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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

9. Dressage is NOT abuse -- PLEASE STOP REPEATING THIS LIE

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:14 AM

Jul 2012

I'm getting sick to death of people repeating this ignorant claim.

Like any other animal training, there are people who follow correct principles and teach with love and compassion.

And there are people who's egos and ignorance are in the drivers seat, who take shortcuts, and who abuse. That is true of *every* discipline involving horses. And dogs. And any other animals that we interact with.

Rolkur -- forcing horses to overbend their necks -- is NOT CORRECT DRESSAGE. Just because there are videos of it on you-tube does not make it correct or acceptable.

If you want to call Anne Romney an animal abuser, there are instances in which she was involved with true abuse. Such as how they treated Seamus. And how she treated one of her horses, Super Hit.

But you have zero evidence that Anne Romney or her trainer, Jan Ebeling, use Rolkur. SO QUIT SPREADING LIES.

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115 replies

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Highlight:

Ann Romney = Animal Abuser [View all] Fawke Em Jul 2012 OP

Both Mitt and Ann have no empathy whatsoever... targetpractice Jul 2012 #1

My condolences laundry_queen Jul 2012 #115

Like any animal training, dressage can be done badly. Like dog agility, dolphin shows etc riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #2

Aw, come on kctim Jul 2012 #3

A simple search would show the OP that this video has come up at least 4 - 5 other times on DU riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #4

Fellow dressage rider here - right on! cilla4progress Jul 2012 #5

I'm willing to be bet that Olympic caliber horses Fawke Em Jul 2012 #7

You're right, they're not treated harmoniously riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #21

Then why did Romney have to drug the shit out of her horse adigal Jul 2012 #73

Honestly, it was probably her trainer who doped her horse to sell it. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #93

I don't belong to PETA Fawke Em Jul 2012 #8

you are clearly totally ignorant of dressage magical thyme Jul 2012 #10

I'm an animal rescuer, too. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #13

I am well aware of the differences between classical and competition dressage magical thyme Jul 2012 #26

ROLLKUR Aerows Jul 2012 #64

the thing is, there is no evidence that the Romneys or Ebeling use rollkur magical thyme Jul 2012 #67

True Aerows Jul 2012 #69

"over-mounted trainers" Aerows Jul 2012 #47

You serious? You think Romney types are going to be patient adigal Jul 2012 #74

the Romney's are not in charge of the training magical thyme Jul 2012 #77

if the OP had even bothered to read the link, she might have noticed magical thyme Jul 2012 #60

Knowing virtually nothing about horse dressage (maybe having horse before dressage is redundant?) sad sally Jul 2012 #66

the flashy horses do take pride. they are natural show-offs. nt magical thyme Jul 2012 #68

Hmmm... I've been riding horses for YEARS and have Fawke Em Jul 2012 #6

Neither have I, nor has virtually every other dressage rider on the face of the planet riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #12

It is in competition. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #16

I'm the owner and operator of a professional, competitive dressage and combined training barn riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #22

Exactly Aerows Jul 2012 #39

hmmm...I've been riding and training DRESSAGE horses for decades magical thyme Jul 2012 #14

If you've done all these things, why can't Fawke Em Jul 2012 #17

because I don't practice it or study it magical thyme Jul 2012 #28

Thank you Aerows Jul 2012 #40

Dressage is NOT abuse -- PLEASE STOP REPEATING THIS LIE magical thyme Jul 2012 #9

What lies? Fawke Em Jul 2012 #11

Modern dressage is not simply competition. That bit you've put up is used by virtually every western riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #20

I'm a Mrs. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #25

What controversy are you talking about with the bits or bridles at "EVERY" summer Olympics?? riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #31

good god yourself magical thyme Jul 2012 #24

Ooohhh...someone's been reading. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #27

I honestly do NOT CARE whether you believe me or not magical thyme Jul 2012 #33

Have you EVER ridden a horse before? Aerows Jul 2012 #43

I hear crickets magical thyme Jul 2012 #110

When I was little I made a little chair-ball-thing that anchored to the a cat harness snooper2 Jul 2012 #61

That kind of bit certainly exerts a great deal of pressure. LWolf Jul 2012 #111

Dressage is NOT abusive Redford Jul 2012 #15

Ah... but I do know about horse training. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #18

Credentials Please. NCTraveler Jul 2012 #37

I'd like to hear some credentials, too Aerows Jul 2012 #51

"Smelling shit once isn't nearly like shoveling a barn daily." NCTraveler Jul 2012 #55

It is a broad brush Aerows Jul 2012 #56

If you do "know about horse training," then you should know better matt819 Jul 2012 #83

Question for you...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #19

Every dressage movement is something a horse does in the wild, on their own riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #23

Thank you. soccer1 Jul 2012 #29

Sure they do. Watch any horse kept in a barn overnight get turned out in the am riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #34

Okay.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #41

this country was built on the backs of horses magical thyme Jul 2012 #46

Owning horses is one thing...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #48

dressage is the foundation of every other discipline magical thyme Jul 2012 #57

I understand your point of view...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #84

dressage training is based on the horses natural behavior magical thyme Jul 2012 #90

Nobody spends "hours" drilling their horse for competitions or at competitions! riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #95

You are educating me on the ways of dressage training and I.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #100

Oh I could wax rhapsodic about the perfect horse... However, for an upper level dressage horse? riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #103

I real appreciate your detailed responses....... soccer1 Jul 2012 #105

Thanks for your patience and willingness to listen. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #106

These are old skills that would be lost if someone didn't want to do it "for human pleasure" riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #101

I appreciate your informative response but soccer1 Jul 2012 #107

I should not generalize but most Amish view their horses like tires riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #108

Have you ever been around a pissed off mule? Aerows Jul 2012 #44

It's called collection Cherchez la Femme Jul 2012 #63

the levade is natural magical thyme Jul 2012 #78

3rd photo down on the right shows a pirouette at liberty magical thyme Jul 2012 #30

I would run a new ad. The horses were listed avebury Jul 2012 #32

Exactly!! This is what the focus should be - on the RMoney's fraud with Super Hit. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #35

That story made me sick Aerows Jul 2012 #38

She also shot up her training horse Aerows Jul 2012 #36

and this is the legitimate criticism that has been leveled at them magical thyme Jul 2012 #58

How the hell does riding a horse help M.S? amuse bouche Jul 2012 #42

Apparently, riding a horse can help MS patients with their balance soccer1 Jul 2012 #49

Now the posts are just degenerating to a level of idiocy not often seen on DU matt819 Jul 2012 #86

It helps a hell of a fucking lot, kurtzapril4 Jul 2012 #114

You mean, wild horses don't dance like this in nature? Atman Jul 2012 #45

Haven't seen any of the many horses in my area... soccer1 Jul 2012 #50

Okay, do I even have to ask... Atman Jul 2012 #53

Yes, I know you were being sarcastic.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #54

I lost my appetite for horseback riding lessons, because it occurred to me that the horses TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #52

I can understand how that could turn you off to riding magical thyme Jul 2012 #59

Silly? matt819 Jul 2012 #87

Yeah, I think it's silly. Right up there with synchronized swimming and that rhythmic gymnastic TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #104

I think so too. Cleita Jul 2012 #62

the practice of rollkur was banned a year after the linked video was taken magical thyme Jul 2012 #65

I can tell you love your horses:). Cleita Jul 2012 #71

my experience is that they do love what they are doing magical thyme Jul 2012 #76

I don't consider obedience training of dogs in the same category. Cleita Jul 2012 #79

Its probably more akin to dog obedience training than anything else. Its to make the horse a partner riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #97

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #70

I don't know anything about this sport Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #72

I think sled dog racing is different, but maybe.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #75

sled dogs occasionally die in the Iditerod magical thyme Jul 2012 #80

Yes, occasionally dogs die on the Iditarod, Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #85

Have there been no deaths in the past three years because of.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #89

I think the rules have always been pretty clear, Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #92

Thank you for your response.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #96

No, the sled dogs aren't pushed. Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #82

You can't force a horse to do it either - they'll simply lie down. They go because they want to riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #98

Oh, please matt819 Jul 2012 #81

Just to be clear.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #88

What is it with the antagonism to horses matt819 Jul 2012 #91

Of course most people who interact with horses are not abusers...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #94

Any kind of riding or pulling does not come naturally to a horse. LWolf Jul 2012 #112

Disgusting and horrific. nt Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #99

and not dressage. It was found out, elevated to authorities and banned as a practice. magical thyme Jul 2012 #109

It's not a living thing, it's property... Amerigo Vespucci Jul 2012 #102

Dressage training is not abuse. Dressage movements are natural. magical thyme Jul 2012 #113