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Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on July 5, 2011 at 9:19am

As far as I am concerned all of today's competition dressage is either abusive or right at the edge of abuse.

Today, if I ever get the desire to see stimulated gaits I will probably go to a circus with a good horse act.  At least in the circus you have PETA hanging all over everything so abuse is called out, not accepted or whitewashed over.

I have a great idea.  Ban ALL nosebands in dressage competition.  That way the abusive hand aids will be readily apparent and there will be no doubt about what the horse thinks about his rider's hands.

This is why I never ride a bitted horse with a noseband.  And my horses keep their mouths closed.  Why can't dressage riders do the same?  They are supposed to be much better riders than I am after all.  Should be easy for them.  In over 40 years of riding I have NEVER bloodied my horses' mouths.  It boggles my mind that a dressage rider can get a high score with a bloody mouth.  ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on July 5, 2011 at 12:34pm

Thanks for bringing attention to this superb article by Astrid.

I urge everyone to read it.

The policy is shameful.  I am personally sick of all the rationale behind hurting these animals for sport. I also agree with Astrid's comments about priorities. The horse's welfare has gone so far down on the list, it is a disgrace.