Why not hyperflexion

The science behind why this method is detrimental to the training and health of horses. I want to thank sustainable dressage for allowing me to use their information. For even more information on hyperflexion visit sustainabledressage.com.

Please keep all comments civil; you can disagree without lude language.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• dressage
• horses
• hyperflexion
• rollkur
• ldr

[BreyerProductions]

My trainer always told me to keep my horse's head on the vertical, which does look very nice, doesn't strain my horse, and she can also see where she is going. I see nothing wrong with a little bend and submissive behavior from the horse.

[daisyfields]

@BreyerProductions A little bend and submission is not wrong. There are some horses so tight you may have to get them behind the vertical to relax the jaw, but only very very slightly, nothing like these horses here. Submission is needed simply because the horse needs to respect you as leader to keep you safe and allow you both to perform well. However, the horses here are not in a respectful submission. They are being forecfully dominated to put them in a state of learned helplessness.

[lilXmrsXponyXjumper]

@daisyfields How can you know that these horses are being forced if you have were not there. im not saying is wrong or right but how can you judge someones actions if u cannot see this action directly

[daisyfields]

@lilXmrsXponyXjumper Because there are videos, conataining many of these horses that show how they are being ridden. Body language shows everything, even in pictures. Sometimes there is a bad moment, but the body language of horse and rider is slightly different in a quick instant that is caught than if it is a continuous action. You can look at the weight of riders'hands and the agnle of the bit even if you have trouble reading body language. If the horse is not being forced the bit hangs loose

[cameronhall4]

Hi I was just wondering what you meant by saying 'you cannot have collection and hyperflexion at the same time', yet people use hyperflexion and piaffe/passage at the same time. However, that was not my main comment. At 1:35 '... the lower the head the more submission... if you lower the head the horse feels inferior...' These horses have to have some degree of confidence to get into that arena with the bright lights away from other horses. I hope you consider this polite discussion!

[daisyfields]

@cameronhall4 If you watch some of the horses trained in rollkur, they actually do freak out in the ring sometimes,like Isabell Werth's horse at the Olympics and Anky's Salinero taking off at an awards ceremony. Remember though, submission does not mean the horse cannot be desensitized to what will be in a large showring, so them not spooking is not always confidence but simply exposure.

[vivifies]

Anything forced can never be beautiful... Agreed!

[showjumpinluv]

@daisyfields Though I am completely against the rollkur and hyperflexion, I can't agree that it necessarily ALWAYS means they are being "forcefully dominated."  I've seen many horses, and rode one just last night, that over-flex with the slightest bit of pressure, and have to be encouraged to not do so. The horse I rode last night goes in a plain D-ring snaffle, and several times I had to "bump up" to get him to bring his nose forward to the vertical.

[drorydressage]

western pleasure not better...see "Reichert Celebration" on youtube !

[Glykyrrhiza]

@cameronhall4 Collection by classical principles is defined as the level of flexion in the 3 main joints of the hind legs. Work by Veterinarian Gerd Heuschmann has proven that this cannot be achieved when the horses head is pulled to it's chest. Bio-mechanically this is just impossible, his book explains more about it.

[tanner2254]

enyone look at the horses eyes.... they look like there screaming for help..

[herdingdrive]

What a great video!!! There are so many facts about anatomy and correct and natural movement. I must wonder if some of the people leaving argumentative comments actually read it all or understand enough about bio-mechanics to get why this is so damaging to the horse! NO horse naturally moves around with it's head in this position for more than a few seconds. Overuse of tendons and ligaments results in long-term sometimes irreversible damage. Nice job daisyfields!!!! Shared in facebook!

[LouTaat]

Is anyone besides me aware of the fact that there are 100.000 of these movies on youtube, and that each and everyone of them contain the same pictures and phrases?

[dmenkhau]

Hyperflexion is not always cruel. Sometimes you use it on a horse who is younger and who needs to know, but in order for it not to be abusive you need to soften as it learns and of course you can't HYPER, HYPERFLEX.

[KelticGypsy]

@BreyerProductions Overflexion to this point is not a 'little bend', its a gross over exaggeration. This is not bending at the poll, when I learned classical dressage the head was to be straight down, not tucked into the chest AND HELD THERE FOR LONG PERIODS.

[ANNA10038]

Ein Pferd sollte ein Partner sein und sich nicht unterwerfen müssen.

Was für ein Blödsinn!!!