The Paraolympics

The paraolympics in London has begun, and I saw this picture, which I really liked, on the FEI facebook page. So I thought I would share it.

Studying

Ugh! I am studying hard for my exam on tuesday. So that is why I havent really had time to come up with some interesting update these last few days.

I hope everyone else is enjoying their weekend.

Eskadron Platinum Collection

 Just saw the new Platinum Collection from Eskadron. I absolutely love it. (shiny shiny, totally invokes the "my little pony" side of me ;) )

You can buy the collection online here: www.reitstiefel-kandel.de/

Benedicte Stine Olsen, Taking Care of an Olympian

 

"Given the all important role of taking care of an Olympic athlete Benedicte Stine Olsen says her hands on job lets her indulge in all her greatest passions. "Obviously I love horses, but I’m also very interested in the sport of dressage," says the 23 year old. "Being a groom allows you to travel all around the world and gives you the opportunity to watch world class combinations while also spending a lot of time with horses."


Having been top groom for Danish rider Nathalie zu sayn-Wittgenstein for more that four years, Benedicte was honoured to be a part of their London adventure and knows that her hard work helped the pair reach their full potential!"

Read it here: http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/content/12-aachen-0-digby-5337

So true

Putting words into action- Eurodressage article.

Found this article on eurodressage, which I will recommend people to read.

Part 1- http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/09/16/coming-together-minds-2011-fei-young-horse-seminar-and-judges-course

Part 2- http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/09/17/putting-words-action-practical-demonstrations-s-level

"First to go was “Dankeschön” (by Danone I x Fidermark), a good type of horse presented by Anja Wilimzig who works for the National State Stud in Warendorf. At age 4 Dankeschön was quite impressed with the foreign surroundings and first was looking around a bit and whinnying repeatedly.
As he was a bit tight in the neck at the beginning, Hess asked his rider to open the frame of the horse, even though the conditions were not easy for doing that. Wilimzig revealed much talent, riding the excited liver-chestnut with feeling and precision and brought him more constantly in front of the vertical in trot and canter."

Quote from the article.

Im so impressed by the beautiful riding, shown on the pictures. One thing is "saying all the right things", but they are definatly puttings words into action.

Here is some of the pictures:

Instagram - Horze

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/

New kingsland winter collection

Kingsland has released their 2012/2013 winter collection. It can be viewed here: http://www.kingsland.no/pdf/kingsland_winter_2012.html

Some pieces out of the collection that I really like:

 

(yeah i know its a sock, but I like the detail on it ;) )

Will Faerber on the Olympics 2012

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.

Chuckle

Saw this and could not resist laughing, oh the irony!

Uthopia

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!

You can see a video here with Carl talking about Uthopia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/equestrian/8217391.stm

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.

In my opinion- Totilas go home ;)

Some picture spam:

Epona TV

Found this Epona Tv article regarding the olympics and the footage they recovered:

http://epona.tv/uk/news/show/artikel/editorial-greenwich-mean-time/?tx_ttnews

What can I say other than: Read it!

Adelinde Cornelissen Olympics 2012

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


For studies regarding the effects of rollkur on horses, I suggest reading this article: http://www.cavallo.de/medizin/neue-studie-zur-rollkur-liefert-alarmierende-ergebnisse.386954.233219.htm?skip=0 Unfortunately, it is in german, but with some help from google translate, you should be OK.

 

Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival

A happy horse and athlete?

Dressage- Team gold for Great Britain

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!

A little article regarding the british gold: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/08/08/history-made-britain-wins-olympic-dressage-gold/#.UCOpmPVkgwc

Bloglovin

Since I have had alot of new readers lately- If you like my blog, then you should follow it on Bloglovin. Here is the link:

http://www.bloglovin.com/sv/blog/2435227/life-with-a-horse

Howrse

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.....

What is to become of me....... :)

Bloggtävling

Bloggcompetition for people in sweden, link here: http://johannagrant.se/2011/08/07/bloggtavling-2/

Using Sharp bits in the mouth of the horse

Olympics, london 2012

Watching the Olympics jumping event yesterday, I noticed several riders using a very sharp bit on their horses. There is an old saying in the equestrian world "the bit is never sharper than the hand of the rider"- Which is absolutely true, but, and here is the big BUT, I noticed several riders standing up and leaning back, with all their weight in the reins, in an effort to slow the horse between jumps and there by putting an enourmous pressure in the horses mouth- combine that with one of the harsh bits they ride with, and you got a very sore horsemouth.

This also makes me question the sincerity of the FEI (once again) since their code of conduct clearly states:
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.

But still none of these riders got any remarks regarding this, and none questions the use of this equipment? Also the guy (which I could remember which country and the horse name) pulling his horse hard before the watergrave (this was on the first day of the team jumping) the horse was slowed down because of this, but then he gives it a very hard whip on the behind- which could easily be heard how loud it was- This was not questioned either? It was completely the riders own fault that the horse didnt make the jump, because of what HE told it to do, and then he punishes it afterwards? Not okay in my book. (Yeah I have alot of books).

Luckily there was also several riders, that rode on a normal bit and you could see there was a soft connection between the horse and the rider, and that is for me, what riding is all about. Especially when you reach international levels. Thumbs up!

If you are going to put a sharp bit in the mouth of your horse, atleast have your horse properly dressaged and actually responding to your helpers, not having to sit and pull like a maniac, because then in my book, you really shouldnt be riding with a sharp bit at all. Even if you are a proffesional rider, riding on national and international levels. The horses have not chosen to be ridden, it is something we choose for them, therefore it is our responsibility to make sure they are treated ethically correct, and that we do not put them through any unnecessary pain, for our own benefits.

Some examples of sharp bits:

Interview with Michael Eilberg

He seems like a very charismatic person and what an amazing horse. Heres a
picture of the couple- Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Farouche:

Instagram

My dog Gizmo- He did not feel like posing for the camera today and kept looking the other way ;) (typical Gizmo ;))

Olympics 2012 profile: Carl Hester dressage

Swarovski Decoration

Thought I would share some pictures of my riding helmet, which I have decorated myself. I got inspired by Skaerlund-design (www.skaerlund.eu)