By R-haltenswert Equine Quality Control Team
The equestrian handling of the show jumping horses initially seemed more relaxed and tolerant compared to the dressage horses. Unfortunately, the first dominant impression was that many horses were visually very defined by the bridle. We did not get to see the faces of many horses so easily. Masks, many leather straps, many lever bits, martingale, and draw reins–also draw reins through the Pelham strap–determined the appearance.
The horses are prepared for the course in the warm-up before a test, the riding often had no gymnastic character. The bridle was more for control in the course. Some riders gave the impression that they were particularly proficient in approaching and riding over the obstacles, other riding skills were hardly recognizable in the majority of the riders during this time or were delegated to employees during the course of the tournament. Incorrectly strapped spurs (spurs pointing upwards over the horizontal line) were also surprisingly often seen for this athletic level.
Despite many horses in a confined space and many supervisors around the obstacles, the jumping took place interpersonally in always a calm and respectful cooperation.
The conspicuously frequent use of corrective reins, elaborate bridles, and lever bits has remained impressive. Draw reins were used for walking, working the horses, as well as exam preparation, including jumping up to maximum dimensions.
They were applied in different constellations:
● From the girth through the bit rings into the rider’s hand
● From the saddle girth through the breastplate through the bit rings into the rider’s hand
● From the girth through the throat strap through the bit rings into the rider’s hand
● From the saddle girth through the breastplate through the throat strap through the bit rings into the rider’s hand
● Knotted from the girth through the bit rings and over the poll
● From the girth through the Pelham strap into the rider’s hand
● From the belt straps sideways to the front through the bit rings into the rider’s hand
● From the chamber of the saddle to the front through the bit rings and back into the rider’s hand
Unfortunately, this use is covered by the rules of the FEI. From our point of view, the use of draw reins in general, but especially in combination with lever bits, represents a considerable safety risk for horse and rider and should be rejected as a whole.
From an ethical point of view, the horse, in its nature as a moving and fleeing animal, must not be brought into a forced position by means of a mechanical lever, thereby impairing the neck as the natural balancing bar, and as a result putting horse and rider in a not inconsiderable danger over the jump.
Unfortunately, the use of the draw reins was seen less as a safety risk by those responsible at the FEI than was regularly stated that the draw reins were virtually indispensable in show jumping due to safety considerations. Interestingly, however, they are fortunately banned in dressage and parasport, an inexplicable contradiction by which the FEI must be measured.
From the rules for show jumping published by the FEI (see Annex III), point 1.4 stands out in particular: “There are no restrictions on bits or nosebands.”
The lack of regulations in show jumping in this regard is incomprehensible to us, but rather frightening. It seemed like a comfortable, desensitized and cultureless way of dealing with horses when the mobile phone attracts the full attention of the person sitting on the horse during a walk on draw reins, or this finds its culmination in the fact that a conversation was held via the mobile phone during an entire riding session (also on draw reins) outside of the direct test preparation, which was wedged in the riding helmet, a brutalization of good morals.
This show jumping sport practiced in this way gave us the impression of a microcosm that has completely forgotten or now actively ignores the responsibility and obligation it has towards the horse, but also towards the external image of equestrian sport itself.
Using the example of the excessive use of drawreins, we would like to quote Udo Bürger and the guidelines for riding and driving as a counterweight to this impression:
“But as already mentioned, all auxiliary reins are an admission of weakness or lack of skill. It always works without them. Anyone who uses them habitually and on all horses has capitulated to his own inability and finally given up learning to ride.” (Udo Bürger, Vollendete Reitkunst, Müller Rüschlikon Verlag, 1st edition 2006, p. 166ff).
“The inexperienced rider often believes that he can reach his goal faster by auxiliary reins. As a rule, however, he will only put his horse in a forced position and increase the problem in the long run.” (Guidelines for Riding and Driving – Volume 2, FN Verlag, 13th edition 2001, p. 125).
Read the full report by clicking here.
Learn more about this movement here.
Sources:
“R-Worthy: Support Ethical Equestrian Sport.” R-Haltenswert.de, 2024, www.r-haltenswert.de/en.
Monitors and contributors: Viktoria Auracher, Falk Stankus, Jonathan Marquardt, Marcel Egger, and André Hascher.
