28/04/2025
Originally written by Julie von Bismarck, a respected figure in the equine welfare and advocacy space. Julie shared a powerful post regarding the 2025 World Cup Finals in Basel a few days ago.
With her permission to translate, I'm sharing her post with you:
"The 2025 World Cup Finals in Basel, according to the organizers, should mark a return to the values and principles of riding.
“Zero tolerance" for horse abuse, blue tongues, spurs, tightly tightened nosebands, etc.
This is the result.
The winner, smiling from ear to ear, riding her Happy Athlete, who is anxiously flapping his lower lip which - caution, sarcasm coming up - of course, was not due to any inflicted pain, but is an "inherited trait" - spurs firmly attached, as much pressure as possible on the curb bit, noseband tightly fastened.
And the expression on her face reflecting all her gratitude to be sitting on such a magnificent horse.Not to mention the look on the horse's face.
A picture that embodies everything.
Everything that riding is not and should never be.
I have no idea what discipline these people are competing in, ("Horse abuse" comes to mind).
I would like to take this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that I distance myself entirely from everything related to this.
This is NOT riding. It contradicts everything that riding is about.
The love and friendship with the animal, the humility and endless gratitude for being allowed on its back, the constant effort to not disturb the horse in any way, the pursuit of invisible communication and connection.
In the absence of any form of dominance, pressure, pain, or force.
And since what is happening here is NOT riding, and it seems that no one partaking in this particular activity intends to return to those principles, it should be abolished.
Personally, and I say this as someone who grew up in a riding family and has spent every day of my life with and on horses, I will not shed a tear for this despicable abuse of animals.
And I suspect many other riders who are committed to the values and principles of riding feel the same way.
It’s a disgrace to equestrianism. Period.
Protect the horses.
More love, less ego.
©Julie von Bismarck”