As I wrote earlier: one thing to remember is that this whole issue really gained momentum after footage of Patrick Kittel (below) hit the internet. After reviewing this footage and additional information, the FEI concluded that there was no evidence that Kittel used "excessive" techniques. So if "excessive force" is no longer legal, but Kittel wasn't excessive, then has the problem been solved?
>Now, to the new stuff. The reason that I have kept following this issue so closely is that I have seen a trend in eventing toward more modern dressage principles and practitioners. Make no mistake, in my opinion, Rollkur is coming to a warm-up arena near you.
Since many eventers, especially top eventers, work with pure dressage coaches, the growth of modern dressage within the pure dressage discipline has led to a growth of modern dressage within eventing. This growth in eventing might be slower and weaker than within pure dressage, but, even just from watching warm-up arenas over the past year, I have seen more horses being ridden quite round and primarily from the outside rein. Note that I am speaking from personal experience and from having talked with other riders, but I am not using any statistics or hard data.
The furor of the Kittel controversy shows that the public is becoming much more sensitive to hyperflexion. The FEI has responded to this sensitivity with the proclamation that "aggressive force" is unacceptable, which will lead to more attention of the warm-up rings but may or may not lead to a reduction of modern dressage if "aggressive" is too strictly defined. I am certain that, having seen Kittel getting trampled by the fans and media over the past few months, many riders will be much more careful about the methods they use in public. But as long as people who practice modern dressage, like Anky, keep winning, the trend toward modern dressage will continue until the FEI decides to take a stand against a particular frame, rather than a level of aggression.
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Facebook Friends can go to the following to read the press release as well as the many comments below it. Interesting thoughts.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/horses-for-life-publications/fei-round-table-conference-resolves-rollkur-controversy/293876646133
Another spot is Catherine Haddad's blog at COTH. She offers a personal look as well as conversing with her readers.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/ulterior-motives