Anyone else that has liked Horze (the equestrian brand) on facebook?
A week ago they shared alot of the photos on their facebook page, which people have uploaded to them on instragram. You upload your photo and then add #horze, and it is uploaded to them. Alot of great photos was shared, and I thought I would share some of my favorites:
If you dont have instragram on your phone, you can also view webstagram and thereby see the photos on your pc (instead of your phone). Link here: http://web.stagram.com/tag/horze/
I got to say I really like this guy, he makes great videoes regarding his training methods and gives good advice to riders on a "hobby" level, who are trying to retrain "problem" horses, or riding young horses. In this video I think he brings up some great points and shares his point of view.
After watching the olympics this year. I am just completely smitten with Carl Hester's stallion Uthopia. The way that horse moves under his rider, and the way he just seems so calm and in his zone when he is in the arena. He makes dressage look easy and effortless- like it is supposed to be. What a horse!
I think that horse is absolutely amazing, he just excudes beauty.
I read on eurodressage that he has been approved for breeding in KWPN. The article can be read here: http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/08/23/uthopia-approved-kwpn-breeding - Which is actually something I was thinking about when I saw him at the olympics. I think that horse has so many amazing qualities that a good dressage horse needs, and he looks like the kind of horse that is a pleasure to ride, every single time.
One scandal after another keeps surfacing in this years olympic dressage discipline. It is about time the FEI steps up to their job and stick to their own rules.(!)
At all stages during the preparation and training of Competition Horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands. a) Good Horses management Stabling, feeding and training must be compatible with good Horses
management and must not compromise welfare. Any practices which could
cause physical or mental suffering, in or out of Competition, will not
be tolerated. b) Training methods Horses must only undergo
training that matches their physical capabilities and level of maturity
for their respective disciplines. They must not be subjected to any
training methods which are abusive or cause fear or for which they have
not been properly prepared.
Watching the video above, I was in shock. I do not understand how the FEI can stand behind this. Sealing off the area to make sure none can see how the horses are trained is truly disgusting! If you cannot stand behind the training methods- then dont use them - just some common sense.
How Adelinde Cornelissen can be awarded second place when she trains her horse like this is beyond me. I could hardly watch her ride her program as she constantly pulls her horse in the mouth which is constantly whipping its tail showing obvious signs of being uncomfortable with the way it was being ridden.
That the FEI will contineously allow these kind of training methods and even help cover up the practice in some futile attempt to state that it is non occurant is not only hippocracy but also pathetic.
Pull your straw to the stack by signing this petition aimed towards the FEI and demand action towards the rollkur practice here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ban-rollkur/
and look at this facebookgroup: https://www.facebook.com/DislikeFEIrules
As many of you know, Great Britain won gold in the olympics team dressage.
I think this is amazing, and shows that dressage riding on international levels is moving in the right direction. I want to thank the british team for showing the world what dressage is all about and what a rider and horse in harmony looks like. Thank you!
Later today I will be cheering for Carl Hester (which is probably pretty obivious from my blog) and I am hoping for individual gold for him, or in next best case, another one of the british riders!
I consider myself a somewhat resonable "adult", but despite of that, I still at times get stuck in a teenage "my little pony" state of mind. This results in me sitting and playing a browser game called Howrse. (Even while writing this, im feeling slightly embarassed). In the best "loving sparkly ponies" style im sitting and breeding horses (and unicorns!), customizing their apparences, and managing my equestrian center....... I guess it is a result of currently being without a horse- though hopefully this will change soon, when I find the right one.
But really- what is it that makes us sit and play these games? I know I am not the only one sometimes getting caught in this trap.....
