Here's a pretty typical World Championship "victory pose": http://www.ihsgb.co.uk/winners.jpg
The first time I saw a posed picture over-bent like that, probably five years ago, I asked, and was assured that it was only a "bad moment in time" - an instant where 2-3 stallions were misbehaving and the riders grabbed them back for a photo op. This has been "classic" victory pose that I've seen at every single World Championship since I've been watching the results. I rarely see that position posed in a victory picture even among the highest-level competitive dressage riders who use Rollkur, like Anky. They may train in that controversial over-bent position that I really don't like, but at least they usually try to drop the rein contact the instant as the competition is over... Anyway, that's why I felt so obligated to ask about the Icelandic showing dressage pictures that Judy submitted recently. Sure, that was an individual rider, who appeared to be showing at a very low level. There's no reason for holding the horses so tight like that, whatever the discipline, whatever the country, no matter what the level. I saw several pictures of horses moving out in that overbent pose in WC pictures submitted by others. I don't know how to make that correlation clearly, without risking hurting someone's feelings. But, I think it's important to draw the correlation, so we can draw attention to the practice at every single level. I certainly don't mean to pick on an amateur rider, but I see a trend that needs to be noted and stopped. Granted, the British team looks better than most of the pack - thanks very much - but as you commented yourself, Mic, they didn't score well at all. Karen Thomas, NC
