Rollkur or hyperflexion of the horse's neck is a practice in equestrianism defined as "flexion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force" and is banned by the world governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).The FEI recognises a distinction between rollkur and the riding of the horse in a deep outline not achieved by force.
 
ESNZ are the governing body in New Zealand, and they, in turn are members of the FEI. ESNZ have Welfare of the Horse at the top of their list of Core Values, yet are not adhering to the complete ban by the FEI of this cruel practice.
 
 "A position statement was introduced to delegates at (the 2015) ISES conference in Vancouver, Canada, by the University of Sydney’s Professor Paul McGreevy, a specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine with a special interest in animal welfare and equitation science. The society said riders, trainers and sports officials must be aware of the gradual effect of flexion on horse welfare and ensure that head and neck postures did not compromise physiological or psychological function. When balancing the gymnastic effects with the evident costs of impairing equine welfare, there remains little reason why the use of extreme/hyperflexed head and neck postures in equine training should be considered an acceptable practice.” “Maintaining an open airway and ensuring the horse is self-maintaining the posture (rather than it being enforced by the rider/trainer and/or tack or equipment) are essential,” it said. “Extreme or hyperflexed head and neck postures are not acceptable.”
 
In short - We, the petitioners believe that the use of Rollkur constitutes animal abuse, both physically due to the held over-flexed position, and mentally due to forced submission. We believe that such a cruel and abusive practice has no place in Horsemanship in New Zealand, and petition for the INTERNATIONAL BAN placed by our worldwide governing body to be upheld by ESNZ, across all disciplines, and scrap the '10 minute warmup' allowance.
 

Please feel free to copy and paste the above information and email to all of these contacts at ESNZ:
Richard Sunderland - President (of the ESNZ board) martland@xtra.co.nz

Nick Pyke - Vice-President & Chair of the Board pyken@far.org.nz

Vicki Glynn - Chief Executive vicki@nzequestrian.org.nz 

There is also a contact form on the FEI page here http://www.fei.org/contact 

Please feel free to email and tell them that ESNZ does NOT adhere to the international ban on Rollkur which was imposed in 2010