Let me get this straight rmalley: it is OK to torture and abuse your horse as long as you get higher scores and pretty ribbons? I get that. NOT!!!!! Rollkur does destroy horses. They are doing very physically demanding moves but are not being allowed to use their physiology correctly and therefore are doing damage to many parts of their body in the process. And to imply that I am upset because my horse is not scoring as high kind of makes my skin crawl and my stomach churn. This upsets me because

How fun! Really Focus, how would this be any more dangerous that steeple chase, stadium jumping, simply racing TBs on a track?

I don't think you are wasting your time. If she responds better to the gentler bit then I think it is the other riders who need to reconsider what they are doing with her. Perhaps the other bit is hurting her because she has a sensitive mouth. Dressage training is never a lost cause for any horse. It is purely a means of the rider and the horse learning to listen to each other and be attentive to each other. She may never reach the upper levels of dressage with other riders riding her hunter

I am only posting on here again so this stays at the fore of this thread. We need to get rollkur/hyperflexion banned from any part of competition, even the warm up ring. The real challenge is going to be getting judges to not reward horses obviously trained this way as so many at the top of dressage are right now.

OK, that was hilarious and cute. Totally worth watching.

Solaris you are right that the tix for WEG are ridiculously expensive but I am willing to pay it for the experience. I don't get a chance every year to see dressage riders of this caliber all competing in one place. I am just sucking it up and counting this as a once in a lifetime experience.

Wow,can't believe it's been a year already either. I remember my heart breaking for you when you posted about her passing. Take care!

Hmmm, I wonder why some of those horses, even at the top levels, are not working properly thru their backs? Can we say tense and jammed together? It's time we go back to classical dressage principles and get rid of this "modern show" dressage.

7, sounds like a great day of showing for your kids and the pony! Congrats! Solo, how goes the shoe situation? Hope the new shoes help. SS, sounds like a nice ride yesterday! I have my trial ride on the potential lease horse tonight so I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Crazy cheap? When are you going to be there? I would love to do some sort of a ES get together for any of us there at the same time. Even if it's just to get together somewhere at the horse park for a snack or a cup of coffee.