that it was the right feeling.” But for the owners, it has been years of paying and not finding answers to how they were going to take on this financial burden one more time. Jean

It’s going to be a long hard road to hopefully bring Manchester back to fitness. Jean Luc said he wouldn’t even have considered it possible if the owners hadn’t been very good horse people and because of that, hadn’t pushed Manchester beyond all possible repair.

Luc knew he had to find a way to help the horse, and knowing how expensive it was going to be, with no guarantee of success, how could the owners be stretched any further? But wanting only what was important for Manchester and knowing that Jean Luc was Manchester’s only chance, they wanted to give that chance to Manchester and so gave the horse to Jean Luc. Jean Luc didn’t know himself where he was going to find the money to help this horse. But he knew he had to try. Because of Manchester’s health problems, it is going to be important to ship him with the best carriers. The trip has to be taken carefully with safeguards in place so that the minimum of physical trauma will be experienced by the horse. And how was Jean Luc going to afford the feed, care and training for a horse that he had just met? But he could feel the courage in this horse. The horse had a heart big enough to overcome so much, didn’t he deserve a chance? Wasn’t it up to Jean Luc to find a way to make this happen? As natural as breathing and wanting to help each horse that he comes across, it is just as natural that Jean Luc wants to take every case and use it to help other riders with their own horses. As close as he felt to this horse, he knew that this could also create a wonderful opportunity for riders to follow along step by step and see for themselves, what would work, or perhaps not work, every step along the way. What a wonderful educational opportunity. But how to make it all happen? Promising to try and document the whole reeducation, the initial analysis, the working hypothesis, the daily gymnastics, the numerous adjustments, the good days and the bad days, Jean Luc turned to the readers of his online newsletter asking if maybe they could help out. Knowing that every $10 or even $20 can make a difference, Jean Luc cannot but hope that somehow this is going to be possible, that he can find a way to help Manchester and how incredible it will be, what a joy it will be for Jean Luc, if he can at the same time help other riders and their horses by documenting the journey along the way. What a wonderful way to freely share the knowledge and experience he has taken a lifetime to learn. Maybe one day, if Jean Luc is successful, the horse will once again have the potential that he was born with. Already the work has begun as the scientist in Jean Luc begins the long, sometimes frustrating road of analysing and trying to figure out exactly what is happening in Manchester’s body, but also trying to figure out what muscles, which movements will have the best chance of success when Manchester finally makes it to him. Poring over all the information that he has found to date, conversations with the owners, past vet reports combined with that brief time riding, he digs for details, for a new frame of reference, hours, days, spent trying to figure out exactly how to help this horse. What can be done? First of all there is the stifle problem. The stifle joint is stabilized between the two main muscles on the outside and ligaments on the inside. One thing to consider is that often this type of stifle problem results from imbalance between the tension created by the muscles and the ligaments, for whatever reason. Therefore it makes sense to try to re-stabilize the stifle by working with

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Man transcends himself on horseback -- and therein lies the essence of his love for the animal. Romantic as it sounds, it is nevertheless true that on a horse man plumbs deep into the unconscious as something of the primeval spirit of the centaur floods over him, and though he is still bound to the earth, he can satisfy, if only briefly, his eternal longing to fly. Hans Handler The Spanish Riding School of Vienna

horse leapt into the air and started to buck like a horse coming out of a shute with a flank strap on. She did it twice to the horse and I actually rang up the guy who broke the horse and talked to him about it. I could not believe this horse let this very overweight middle-age woman plop on the saddle with him and he didn’t object a month before, and then this girl got on him and clearly she got on, slammed the legs on him and gripped like hell. And he said “oh my god!” and leapt in the air and started to buck.

[HFL]: That tells you how much it bothered the horse to have strong legs on him. It bothered him more than having someone plopping on his back. [ER]: He was very good. I think it was probably a reasonable deal so he put up with it. He said “ok, it’s on my back and it’s not really hurting me” but this [gripping legs] really scared him. [HFL]: Well, if he’s having the feeling that he can’t breathe and he can’t move, then he’s going to have problems. And aside from a horse’s breathing, his barrel and spine actually shift depending on his bend, and which direction he’s going in, so his barrel needs to be able to tilt back and forth at the top of his vertebrae. How is he supposed to do that with somebody on his back clamping like crazy? He can’t. So not only does it irritate him when he’s breathing, but it interferes with his ability to move and balance himself and to activate his own body. It puts him in a straightjacket. So I don’t think that’s a very healthy thing. [ER]: It always surprises me how obliging horses are. [HFL]: Quite honestly, I really wish they would do something. You can see how some of them are being abused. I really wish they would object more so more people would get the idea that “hey, this horse doesn’t like it”. [ER]: What it says here is that it (the clamping legs) restricts their movement. It says here in the chapter about the legs of the rider that “in the beginning of shoulder-fore and half-pass, you must touch for one second only to allow the horse to step without being in a hurry. In most case it happens to be pressed all the time, not always at a good time, and that is the reason we see insufficient crossing of the horse’s legs. We do not allow the horse the time to do the movement in cadence. It should be in his cadence.” And we see it so much in competition. The horses begin their half-pass and although they get across the diagonal, they become what we call “grounded”. They lose their cadence and it’s because they’re going too fast. The riders are pushing with the legs instead of touching. I have managed to help a lot of riders and horses improve by just slowing it a fraction. They end up going too fast into it. They try and hurry up as they go. The horse loses it. I don’t know what they do, but they certainly lose their cadence. Four or five years ago in Australia, they were getting so bad at the end of the big diagonal that they were actually walking in the diagonals. They lost the cadence to such a degree. [HFL]: They have lost the purity of the movement. You can see it in the canter, as well as in the trot. You see the two grounded hind legs as they’re doing the canter pirouettes. The purity of the movement is gone and it doesn’t seem to bother anybody. [ER]: One mistake I made in the canter pirouette when I was living in Portugal was when I was put on this particular horse for a lesson. So I came across the diagonal and I started to get a little more contact in the rein and as I got into it, he stopped and went backwards. He said “what were you doing?” “Well, you told me to do a canter pirouette and it didn’t seem to have happened.” He said, “no, you were holding on. This time, come across the diagonal, sit in, look where you’re going, and with the outside rein only, bring the shoulders around the quarters.” And it was a beautiful canter pirouette. And that was my fault. Interesting, isn’t it?

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