Collectif Pour les Chevaux - International Meeting Stop Hyperflexion - April 2024 - Milly Shand

Milly Shand, who is editor in chief of Concordia International Equestrian Magazine, presents our Alliance for Horse Welfare in Sports and the 46 recommendations of the French Assembly to the International Olympic Committee. Hyperflexion of the neck has been clearly shown to be harmful to horses. However, it is still frequently used, both in competitions and in training, particularly but not exclusively in dressage. Because of its huge impact on the welfare of tens of thousands of horses, the Collectif Pour les Chevaux continues to alert and inform and bring together people who want to undertake concrete actions and means that can be implemented quickly to improve the situation for the horses in the warm-up areas. The Collectif Pour les Chevaux organises this second international meeting ’Stop Hyperflexion’ to make sure sport horses, particulary dressage horses, will soon be better protected against abusive riding. All the actors of the equine industry should take their responsibility and protect the horses; several of them seem to forget that REALLY protecting the horses automatically means protecting their SLO. If you know better, you do better. The guest speakers of this meeting are : Ms. Sarah Escoubet, equine marketing and communication expert Ms. Caroline Hegarty (Equitopia) and Milly Shand (Concordia International Equestrian Magazine), Alliance for Horse Welfare in Sport PhD Karen Luke, founder of ’Just Equestrian Solutions’, expert in equine behaviour and welfare DVM Anette Graf, chairs the Welfare working group of the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations DVM Karin Leibbrandt, specialized in horse rehabilitation and training PhD Kathrin Kienapfel, Dr. rer. Nat., member of ISES PhD Candidate Cristina Wilkins, editor of Horses and People, AHWS founding member DVM Kati Tuomola, expert of bit-related injuries in competition horses Mr. Crispin Parelius Johannessen, equine photographer Ms. Shelby Dennis, certified Equine Behaviour Consultant Mrs. Christine Stückelberger, former Olympic Dressage rider and judge PhD Patrick Galloux, former Cadre Noir écuyer, BEES 3rd degree, former high-level CCE athlete