Dressage to become a Blood Sport?
Contact issues are a recurrent problem in the dressage ring, from the grassroots to the top levels, even at the World Cup Finals, World Equestrian Games and Olympics. Tongue problems, going from tongues showing slightly on the side to 20 centimeters of flesh
hanging out of the mouth as well as an ensuing blood running from the mouth after a tongue or lip was bitten, have brought entire judging panels off balance.
Though in principle the rules are clear about the tongue showing in dressage tests, scores of individual judges oscillate with a 10% difference. Tongue problems are usually the externalisation of incorrect training, often cloaked by tightly strapped nosebands. The modus vivendi has always been that once blood is seen in the horse's mouth, automatic elimination follows as the welfare of the horse is absolute priority.
Recent discussions between stakehoulders and the FEI Dressage Committee (DC) have prompted the DC to propose a rule change in which blood will be accepted at top level competitions as long as the horse is checked by an FEI vet outside the show ring when blood appears. If the blood has stopped running by the time the FEI vet is on the spot the horse will get a new chance to complete his test. Is this a wise decision beneficial for the welfare of the horse or just another means of regulating and allowing training issues to be tolerated in the show ring? Article © Eurodressage.com To read the complete article, go to Eurodressage.com
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*Award winner's name to be added to crystal after judging.
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