Anky is suing Eurodressage

Reprinted with permission of Eurodressage

The renowned dressage rider Anky van Grunsven feels defamed by equestrian journalist Astrid Appels of Eurodressage.com. According to Anky images of her horses can not be connected to the controversial
rollkur training method. This is a system developed by Anky and her
trainer and life partner Sjef Janssen in which the horse is bending its
neck in an extreme way.

Following years of research and a conclusion by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has decided in February that, “as of today hyperflexion/rollkur is seen as
an aggressive way of a deep moving horse. This is forbidden as well as
any head-neck position which is obtained in an aggressive way. The
LDR-method, on the other hand, obtains a deep bending of the neck
without force and this is allowed.”

Much has been written about this controversial system in combination with animal welfare. And so has journalist Astrid Appels who has paid attention to this topic on her website www.eurodressage.com.
Through highly aggressive and intimidating emails Anky van Grunsven and
Sjef Janssen have tried to prevent this, but Appels appeals to the
freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

In his correspondence Sjef Janssen has sworn at Appels like a sailor. A few quotes:

“You are a tiny miserable figure”
“You’ll be next”
“You’re totally deranged”
“You’re just pathetic”
“You continue to be a super bitch”
“you belong in line with the German journalist mafia”

Appels is shocked by these intimidating and slanderous remarks by the official team trainer of The Netherlands and considers taking necessary legal steps against this.

This court case will start in ’s Hertogenbosch on 8 September 2010.

Appels is represented by Mr. J.A. Weda and Mr. S. Wensing

EURODRESSAGE on Television concerning Anky case: RTL Boulevard: Over 't Paard Getild

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bernd on August 25, 2010 at 11:12am

this going to to be an interesting courst session and if I had time I'd love to attend it. Unfortunately I don't speak Dutch.

Permalink Reply by Mary McGuire Smith on August 25, 2010 at 11:25am

Dear Ms. Appels,

Please know that your position is backed by tens of thousands of knowledgeable horsemen of all disciplines throughout the world, and has been since the beginning of this outrage, which has gone on longer than most are aware. I, personally, applaud your courage of your convictions, and support you in your defense. It is high time we dispensed with these arbitors of cruelty...I am disheartened that you have to "take on" these hyenas by yourself.

Mary McGuire Smith
ARIA Certified Dressage Instructor
Vero Beach, FL

Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on August 29, 2010 at 9:47am

Hear, hear, Mary!

I second your opinion completely! It's very interesting that Sjef and Anky meet any and all challenges with lawsuits. It seems to me, just on the face of things, that those of us who are innocent of negative charges tend to react somewhat differently. Sjef and Anky have the financial resources available to them which allow them to mount nuisance lawsuits, and have becoming increasingly known as being incredibly litigious. That, in part, accounts for the reluctance of the judging community and the FEI to take them on. It's a very sad day for sport when these attitudes begin to define sport and its practical parameters.

Good luck, Astrid. Please know that there are many, many of us out there who applaud your efforts.

Permalink Reply by Jessica Eile Keith on August 30, 2010 at 10:39am

I wrote about this case in my monthly chronicle published on hippson.se last Saturday, it is in Swedish though, here is the link http://www.hippson.se/artikelarkivet/kronikor/hippofil-i-exil-kommu...

Shortly I claim that Sjef and Anky are making a mistake in their communications and pr work by suing Eurodressage and in writing insult ms Appels.
My take on this is that if this is the way the couple communicates with people, how brutal is their communications with horses?

Best Regards,
Jessica Eile Keith
Tampa Bay, FL

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