Patrick Kittel & Watermill Scandic H.B.C. 73.350% KUR European Championship 2009 UK Windsor

[Kalypso989]

I personally think that judges should incorporate their scores in the rider's warm ups. These top level riders "act" like they're good riders, but their true personality comes out in their warm up. You see Scandic pleasant now, but the EponaTV clip on his warm up was a whole other story... If the judges saw how the riders treat their horses outside of the dressage arena, perhaps this would change drastically...

[epona202]

@Kalypso989 While a decent theory in practice, this would not work. Personally I know that the way I train and ride at home is completely different to how I ride in the warmup ring and then in the test arena. You shouldnt punish riders for how they train, correct training will produce the quality of work that a judge is looking for. Incorrect training will produce work that doesnt fulfil the criteria for a high score, simple as that. Sadly, all that matters is the picture in the test area.

[joeh1963]

@rodeosabuseanimals What a ridiculous comment, why would you comment about a training method you feel is abusive by using abusive and aggressive language yourself, it simply invalidates your point.

[joeh1963]

What a ridiculous statement!! Why would you comment on a training method you feel is abusive by writing such aggressive comments, it simply invalidates your point!

[Kjeeellson]

I saw Patrik live today when he trained, and I can conferm that he dose'nt do hyperflexion. So don't judge if you don't know what you are talking about.!

[beaudom]

@Kjeeellson check out dressagedisgrace. com doesnt no retroflexion ae?

[trackjunky789]

@rodeosabuseanimals

And your basing your opinion on a 9 minute video out of a 2 hour long ride? Do you know the horse? Do you know Patrick? Was there ever any SCIENTIFIC proof that A) the horses tongue was acutally blue and B) it was due to hyperflexion?.

[Dressagetrainee2894]

It brakes my heart to know people are proud to ride this way! People like this do not deserve to ride such beautiful horses. I would love to see wut the horse would have like if he would have been trained humanly!

[maikesponge]

nach der aktion in helsinki ist er das gleiche wie anky van grunsven ein rollkurmonster den man einsperren sollte!

[bizzybijtje]

@maikesponge: Why Anky van Grunsven? Is this Anky van Grunsven? No it isn't. If you see te video of 'Blue tongue' you can see how Anky's abusing her horse awfully at the background... (not)

[maikesponge]

ja in dem video benutzt sie rollkur nicht aber gib doch mal rollkur hier ein überall ist sie auf den fotos zu sehen.schade eigentlich das kittel sich auf solch ein niveau herablassen musste -.- armes pferd

[Enigmma13]

Poor horse :(

[smnjjp]

Before you can judge the performance, you must watch the warm-up (on EponaTV) So disappointing that competitive dressage has become so abusive to horses. Boycott this kind of dressage, and all the companies who sponsor it.

[WarmBloodParadise]

@smnjjp i have a horse that was trained to GP in belgium with rollkur. Now I am restarting him and helping mhim recover from his bad handling and rollkur. It is so hard helping him. His spine is locked in a sway postion from bad posture all these yeasr, and its almost impossible to sit him. Notice there was barely ANY trot in this freestyle!! Its because the horse trots in two parts and is really hard to sit. Go watch Anky preform, its the same thing. The damage is terible from rollkur. )):

[smnjjp]

@WarmBloodParadise I am sorry your horse is having a tough time. I imported mine from the Netherlands and he was very contracted/in a frame but not through, not using his back correctly when he arrived at 8. It has taken a long time to undo (because I am an amateur), but: correct lungework as taught by Dominique Barbier, bodywork (chiro, massage) as needed and making sure my riding is seat based (as taught by Erica Poseley) have made a huge difference. Think of it this way: you saved your horse.

[HannoverianLoverxD]

Scandic is great ^^