What exaclty is "Rollkur?"

[NewHorseMom]

I have heard this term roll-kur (sp?) used a few times. What exactly is it and why do some people think it's bad? I hear a lot of opposition to it, so why if it's so bad are people still doing it to their horses?

[horse99]

Rollkur is a term used to describe hyper-flexion of the neck in horses, or an extreme of "deep and round." So basically the horse is worked with his head very low, his chin almost touching his chest, and he is well behind the vertical. I think there is a proper way to do it, although controversial, because it's the way Anky trains and she wins everything in Dressage. I don't know, I do a lot of long and low with my horse and "stretchy" circles and serpantines and I am sure he goes behind the vertical sometimes but I can assure you, I am not hurting my horse lol.

[striderrider]

There is a difference between letting your horse stretch down and seek the bit, then achieving hyper-flexion through aggressive force. It's the forcing of the head and neck into this unatural position that upsets people, and the FEI does make a distinction between rollkur and riding a horse deep and round.

There was one dressage rider a while back, that was warming up his horse in rollkur and the horse's tongue was hanging out of his mouth and it actually turned blue.

[NewHorseMom]

Oh my gosh, that does sound awful! And no one stopped him or told him his horse's tongue was blue? Why do we have to do this to our horses?

[striderrider]

Someone filmed him warming up, the horse's tongue was out for a long while, then a groom finally came over and put the horse's tongue back into his mouth and the rider carried on. I believe he did get in trouble, a fine perhaps and they did make a spectacle of him. I found a photo of rollkur for you:



Note the happy, relaxed expression on the horse's face. NOT!

[KewNeinsNaive]

What a shame. I know her other Ottawa shows are great, but I just dont have the heart to make Holly stand on a trailer that long.