Rollkur on FEI's assembly

At the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) assembly David Holmes has spoken about the rollkur video of Patrik Kittel (picture) in Odense.

The title of Holmes’s seminar was: 'What is horse riding in the future?' He used the rollkur video as an example. He explained this serious situation and said that the FEI will make a study of it on two levels. That means an investigation against Kittel and an investigation of the education of the dressage horse in general.

'Most probably the outcome is that Kittel didn't do anything wrong. In a conference call about this case the FEI steward explained that Kittel's horse had no stress symptoms and the that the welfare of the horse was still okay. As soon as Patrik saw the tongue hanging out, he corrected this. This video has caused a lot of commotion with ten thousands hits on the internet and an email sent to sponsors of the equestrain sport in which was asked to be no sponsor anymore of this sport any longer. That's why we have to look at the main subject, the rollkur method as a trainingsmethod, as well. Coach and rider has to understand that they should be 'clean', Holmes has said.

Therefore rollkur is on FEI's agenda at the next meeting in Kopenhagen next week.

Tidningen Ridsport