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On February 9, 2010, there will be a Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) closed-door meeting to discuss the practice of hyperflexion, also known as "rollkur."

This highly controversial technique is often employed at the upper levels of dressage training and involves hyperflexing the horse's neck until his chin is almost touching his chest; often the horse is forced to maintain this position for extended periods of time.

Pat and Linda Parelli stand with dressage master Walter Zettl in support of those who denounce rollkur.

Rollkur represents artificiality taken to the extreme and performance put before the good of the horse. Convincing FEI officials to take a stand against rollkur will be a major step forward in ensuring that performance horses worldwide are being ridden and trained without force and mechanics.

Rollkur has a few passionate opponents who will be present at the FEI meeting next week, but they need our support to make an impression on the FEI officials.

If you believe in the Parelli vision to make the world a better place for horses and humans, please add your name to one or both of the following petitions.

Please share these links with your horse-loving friends, family and neighbors. Let's show the FEI that compromising the natural dignity of the horse for the sake of competition is NOT permissible!

http://www.no-rollkur.com The signatories to this petition ask the FEI to oppose the training method of "Rollkur"/Hyperflexion clearly and resolutely. The FEI rules are to be adapted correspondingly to ensure that in future the use of the method of the "Rollkur"/Hyperflexion will be regarded as a violation of these rules.

http://www.wu-wei-verlag.com/neu/ua.php?Aktion=ChangeLang&LANG=en&DIR=gl... Register your support to ban rollkur by adding your name to a petition which will be presented by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann - veterinarian, clinician and author of the book Tug of War; Classical versus Modern Dressage - at the FEI meeting on February 9, 2010.

Keep it Natural!