Is anyone else getting sick of seeing horse riding in the Olympics?

http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/news/patrik-kittel-reignites-rollkur-controversy-at-olympics.aspx

Oh, thank you!
Finally someone who thinks it is sick.
I became disgusted at how all the horses are required have their head pinned to their chest, not only dressage horses, but it seems to me that it is the main goal for all riders. The over-use of spurs and whip is generally not accepted, but many riders think that use of for example 'draw reins', or some really cruel types of bits is okay, when it is really the worst. It is something that bothers me the most because it has no other meaning than to make horse look 'good'. I think it is  very far from original idea of 'collection'.
Many horses are forced to live in very unnatural way, in small closed stall, without opportunity of contact with other horses, or grazing and walking all day, as they would in nature.
In my view, it is a long-term animal abuse.

I just saw this topic...
It's just wonderful when people comment on a sport that they have absolutely no idea on. Oh except for what sensational garbage they read from the media of course. Because as we all know THAT makes you an expert!

Apoligies for the sarcasm, but honestly! I've compete in dressage and showjumping my entire life and feel I'm highly qualified to speak on this subject.

These animals are training with the utmost care and sensitivity to get to where they are... they are not "forced" to do anything. Horses of Olympic calliber must possess a certain personality - they have to enjoy and love to work and compete as much as their rider. It is honestly foolish to think that they can be "made" to do dressage and jump like that. I don't think you realise the connection and mutual respect you have to have with your horse to even contemplate that level of competition! My horses can switch from flat out gallop to halt at a change in my breathing pattern. They have to understand my weight shift and 1-2cm changes in leg or hand position and interpret what I am asking them to do. At the same time I have to interpret their weight shifts and gait patterning and work out whether i have to help them balance or how to help them achieve what im asking. These horses LOVE the connection they get when you're both in synch. One of my horses intermittently squeals with excitement and leaps into the air when he learns a new manouver. It is a partnership.

Showjumpers in particular have to be hot headed and brave horses.. my showjumpers will jump anything they can find, they are brave and absolutely LOVE to jump. The hard part for the rider is if anything to slow them down and control their balance to help them clear the jump as easily as possible. They get happy and excited when they jump - you can see and feel it on them.

Its possibly hard for you to understand... horses enjoy being ridden and competing as much as a dog enjoys going for a walk. My horses crack it if I havent trained with them for more than 2 days. They see my car pull in and run to the paddock gate neighing at me to come get them. I have also owned horses who havent enjoyed jumping or dressage, and therefore it would never work to compete them in that sport. Those horses usually prefer a laid back excercise like bush riding etc.  

As for your specific concerns:
Rollkur - yes this is a term given to over-flexing the horses poll. Points are removed for any sign of this occuring. Do you know that many horses naturally flex like this when running in the paddock - certain compact breeds like Andalusians in particular. It took me 2 years to train my andalusian OUT of over flexing, which is his natural head-carriage position. Just like people have different postures so do horses. It takes time to encourage a horse to lengthen the top part of his neck - can you understand how hard it is to communicate to the horse that he has to do that from the saddle?
Whips - I would DEFINATELY prefer a tap on the bum over a kick in the ribs. I ride with a crop with all my horses, and it is used as a tool for communication. In advanced sport your legs dont simply mean "go forward", they are telling the horse so much more i.e. how to position their shoulder, which legs to cross over, how big a stride to move at, therefore a whip is a good tool to assist in that communication. When used for communication I dont see a problem at all with whips.

Don't get me wrong, I despise the racing industry and frequently rescue and train ex-pacers and ex-racers to suit equestrian disciplines. But to comment that you are seeing abuse of some sort during Olympic horse sports is completely unfounded. Why don't you try actually hanging around some of these competitions and if you have any empathy at all with animals you will actually see how much they enjoy what they are doing.

Massive essay sorry!!!

The problem I have is would the horse itself choose to be involved in equestrian or not or would they rather do their own thing and roam around in a paddock all day. I'd say if you  could ask most horses (maybe not yours specifically) they would choose the latter.

And your examples talk about the way you train your horses and how your horses feel about you as their trainer but that doesn't mean other people involved in equestrian don't mistreat their horses and use crueller training practices to bend the horses to their will.

The fact of the matter is equestrian and other sports involving horses are for human entertainment and human purposes (yes as you say your horses gain pleasure from it, but this doesn't mean all horses do). It still sees horses as tools of entertainment for humans to use at their will which I have an objection to.

Wow what a massively uneducated thread  
Thanks though to arfy, the only educated opinion.

Hell yes. I hate horse riding in general, whether it be competition, sports or "pets", why can't someone just have and love a horse and not need it for something.

I plan to have rescued horses roam free on my property (checked on and made sure they are ok and well fed - but free to do what they please) - when i buy it that is.

And guys... everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you treat your horses well and they are happy - that's awesome, but unfortunately not everyone does and there is a lot of people that see them as for their personal gain and that is all. If you have been in the industry and don't tend to see the mistreatment, then it may be over exaggerated and that's sad that then it is generalised but unfortunately for you when you are part of something that does use animals there will always be people whose only concern is for the animals (which is not a bad thing!) and that's why some unnecessary negative attention may occur; however some cases are justified.

hopefully you guys do get to own horses someday, and your perspective will change
try telling my youngsters that its "cruel" to ride them, when they start bashing down their trees and paddocks because they're bored hah (and yes that's with very large paddocks).

It is a sad fact that there are cruel idiots everywhere, but to tar an entire industry with the same brush is just narrow minded. I know a lot of horse people who go above and beyond for their own horses and horses that aren't theirs. They do not condone nor accept abuse of animals be it from an elite professional, a trainer or a person down the road.

I've worked in the racing industry, I'll admit I don't agree with every practice, such as the racing age, but these horses are very well looked after. Some retired horses, and these race horses retire young, are even kept on for the rest of their lives by the trainer. I don't see any 'personal gain' in that. Horses aren't cheap!

The main thing I am rather over hearing is that 'the horse does all the work'. Please. Ride a horse properly for an hour and tell me you're not sore the next day. It takes a great deal of fitness, core strength, arm strength, leg strength not to mention mental strength to get a horse fit and working properly. Yep horses do work hard, but if they aren't capable or enjoying it trust me they show you the signs!
As for giving the horse the medal. A horse couldn't give a crap about a medal. A horse cares about food.

I've had horses for 15 years and I've never once thought of it as 'personal gain'. I think people miss the point that these are domesticated animals, they are bred for purpose ( the responsible breeding anyway), they aren't the wild brumbies or mustangs cruising the outback being able to fend for themselves. And whilst my horses are retired now, they loved being ridden, going for a gallop, being on the games team, the dressage team, the jumping team, and they won many ribbons and trophies in their careers, not that they'd even realise.

You need to actually get out there, put yourself out and experience what it is that trainers and riders go through with their horses instead of sitting on here criticizing and condemning them of being cruel. Research, discover, talk to people who actually KNOW and find out the why's and how's. Or sit back and say 'I hate it just because' and learn nothing.

Yeah, sorry but I read most of the people that wrote about horse riding, and sorry to say but you know nothing about it. I understand you have your opinions, and I have mine. I have been riding since 4 years old. I got my first pony when I was 9, and got my second horse when I was 12. Believe me, I know a few things about being an equestrian. I have been bucked off and seen all the horrible sides of being an equestrian. And saying that we whip our horses to win? Is wrong! Yes, there are some cruel people who do that, but not all of us! For example: some spurs can hurt your horse, and some dont. The whip is an aid, it is not supposed to be overused, and if do over use it, you will be disqualified. Each country has different rules about riding, and each country has a federation or society like bhs (british horse society) or gef (german equestrian federation). Riding a horse is not like riding a skateboard or playing football, it is very risky, and believe me, it takes strength to control a a thousand pound animal that can kill you. We ride 7 days a week 2 hours a day and we do a lot of hard work that you do not understand. SO please do your research before saying things like that

"horses enjoy being ridden" - really? Is that why they have to be broken? How much does it cost to have a horse too?