FEI Rollkur Defeated!!
February 9, 2010
Rollkur a.k.a. Hyperflexion

Following constructive debate at the FEI Roundtable conference at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne today (9 February), the consensus of the group was that any head and neck position of the horse achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable. The group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable. The technique known as Long, Deep and Round ( LDR ), which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable.

The group unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must be sanctioned. The FEI will establish a working group, headed by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman, to expand the current guidelines for stewards to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The group agreed that no changes are required to the current FEI Rules.

The FEI Management is currently studying a range of additional measures, including the use of closed circuit television for warm-up arenas at selected shows.

The group also emphasised that the main responsibility for the welfare of the horse rests with the rider.

The FEI President HRH Princess Haya accepted a petition of 41,000 signatories against Rollkur presented by Dr Gerd Heuschman.

The participants in the FEI round-table conference were:

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Klaus Balkenhol
Olympic Medalist
German & US Team Coach


Laura Bechtolsheimer 
British Record Holder
European Championship Medalist

Wilfried Bechtolsheimer
Trainer
 
Ingrid Klimke 
Olympic Medalist
Dressage & 3 Day Eventer

Ruth Klimke 
Vice President of the German Riders Union

Beezie Madden 
Olympic medalist

John Madden
Trainer
 
Debbie McDonald Olympic Bronze medalist
WEG medalist
 
Susanne Miesner
Trainer

George Morris
Chef d’equipe USEF show jumping team
Olympic silver medalist 

Martin Plewa 
former German national Three-Day Event trainer, Director of the Riding and Driving School of Westfalia
 
Michael Putz 
Trainer and judge

Klaus-Martin Rath Trainer, 
Dressage Committee of the German Olympic Committee Member

Matthias Alexander Rath
German Master 2009 

Hinrich Romeike Olympic medalist

Hubertus Schmidt 
Olympic medalist

Günter Seidel 
Olympic  medalist

Christine Stückelberger 
Olympiic medalist
 
Paul Stecken 
Trainer

Hans Günter Winkler
 Olympic medalist

Harry Boldt
Olympic medalist
German Team Trainer
Dressage Author

Beatrice Büchler-Keller, Swiss, FEI O Judge 

Nadine Capellmann
Olympic Medalist
with Farbenfroh 

Carsten Huck
Olympic Jumping Medalist 

Michael Klimke, German Dressage Master 

Ann Kathrinne Linsenhoff
Olympic, World and European Champion
German National Equestrian Federation Officer

Michael Robert Olympic Medalist
Trainer

Stars Protest Rollkur 
Klaus Balkenhol, Debbie McDonald, George Morris, Günter Seidel and more

Originally Sent Feb. 3 2010 

Federation Equestre International 
Avenue Rumine 37 CH – 1005 
Lausanne Rosendahl 
SWITZERLAND

February 3, 2010

Dear Sirs and Madames:

We submit herewith some comments concerning your upcoming roundtable discussion, scheduled for February 9th, at which you will be establishing a final plan for the handling of the topic of Rollkur/Hyperflexion.

Those of us who have signed this letter wish to point out sharply that new or amended rules with regard to the accepted classical precepts of riding, which are contained in the guidelines written down in your Handbook, are absolutely superfluous and therefore unnecessary. These precepts, which the FEI has up until now felt obliged to uphold, are already fully developed, tried and tested! They are already recognized worldwide as authoritative, and as fair to the horse. Based on centuries of experience, they offer a stable and secure foundation even for today’s riding.

No changes may be made that constitute a burden to the well-being of the horse, either physically or mentally. If you accept riding in hyperflexion as a permissible training method, you legitimize aggressive riding. We protest that in the strongest possible terms!

As horse people, we expect the FEI to maintain unaltered their regulations, which have until now been valid, resting as they do upon the classical precepts of riding – for the good of the horses and the continued good repute of international equestrian sport.

The undersigned support this statement:

(Joined by, in alphabetical order) 

Laura Bechtolsheimer	British Record Holder European Championship Medalist 2009
Wilfried Bechtolsheimer	Trainer
Harry Boldt	Olympic Medalist German National Dressage Trainer Author
Beatrice Büchler-Keller	FEI O Judge Dressage Grand Prix Rider
Nadine Capellmann	Olympic medalist Gold Medalist WEG Jerez 2002	Farbenfroh
Ingrid Klimke	Olympic Medalist 3 Day Eventing World Young Horse Champion
Michael Klimke	German Master
Ruth Klimke	Vice President of the German Riders Union
Ann Kathrinne Linsenhoff	Olympic, World and European Champion	Wahajama, Renoir
Beezie Madden	Olympic Medalist - Jumping
John Madden	Trainer
Debbie McDonald	Olympic Medalist WEG Jerez 2002 Medalist	Brentina
Susanne Miesner	Trainer
George Morris	Chef d’equipe USEF show jumping team Olympic silver medalist
Martin Plewa	Former German 3 Day Event Trainer Director - German Riding and Driving School - Warendorf
Michael Putz	Trainer and Judge
Klaus-Martin Rath	Trainer Member of the German Olympic Committee - Dressage Committee
Matthias Alexander Rath	German Master 2009	Sterntaler
Hinrich Romeike	Olympic medalist
Hubertus Schmidt	Olympic medalist	Wansuela Suerte
Günter Seidel	Olympic medalist WEG Jerez 2002 Medalist
Christine Stückelberger	Olympic medalist
Paul Stecken	Trainer
Hans Günter Winkler	Olympic medalist show jumping	Halla, the incredible mare whose statue stands at the German National Equestrian Federation Headquarters
Carsten Huck	Olympic Medalist Jumping
Michael Robert	Olympic Medalist Trainer

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