Ban usage of Rollkur

4:14 pm PST, Nov 20, P Dean, Australia

3:52 pm PST, Nov 20, Joyce Thomas, Oklahoma
I have never seen such unspeakable abuse. And for this abusive training technique to actually be given a name, Rollkur (hyperflexion). I watched a video which clearly showed the results of this inhumane training method (Blue Tongue World Cup), and then was informed that this method of training is being sanctioned by the FEI. These majestic and noble animals deserve to be treated with respect, and trained humanely. And for this method of training to be accepted by the FEI, as far as I am concerned is in itself barbaric. When I was a child, I watched dressage, it is a magical event. But, there is nothing magical about this training method.I will no longer watch the performance of these majestic animals with the same amazement I once did. I plan to send this petition to every horseperson I know.

3:07 pm PST, Nov 20, Joan E Loza Mobry, Wisconsin
"Animals Do Not Have A Voice Of Their Own. If We Do Not Stand Up And Speak For Them... Who Will?!"

2:14 pm PST, Nov 20, Thevenet Hélène, France

2:00 pm PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Illinois
I don't appreciate shortcuts that injure the horse and fall so short of the training model we have for correct Dressage. The direction of the FEI is in my opinion wrong. Why would we now begin to allow bute as well? Please go back toward the principles of correct beneficial training that dressage offers to the horse world.

1:48 pm PST, Nov 20, Theresa Luley, Indiana

12:50 pm PST, Nov 20, Laurie Thomas, New Jersey

12:11 pm PST, Nov 20, Linda De Wet, South Africa
DRESSAGE HAS BECOME CRUELTY TO ANIMALS! FEI is failing in its representation of Horse Lovers - denying bitless bridles, now refusing to hear the outcry against rollkur! Must we deduce it is the type of person who is attracted to Dressage who needs to hold onto power so ruthlessly?

12:04 pm PST, Nov 20, Claire Green, United Kingdom

11:45 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Ireland

11:45 am PST, Nov 20, Susan Gordon, Michigan

9:30 am PST, Nov 20, Claudia Sanders, Germany

9:03 am PST, Nov 20, Ulrika Alm Bergvall, Sweden
As a ethologist I agree that rollkur should be banned. For further reading: Impact of riding in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture on welfare and fear of performance horses. von Borstel UU, Duncan IJH, Shoveller AK, et al. 2009 APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE Volume: 116 Issue: 2-4 Pages: 228-236

8:17 am PST, Nov 20, Kat Yazzie, Kansas

7:21 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Sweden

5:43 am PST, Nov 20, Åsa Nilsson, Sweden

5:33 am PST, Nov 20, Eva Runquist, Sweden
Stop it!

5:24 am PST, Nov 20, Lena Kjellström, Sweden

4:44 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Finland

4:13 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Ireland

4:06 am PST, Nov 20, Johanna Hughes, United Kingdom
Enough is enough - this abomination of the horse has gone on for far too long as it is. This is not training, its subjugation and a power trip for those who need to go right back to basics and learn to ride and train correctly. All it does is highlight to those who can train a horse to be light, soft and responsive that they cannot! They are so inadequate and lack so much skill that they must rely on pain and force from the most sensitive organ of the horse - its mouth. They should not be allowed to keep horses, let alone be given rosettes at the top for riding well! What is wrong with the FEI. I absolutely will not support them any more, and if we all behave like this in our millions accross the world, they will have to begin to take charge and do something. Their main priority is not the horse or its welfare, its money!! They couldnt care less about the horse - this has been proved time and time again. Dressage is an art, an art so beautiful that it brings tears of joy to watch if done properly - both rider and horse co-existing through choice, dancing respectfully together off the lightest of aids trained slowly and without confusion for the horse. Each and every dressage rider, should be forced to take the bridle off, put a headcollar on and perform the test with the lightest of rein aids, free of tension, flowing movements where they appear as one. The time has come to stop this abuse of the horse once and for all. Otherwise, the sport of Dressage will become nothing more than a case for PETA - is that what it will take for the FEI to take notice - perhaps it is!

3:24 am PST, Nov 20, Josephine Ratia France, France

3:08 am PST, Nov 20, Brendán Gerard William Bergin, Ireland
Rollkur is a diaplorable practice that is an act of violence on the horses psychological needs and destroys their welfare.

1:22 am PST, Nov 20, Janene Clemence, Australia
Rollkur is a harsh and painful training method. There is enough scientific research to prove this method is detrimental to the horses welfare adn health... its interesting to note the non-horse person immediately sees the pain and discomfort the horse is in while the experienced dressage rider declares it to be an absolutely appropriate method of training. Rollkur is nothing but force. It is unnatural, unforgiving, and can only be regarded as abuse and brutality. Please put a stop to it!

8:02 pm PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, Australia
Dressage no longer makes sense. The more experienced the horse is the LESS tack and effort should be required ? Dressage is making the racing industry look humane.

8:01 pm PST, Nov 19, Patti Lipinski, Montana
Studies of biomechanics have shown rollkur to be harmful to the horse. The 'show' trot may be flashy but the horse is not through and is not using his back correctly. The judging should be based on the horse being ridden according to the Classical definition.

5:36 pm PST, Nov 19, Tiffany Holsen, Pennsylvania

5:30 pm PST, Nov 19, Vanessa York, New Zealand
The FEI should feel ashamed of having chosen to ignore the mountain of scientific proof of the physical and psychological damage Rollkur causes – it has been accumulating for years now. Perhaps public outrage will at last force the FEI to abide by its own rules to put the welfare of the horse first.

3:03 pm PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, Colorado
This manner of "training" horses is a blight on the sport of Dressage and does not represent fair training. It has been shown by leading equine veterinarians to be damaging to the horse's neck, as well as causing difficulty for the horse to breathe among other things. It even looks cruel and doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the horse's discomfort. Please ban this rollkur method from all horse show grounds, including warm up arenas. The FEI can't regulate what people do at their own barns, but certainly you can stop this happening at all horse shows. Thank you for your consideration. Michelle in Colorado, USA