Thoughts on the new FEI Dressage Committee "Blood" rule?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Thoughts on the new FEI Dressage Committee "Blood" rule?

MagsNMe · Advanced

I was wondering who would be the first to comment on that. I'd sure want clarification. Blood in the mouth, blood on the sides by the spur, absolutely, get out of the ring, but there's more opportunity than that for blood to be on a horse. Bug bites come to mind immediately. So does the dressage equivalent of corking ones self (is there a dressage equivalent?!). Blood from the noseband, get out of the ring, blood from a stray mosquito, really?!

Of course judging from the responses to some other threads, maybe I'm just a big meanie who doesn't know how to ride, which is certainly possible!

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

My first reaction was that it is about time they have a rule about this!

I agree with Barbara that it could be clearer. MagsNMe reminded me that I am very fortunate to live in an area with bugs that usually do not leave bleeding bites. OUCH!

If there had already been a rule that blood from misuse of bits, harsh nosebands, and misuse of the spurs automatically lead to dismissal already on the book (and enforced) then maybe audiences would not have gotten so upset about blood on horses (yes I know, there is always somebody that does not understand about some bug bites.) I'm really ignorant about competition, I thought they already had a rule about this!

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I am also waiting for rules that prohibit riding or lunging the horse to death in the warm-up. I especially can't stand it when the "trainer" gets on the horse and works it within an inch of its life so the student can get on and go in the ring. That may or may not happen at FEI sanctioned shows, I'm not sure, but... Aaggghhh! It wouldn't happen if I were running a show!

Also, sometimes a horse isn't bleeding on the show grounds, but it shows signs of being abused at home.

As an example, many years ago, I was at the World Cup in L.A. One of the horses had scabs covering spur marks that were so apparent, I could see them from across the arena. When I pointed them out, I was told that the people used to pick the scabs to keep the wound from healing. Who knows if that part was true, but giant scabby spur wounds scream abuse at home. Yet, there was the horse, fully accepted into the competition with marks for all to see. I'm telling you, it upsets me to this day.

-- Edited by Barbara F on Friday 24th of June 2011 06:06:54 PM

MagsNMe · Advanced

You know I live in fear of being thrown out of a show because my horse has old (years old) marks on her from spurs. I'm not talking scars, but the skin isn't quite right. She was SO screwed up that the old light aid, harder aid, HARDER aid took awhile to get into her that she MUST respond. And I refuse to wear sharp spurs (maybe I should have), so the IMPULS spurs left those.

I have such sadness when I look at those, I love my horse, did I abuse her? Did the person who screwed her up? Probably. Does it make me a crappy rider? Maybe. Am I an evil person? Maybe. It's a horrible legacy. I can't imagine doing what you describe. Yet I may be painted with the same brush. I don't know.