The State of Competitive Dressage

Recently, there has been a major focus within horse-circles on dressage competition. First, the infamous stallion Totilas was retired a few days ago at the age of 15. To those unfamiliar with horse ages, 15 is pretty young when the average horse lives until mid to late twenties, with some into their thirties. He's been breaking records since 2009, so this was fairly shocking to the dressage world. It wasn't shocking to those of us watching how Totilas was trained, however, and it's no surprise he wore out at such a young age.

How would you feel going around with your chin cranked to your chest?

Edward Gal, Totilas' trainer, utilized what's called Rollkur to train his horses. This was banned by the FEI because as you can see from the above pic, it's cruel. However, these trainers renamed it "low deep round" or LDR and say it helps the horse loosen up and stretch those muscles....yeah right. Even non-horse people can see that the horses are clearly distressed. Whereas dressage should be about harmony between horse and rider and look effortless.

Dressage from 1936 Olympics, quite the difference from today's horse and riders

Most people agree that Rollkur or LDR is abusive and should be banned. However, the dressage judges at these world events keep rewarding horses clearly exhibiting distress and pain. Here's a pic from the first place winner at European Young Horse (5 year old) championships:

Clearly just hauling on this poor mare's face

What message is this sending the horse community? Clearly, that LDR works at winning despite the clear protests from the horses. 

Here's a picture of Edward Gal showing in Aachen this year, he was disqualified for his horse's mouth bleeding due to "biting his tongue."

Even this picture is infuriating. You've been eliminated and your still cranking on your horses mouth despite KNOWING it's bleeding? Then he makes this gesture, what is he implying here I wonder....Disgusting.

Unfortunately, we've so veered away from the classical principles of balance, kindness, and subtle communication in modern dressage. We see some relief from this with the champion Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, who embody much more of what dressage should be. Yet I still believe she's even too restrictive on her horse's face and mouth. However, judges at the top levels are still rewarding trainers knowing they use abusive principles to train their horses. These judges love the horse's flash and pizzaz, rewarding big huge movements. Much has to change in the modern dressage world, and unfortunately it doesn't look like much is changing anytime soon. To me, the example picture below looks like something that dressage *should* be striving for: 

The difference should be very clear. This horse is performing the piaffe (trotting in place) and he's correclty engaged in the hind end (haunches tucked under). Not to mention the rider has very soft contact on the mouth, and in this picture in this moment she is not even pulling his mouth. I hope someday more people realize what happy horses working actually look like. Another reason I keep out of the show ring.