Andreas Helgstrand Exposed For Abusing Horses... Pro Riders Are TRASH
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
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I spent several years in pro top level stables, especially dressage, and it's all this and 100% more every sigle day...
That's really disheartening to hear 😞
Idk cause i used to ride with amy tryon who was an Olympic rider who sadly passed AWay from a non horse accident and she never abused her horses at all i know quite a few top level riders who dont abuse there animals
Well I hope people like you and I suspect there are many more in the Helgstrand debacle too will come forward to the authorities and press. It's heartening to see the Danish courts over ruling any attempt to hush people in name of public interest and animal wlefare. I suspect any non disclosure agreements staff sign would be void for the same reasons in most Western countries at least..
@@tylorcooper3706 I know many amazing horse people who are professionals that take no short cuts and do everything with the horses welfare at the front of everything they do. However working at Spruce meadows when they still had a horse program right at their facility and the things I saw I was so shocked. And when you called them out on it you were blackballed everywhere, I don’t think it’s 90% but it definitely exists and it shouldn’t, FEI really is a joke. What happened to the days where riding behind the bit even a little was a cardinal sin and it was preferred to ride above for the horses comfort if they weren’t able to ride on the vertical. I will never understand this cruelty and outright lazy gimmicks to fast pace something that was never meant to be done cruelly or quickly 😢
I’m not that experienced but when I worked at a boarding barn with a lot of show horses it was pretty awful. Being around horses who are kept stalled all the time is depressing
"pro riders are trash" oh the irony. It's so sad that we live in a world where riders considered professionals disregard their horses' wellbeing completely. And for what? A silly little ribbon or trophy.
All the competitions are just about human ego. Horses would never choose that.
It’s for money that’s what ribbons represent always ego & money
It's for money- they prob get 100's of thousands of dollars for the horses they "train" mass production
It's not just a simple band, there's a whole industry behind it. Starting with the breeders, who put questionable "products" on the market, to the judges, who of course want to be invited again and again and judge according to the wishes of the organizers, who of course earn their money with the crowd favorites through the tickets, to the sponsors, who also earn their money with the most popular riders.
And an FEI that bows to this system.
@@lightraRiding horses generally is just about human egos.
Horses are not build to carry weight on their backs. You don't have to ride a horse to keep it fit and healthy, they are actually healthier when they're not getting ridden.
I feel you Raleigh. It's like shouting into a void and nothing changes. It's so frustrating to know and not be able to do anything because the higher authorities are censoring and playing dumb.
People who aren’t horse people think horses just know and behave. Even my bf has no clue how much work, especially the slow, kind way, goes into it. I rescued and retired a horse and he’s been retired for years now. People say wow he’s beautiful why don’t you ride him? Just get on and go. Um, that’s not how it works, his old mysterious injury notwithstanding
@@nikkireigns Bless you for your kind heart. This makes a world of difference for this horse.
It’s almost as if complaining in the YT comment section & on Twitter doesn’t help. Who would’ve thought 🥴 Perhaps if everyone in this comment section, who’s saying how much they love horses & wish they could change the way they’re treated actually put in some real world work, things would improve….but virtue signaling online is just so much easier.
I'm so happy about his bullshit finally being out there for people too see! 👏👏👏 Bought my boy from him after working there as a rider for two LOONG months. We were literally _forced_ to ride like shit if we wanted to keep our jobs, reputation and get paid at all, and I couldn't handle it. I tried to refuse in the beginning, but to no awail. My whole time there was spent in tears. I finally left and took my dream boy with me (for 300k 🙄) Spent all my savings because ain't no way I could've left him there. He will NEVER have to carry another rider like that in his life!
You are human worth high respect. That's heartbreaking 💔.
Your horse are definitely loving you like the whole world now after all he went through. Thanks for doing it, really❤
Your entire life savings, wow. I know this should be the bare minimum but I idolize you for that.
You could afford to spend your entire savings on a horse but not walk away when you were forced to ride incorrectly?
@@KathyS19 Nono, she spent her life savings to get the horse out of there. Emotional abuse is a real thing in the horse world, speaking from experience and sometimes it’s not easy and that doesn’t mean it’s okay but sometimes we can’t go back in time. This person, however, knew it was wrong and spent the savings they had for retirement or something on fixing the mistake they made.
I would say that is retribution enough.
And there it is! Didn’t know that was happening my @$$
So glad you're doing a video on this. The cruelty is just beyond... reminds me of the Big Lick folks
Big Lick is evil ..
Oh buck lick and saddle seat shoes get under my skin. Like a burr under a saddle
Quite comparable I believe.
I ride intro dressage. I have a disability and at my age couldn't go higher, but I wouldn't want to. Tho most people at our schooling shows appear to be very good and thoughtful about their mounts, there is one couple that you only have to watch them for a little while to see that their ego is much more important than their absolutely beautiful horse, who misbehaves as his only want to fight back. I love to see that horse when they come, but I don't like to see how he's treated!
Anything Pro equals money. Money equals abuse. So nothing will ever be done too stop this, because there's so much money in it. Sad but true. Let's all pray that this changes.
The most true comment. If you are rich, you can pay your way out of it all. If you are rich you can get to the top. If you are rich, you can keep abusing to gain more money. A book which describes this perfectly is Finding Wonder by that author who did One Dollar Horse.
They just see horses as a means to an end- money and status.
thank you for speaking about this! we equestrians from Denmark has long awaited these clips and documentary. We all know, that all pro riders ride like this. (fun fact, the head of the Danish Equestrian Federation is Andreas Helgsrtrands father). We can only hope that this changes the equestrian sports expectations of horses, and makes stricter rules for the horses welfare, so that it's all about the horses living their best life.
I am Also from Denmark and feel like it’s SO UNACCEPTABLE💔
I agree but not all pro riders ride like that
Some don't no, but it's a systemic issue. It's rewarded and the norm unfortunately. @@eventingthedude
While I was working - briefly - at a equestrian centre I accompanied two other workers to a schooling show and when we arrived the owner's son rode up to the horse van with a bridle on his horse composed of chains. Yes really--CHAINS. And this guy did manage to make it to the national equestrian team, although he did not last long. On another occasion, I discovered HUNDREDS of empty syringes ditched behind a hedge on the farm where the show was being held. And this was only a two-bit schooling show! So imagine what happens when the competition gets steeper along with the monetary rewards.
My vet said that there’s barely any horse that competes these days that doesn’t have joint injections, he said he knows owners that “treats their horses every 3 months” like how come that that isn’t illegal, if the joint can’t handle it anymore maybe don’t compete
@@veronikarybarova2486 Very true! I've seen some vet posts on social media calling this out as well. It's like humans who take steroids to be a better athlete, so they think ' adjusting' the horses just right makes them better athletes as well. It's sickening to see that there are so many people using joint injections for it etcc :(
@@veronikarybarova2486 I know barns that are "closed" one da of the week for the horses down time. . . . .I actually mean for the vet to come and give injections to horses that have not just joint problems, but bone problems to the point that they are actually grinding up a little bit of bone by continuing to jump them. If you saw the photos from competition and the horses jump you would pay what other people do and get a horse home that normally needs to be euthanized. . . . . . .but people saw him jumping in competition just a few months ago and he looked phenomenal!
So many are given injections and anything they can that won't be tested for and lots have learned to do certain injections themselves and will hire illegals to go back to Mexico to obtain certain medications and bring them back and they employ these people at the farm as well. Can't tell or you get deported.
2:42 They removed Rolkur from there rulebook but they also changed some of the bit rules for Pro showjumping so yeah..now technically it is legal to JUMP in a double bridle and top FEI shows. The FEI is such a joke not to mention they filmed an add and put it on the IG page about humans pissing in horse stables. SO like FEI is more concerned about human piss in there show stables than actual horse harm.
Hi Raleigh, I’m danish and known people who worked at Andrea’s stables and I worked with his horses at stallion approval stuff. Sadly in the danish riding community this has been a very open secret and happens at most stables, especially the biggest ones. I worked as a professional rider in Denmark, Germany and UK, and it goes on everywhere. Although I wanna say that there are few good places, like one I’m riding at now, sad that it is so rare. As a professional rider and huge fan of yours, kinda though when u slam all pros… I stand for welfare, horsemanship and a happy horse but still compete and all that, I feel like that is possible.
Sounds like you’re trying to normalize the abusive methods in training. Basically “everyone does it and it’s sad but don’t bash pro riders”
@@user-gs6zm5qk9y I think you missed the point...not ALL pro-riders are abusive.
I actually used to follow Helgstrand, and this is terrible. This is actually what was needed. I hope these undercover videos continue. Dressage is getting worse and worse. Absolutely inexcusable treatment of the horses.
one rider does not represent the entire stable, from personal experience.
@@blackequine.official From personal experience with the Helgstrand stable..? Actually it's his abusive philosophy that runs this whole stable.
@@blackequine.official Every rider at the stable was abusive
@@coldwhitespring5004 no personal experiences at many top stables. he cannot control how everyone rides that’s not how it works especially 10,000 rides. i’ve seen manny of Helgstrand’s horses dressage, most of them absolutely no sign of rollkur, and i have my research and done a mini documentary on totilas
@@bdudhjdk4769 where is the proof? i only see one
It's disgusting what money and ego will cause so many people to do.
Exactly. Money and ego
This.
YEEEES! Ive been waiting for this one. Thank you for doing a video on this.
Saw the episodes, and they were just as bad as expected, its been known for years but finally exposed so everyone can see What a horrible person he is! (and he’s staff!)
Thank you for speaking up about this. I'm so embarrassed that Andreas Helgstrand has represented our country (Dane here) for so many years. His father was in the committee of DRF (the Danish riding association) and always defended him. Finally now, after the documentary came out, his father quit DRF and Andreas was banned from all events. I've never looked up to him just from looking at his riding on public shows. But sadly, these behind the scenes are way worse than I even suspected.
Also a huge shout out to Rebekka Klubien, the Danish journalist, who went undercover and worked for Helgstrand Dressage as a groom, while carrying a hidden camera on her jacket the whole time. Without her, these scenes would've never been exposed to the public eye.
At this point they should just do big lick shows at the FEI then atleast people can really see how bad it is
The love and compassion for horses are forgotten about when people become professional riders. It's all about ribbons and money. There was a dressage rider that use to previously board at my barn and she had 2 horses that she abused. Oh, but she bought expensive treats to give after she would beat the crap out of them. One time I came so close to taking her horse away and telling her enough is enough. She was a professional but used a mule bit 🤦♀️💔
Thank you for everything you do! You are very loved by the equestrian community ❤
It’s so frustrating seeing that the FEI is still allowing this.The equestrian world need to stop this.
FEI*
Oops@@johanwondergem868
I am a big fan of Free Spirit Equestrian and she is very similar to you in that she also doesn't show any more for similar reasons. She has expressed that the abuse and refusal to change is why she doesn't participate in events. She recently launched a bitless brand of halters and stated that it's a shame they won't allow it at events.
Yesssss^^^^ expect I found Free Spirit Equestrian because of the let’s judge trainers video 😂😁
you can't use a bitless bridle but theirs no restrictions on what bits you can and can't use
@@erikacoutureActually there is. In FEI dressage a snaffle bridle is accepted up to the grand prix level. Past that a double bridle is required. But the higher you go sadly the less favor you will get from judges if you are in a snaffle. It's so messed up. I am not entirely sure but I believe some lower competitions can require double bridles too.
Yes!! I love her and her husband 💕
@@erikacouture You would expect this to be counter intuitive. The more response you get from a horse with the less pressure and equipment used to be a a good thing (really it still is) and in my days of judging other events we didn't want to see the hands move, legs kick, etc. and it should be the most subtle signals to communicate with your horse and if you can go bitless and ride around in a halter or with a neck rope and have full control then awesome, but it seems to be so frowned upon and like you are unable to get results with certain equipment. If you are unable to obtain these results w/o the use of harsh equipment I question if these are natural positions or forced positions by the equipment.
As a farrier this pisses me off and makes me not want to work for high level riders, because if they traumatize their horses that also makes my job so much more dangerous it's not even funny. In addition to being fucking horrible of course
Pro riders could not care less for the horses they ride to their own success. Danes have a thing for brushing problems under a carpet, and “moving on from it, while pretending to be very sorry, while actually doing nothing about it” they do that better than they ride horses!
He should be banned forever. But don’t forget, somebody is buying these horses for horrific prices hoping to make a lot of money with them. The whole system is rotten! 😡
Wonderful video! I do want to just say something….when I started riding, in 1997, I was a therapeutic rider. The horses where I rode were always treated like gold. Owned and operated by an amazing German woman who would also board Show horses. That’s where (and I’m grateful to have had my start there) I learned the proper treatment of horses! Caring, how to be gentle when riding, how to not hurt the horse. I have moved to lesson barns over the years and steered clear of places that were abusive. I did know of some back yard places that were horrible and a few lesson barns that think it’s ok to rough up their horses. I was appalled by what I saw. They think it’s NORMAL! It’s sad.
Good on you for holding your morals and not selling yourself, very sad and disgusting to hear about all the abuse going on in pro riding. But sadly not surprising, lot of them are rich, entitled narcissists and it's more about the money rather than love for horses.
She is sending her fans to Amelia Newcomb, recommending people pay for her content, yet Amelia's horses are also behind the vertical. Raleigh says 'watch out for who you watch on youtube', yet sends people to support Amelia's modern dressage practices.
@@KathyS19I haven’t seen any of her videos where her horses are behind the vertical or being hyper flexed. I’m open to investigating, as I said in the video I made about her, I haven’t seen all of her videos.
@@RaleighLink Look at the featured video on her UA-cam, 'how to sit the canter'. Less than 1:30 in, horse is behind the vertical canter depart, broken at the third vertebrae, with the top muscle of the poll bulging in flexion. Another video from two weeks ago, 'top three canter exercises for eventers'; one minute in, the horse is BTV trotting and continues to do so. It took me less than five minutes to find relevant pieces of content to my point. I recommend you look up Dr. Gerd Heuschmann's books where he takes real photos and does anatomy drawings of how the improper training affects the horse's body.
@@RaleighLink I also recommend Phillippe Karl's information. He is a truly talented amazing traditional dressage rider who admits his prior mistakes of teaching. His horses have a truly open self carriage.
Almost every top horse riders eho compete is a horse abuser.
But in dressage it's more true. In our stable there is a guy, who thinks that he is the best dressage rider (but he never competed so wtf) and he teaches kids without any paper in his hands. He teaches rollkur, pulling on the reins as hard as they can, ride in snaffle bits, kicking the horses in spurs, and make really small turns in canter...
abusing animals is disgusting, from what im aware my horse has been mistreat in the past its taken me over 2 years to get him to a point where he actually has a personality. We have had to change bit, bridle, custom saddle and take him back to basics due to all the mistreatment
you abuse your horse by riding your horse. the horse should be wild
@@xxjulia0xx341 I can tell you now me riding my horse is not abuse. If I was to shove my horse back into the wild he wouldn't have the skills and would simply die, rather from starvation or predators. The only way my horse knows how to get food is by standing at the door and playing with velcro
It so sad how you are leaving we are gonna miss you 😭
What, why is she leaving?
I was an international level showjumping showgroom. I spend my days trying to keep the horses' sides and mouth from constantly bleeding, but what could i do when the rider used harsh bits badly and digged the spurs into the horses sides... Or the rider punishing the horse in the stall after bad round in the ring. Like they knew it doesnt help and I couldnt say anything... Then in the evening I had to stay late to the evening with the horses, giving them extra pets and such because I wanted them to know not all people are shit...
Such a betrayal of the true spirit of Dressage. Using pain and cruelty to force behavior instead of having a true bond and balance. Because they're rich and surrounded by other incompetent riders who can't do Dressage without cruelty, it just keeps happening.
good for you, standing up for whats right, not being intimidated by these people, forcing an animal to do what they want by inflicting pain and suffering is not acceptable in this century.
I’m sick to my stomach, and not surprised. I’m so fed up with the FEI. I still haven’t recovered from Ludger being let off the hook. His “We had spiked poles but didn’t use them” is as narcissistic and pathetic as Helgstrand’s “I knew nothing”.
I do think it’s important to distinguish between this kind of abuse and normal competition practices, however. I used to work for a pro eventer and - unless you count the sport itself as abusive, which I know many do - there was no abuse. Very well loved and cared for horses with quality of life at the forefront. No rollkur whatsoever, full-stop. Staff weren’t allowed to handle a whip until they understood it was solely to be used as an aid. Turnout every day, physio every week, walked in hand rather than on a walker.
I agree with the sentiment of this video, but there’s a distinction between horse loving pros, and this kind of pro.
I’m really happy you are doing this video
350 horses a day!! Thats too many. With that many, corners are going ro be cut, things are going to be missed, abuse is going to take place. I worked for a rider that had 2 other students including myself that rode 25 horses a day total. The students rode 2-3 and the main trainer rode the rest. It gives you the time to take your time. Not feel rushed and be in a better state of mind while riding. Plus the main trainer could instruct use when we encounters issues and again had time to stop and help us. 350 horses a day is literally a horse mill. Spot on Riley that's way too much that's 35 horses being riden at the same time if you have a 10 hr work day. That arena is not big enough for 35 horses an hr... wow
Another fantastic video Raleigh, calling out animal cruelty and abuse, horses can hold their heads beautifully without being tortured and forced to do it, FEI needs a really good shake up and put a stop to any cruelty and abuse in the sport, tfs x Julie 🇬🇧
My first introduction to a "pro" rider was back in the 1970s. This guy came to try out a horse that was for sale at the stable where I rode. He had his spurs on upside down. Enough said.
And Matt Harnacke made a video with Patrik Kittel... known rider that favors rollkur..
As I get older, I believe more and more than anything involving animals plus competitions, money, prestige etc, just ends in cruelty. The competition, money or prestige always comes to take precedence over the welfare of the animals. These days, I'm so happy with my horses just chilling in the fields, and the occasional trail ride.
You are so right…I experienced abuse both of myself and my animals by judges and other competitors for a cheap ribbon…NO more…👍🏽
Too true. It's all about the winning and the money to be made.
Even if he “doesn’t know what’s going on” witch he does, but like Raleigh said let’s pretend to be stupid! You need to know what’s going on at your facilities!
Thank you for unapologetically bringing these abuses to light. People don't have any idea what goes on behind the barn doors. And not just the average everyday trainers, but at the pro levels. Shame on FEI. You can't just "horse whisper" them into behaving, but you can't just constantly spur them into it either. The dressage trainers I knew rarely if ever used spurs, and definitely not to the degree. Those pictures were sickening.
If you're going to make a video on Helgstrand, i hope you're also going to address modern dressage practices and your support of Amelia Newcomb too, who's horses are also behind the vertical.
Yeah I don't understand her there. Amelia Newcomb is also a pro rider in every aspect that Raleigh mentioned... I don't get why she supports her.
Link?
@@superlativesultan6165exactly when I watched it I was like what she supports this idk why it the same as what she's talking about
@@tinamast6226 yup beats me ...
Raleigh states in her video about Amelia "this is a well trained dressage horse", which I think shows even she is still blinded to what modern dressage has shown us. It's easy to criticise a specific rider and say "i told you so" when an entire documentary comes out. Reality is the majority of riders in dressage are continuing harmful practices of riding horses too shortened in the neck with tense backs and overcompensating leg movements (just because they dont make the horses head touch its chest doesnt mean its not harmful), many of which may not realize how harmful it is because high level riders do it and it is rewarded at shows. I'd rather see a montage of the widespread normalized harmful practices and what to avoid in a trainer than a video on one specific person. We didn't need to see into his barn to know the training was incorrect.
I’ve worked with pro riders before and not every one of them is like that. It’s just those trash guys that completely ruin the image of our industry. There are those that love horses as well, man. We care for them, paddock them almost 24/7 and understand their limits, not pushing over what they can do. I hope that someday there will be less psychos and more people that actually love their animal partners and know what they are doing
I agree. Let's not generalize professional riders, especially those that publicly and honestly put the horse first. It's just a matter of glorifying those that do put the horse first rather than these "frauds."
I worked for some of the very best professionals (top FEI riders) and they were some of the most compassionate horse people I’ve ever been around. They would do anything for the wellbeing of their horses. I absolutely loved working with them. There are definitely some bad professionals who fit the stereotype Raleigh mentioned but there are good ones out there too. Just like there are some terrible novice riders/unprofessionals out there but not all of them are bad.
As long as you compete in high level dressage you are forced to ride with double bridles and spurs which cause unecessary discomfort for the horse. Being a high level competing dressage rider automatically come with questionable ethitcs
the problem is - as always- The money. A lot of rich daddys girls that cant ride that well want a 6 figure horse that works in high dressage classes. And what you see there is the "training" required to acomplish this quick for not so capable riders.
Getting to this level the right way, without abuse, takes years on horse training, and decades on riders education.
How disgusting!!! I was even more surprised when it is a Danish person who was doing this! I hope he suffers some serious consequences for his actions. But having a Danish husband and from what I know of the Danish government...he just got a slap on the wrist. I hope we the people though can stop supporting these people and demand more of these agencies.
I also love how he claims the "experts" said it was "poor riding". No, its abuse. Plain and simple. Call it what it is. But they use those types of words and phrases to trick our brains into thinking its not as bad as they say it is.
The same crap is going on in many other animal competitions. Numerous awful people mistreating animals (except maybe their top winners) rigged judging, cheating, smearing, targeting others animals, abuse by certain judges…up to threats of physical assault and stalking…all for a $1 ribbon and a vaulting ego.. Much respect to you for your stand 👏🏾
I honestly feel kind of naïve for not realizing how ingrained and common abuse is in animal competitions until now. I feel like I didn't really make that connection between money/awards and doing "whatever it takes" to obtain them.
I saw this first hand at a pro riding stables in the UK. 💯 of what Raleigh is saying is true.
This behavior always comes from top down. If he made it clear this was not tolerated or you lose your job,it would be less likely to happen. It’s a cut throat world and people would narc on each other to gain advantage.
FEI knows but turns a blind eye to it. Where money is evolved, so will there be abuse too.
Are you coming back or is that it😢
What about this esme? She’s around pro riders
I never knew this was a thing and I was horrified thought humanity was farther along the this
There are so mutch money involved in the equestrian professionall worlď. They are not genuinly horselovers or talented in any way. They simply have mutch money and bye horses that is heavily breeded. Its politic!
I miss you Raleigh you made me learn so much about abuse,I understand why you quit uhm…I just miss you you helped me relise so much but I have ppl that can continue watching like free spirit equestrian,but…uhm…yea I’ll always miss you but I just wanted to say happy new year 😅😊
I live in Denmark and have been doing dressage my entire life and of course has been a huge fan of Helgstrand cause he was a GOD in this community, but in the recent few years since i started researching a lot about horse health etc. I've started noticing how horrible of a rider Andreas is
And nobody got what I was saying
So when this show came out it was such a huge deal, EVERYONE is talking about it now, and I hate that I'm not surprised
It's so horrible reality that this is so normal and I'm not even surprised anymore about what is going on behind the scenes
Stuff like this is just downright crazy I don't know how anyone would have the heart to hurt such an amazing beautiful creature that we have on Earth I have always looked at horses this way they are amazing beautiful intelligent beings that deserve so much better unfortunately I live right behind a rodeo and when people whip their horses the crack is so loud you can hear it across the stadium on the home run it's just downright sad and people are always pulling off their horses face and have no respect for the animal they are on 😢 i would never do that to mine !
I have been so disappointed about losing you as my favorite equestrian UA-camr who shouts animal abuse from the rooftops and brings this stuff to the attention of people who have no idea thus stuff happens at all levels of equestrian riding.
What are we going to do without you Raleigh? Please let this be a response from the universe coming just in time for you to decide not to leave and to continue to show the world everything bad that people do to animals, and get away with it until you put them on serious blast.
We love you Raleigh! Argue that there are other channels that we can turn to, but we want you. PLEASE don't leave!!!!!
It’s gonna be so sad to see you go because we need more people like you in the world who can say it how it is . Everything you say is so true and when I get the money I’m definitely gonna do what I can to lessen horse abuse . I mean look at what happened with the actors from that 70 show , they also tried to help there friend who raped women just because they were friends it happens in every part of the world it’s so sad . Definitely gonna be preaching about it in my new music.
He sued the channel to stop the documentary, lost, appealed and lost again. Days later the documentary was released. In the court case it was revealed what was filmed in great detail and it was releaved that Andreas was offered to see the finish cut but he wanted to see all the footage to approve of the documentary. He knew months ahead of the release what was filmed, since june. The descriptions of the footage was very detailed. He claimed in court that he had nothing to hide but that the filming was an invasion of privacy. He also explained that some of the horses were very wild and they had to teach them boundries. He knew.
Bob Cherry, a leader in the Walking Horse sore horse industry (dead now), once said If horses could scream, we'd never get away with this. ALL PROFESSIONAL ARENA COMPETITIONS ARE STEEPED IN ABUSE. ALL of it. Western Pleasure, jumping, hunter/jumper, gaited horses (I've seen this first hand, even in flat shod horses), saddleseat, Dressage, reining, barrels, it doesn't matter what discipline. The "trainers" WILL abuse horses to make money. They literally do not care. Trainers who don't abuse don't win, and those trainers struggle so much. I wish we could outlaw all professional arena competitions, but there's no way it would ever happen. Just don't support it, folks. Don't go to these shows, don't give them money, just stay away. I hear people complain that folks don't go to horse shows in droves anymore. I say that's a good thing--the public no longer funds their abuse.
I’m a former groom at Helgstrand. Just quit the job. No I don’t stand by anything that has happend. Yes they defenitely did change this behaviour in a couple of months. They are very strict at everything. Every little wound on every horse must be reported and the horse gets days off until it’s healed. But no one sees this or knows this because they only try to point fingers to everyone and denying that they ever make mistakes themselves.
You failed to notice because you didn't play the whole interview that he lied in that interview contradicting himself as to when he first knew about the abuse. Yes there were subtitles. He claimed he only discovered a few days ago then claims he has been working on the problem for ten months, all of it crap of course, but it just shows the utter inconsistencies in his defence.
As a Dane I'm happy you did this reaction video. I was wondering when it would show up and I know I'm 10 days late. But Andreas Helgstrand being an abuser is no news to people in the Danish horse world. Me, a lowly hobby rider who never compete, because I don't see the point of competitions, knows about the abuse that goes on in the high end horse world in Denmark. I'm glad Operation X called out Helgstrand Dressage but it's sadly nothing new. And it's no surprise that Andreas threw all his workers under the bus in the News Interview, acting completely oblivious to how his workers treated the horses in his stables. Of course he knew because he told them how as he's done it himself. I'm just glad he's been kicked off the Danish International dressage team for this and his father, who was the leader of the Danish Riding association had to step down because of his son's horrible actions. Granted The Riding Association has distanced themselves from Andreas, and while it's too late for all the horses they abused, I'm glad steps are being taken to say no to these horrible acts of cruelty against these innocent animals.
Yes you're absolutely right. It's funny how people believe them and don't even think twice about who they're supporting
Any pro rider trying to sue wouldn't make it past discovery. It would be a disaster for them.
For me the biggest flag in the horse world was the famous stallion Tortillas. This horse was pushed by its trainers to its limits and it broke. even the breeder complained that the horse was useless after developing an injury which made him unrideable. and still people applaud edward ggal even though he is such a hard rider.
Loved this video! By the way if you Google his name your video pops up first, I hope it stays that way.☺️
Back in my day dressage was all about horse and rider working together as a team with no resistance, not being behind the vertical which u were severely marked down for as it showed us horse wasn't coming thru from behind looking for the contact on the bit and even swishing of the tail was penalised as it was recognised as resistance and showing ur horse wasn't in sync with u or ur aids were to rough creating an unhappy horse. My private riding instructor would've ripped me off by the hair if any of that was done. She never allowed all those quick fixes to get a horse on the bit to be used and u had to work ur backside off to achieve what u finally did and it took time as well. But today's methods r so barbaric because it's a production line to make money off and people wanting to make a name for themselves and stables to get that happening! It's so disappointing to see FEI horse's going around with their mouths basically touching their chest and tails swishing due to resistance yet they end up with a fantastic score on the board and the small percentage that r doing it correctly don't place anywhere near those using abusive methods! Yet everyone claims to be against animal abuse so why not practice what u preach and that includes divisions of competitive world class competitions and the people behind it all making these rules not just the riders. I hope many more r exposed but I'd like to see them banned for life or made to the correct way and taught how to achieve naturally what they're using abuse to do....But I think they'd give up riding although as it would be to hard for them to manage 🤔. But this abuse sickens me to the core 😢. Thanks for exposing it sweetie and keep doing what u do 👍🏼 xo
Im danish. And THESE RIDERS HAVE TO REVEAL THEMSELF!
Make me wonder if we can just make a different organization that encourages the right things and allows bitless riding in tests....
I feel like the competing horse society is like a halter with lots of fluff on (look how cuddly we treat our horses), but then they use a lead rope with a chain on that they put right over the horse's nose to keep the "control" over the horse. So in other words - that fluff on the halter - is just for show. The reality is metal against a horse's nose.
Is this the end..
It's like the more we scream n shout n fix one thing, 10 other things pop up. We are taking 1 step forward and 3 steps back...n it's so so sad....
That’s kind of what happens with arrogant people who say their fans and horse community suck. yeah no abuse actually gets resolved…
Raleigh can you please check out A2 Rotha? Their entire channel is them abusing horses in many ways and maybe it will spread some awareness. I don't know how they have 5k subs but maybe they will realise if they are not bots. 😢❤
I'm trying to find stuff on Helgestrand's clinics to see if I can spot the red flags. He's never talking about horses in an affectionate way. It's as if he doesn't even like them, which would make sense.
There was an "open barn" video he made with plenty of BTV and bad riding to see
@@superlativesultan6165 Oh dear...
At least they booted him from the team. It took this horrible video to have this happen
They booted him becase of the backlash and cause they felt like they had to. They've been aware for years.
Please get his name right so their is no confusion. this scums name is Andreas not Andre
Call them out, crap on their rainbows and shiny stars, the horses don't deserve that at all. So true, to think they call themselves pros, maybe pro-animal abusers, sure I'll go with that instead it's more fitting on their behalf.
I totally agree with all these points you made in the video. I've never not seen a pro rider use rollkur or heavy spurring.
I have been out of the pro riding and training world for many years I can tell you that the abuse happened in the 70s and the 80s and my mother if she were still alive would tell you the same from the 50s and 60s.
Tonight is the first time I’ve ever seen this girl. I first watched her skydiving video and then this one.
At first, hearing her say pretty much ALL pro riders abuse their horses, she refuses to associate with any of them, etc…turned me off from subbing to her channel. Mostly because I find it to be so unbelievable that many people would abuse horses and/or turn a blind eye to fellow riders who abuse their horses.
Then, I continued to listen to her and figured she obviously knows something I do not about this topic. I also greatly admire her for speaking out like this. I can tell she says what she thinks and thinks way she says and that’s just how it is. She doesn’t seem to care what anyone else thinks. That’s admirable in a person.
Almost all horses are abused.
ok but
can u do a video on A2 Rotha pls they are big abusers
UGH I hate them so much!
ik @@Hoppin_n_Stoppin
I worked in a couple pro riding barns, abuse was rampant. Esp Saddlebred barns and hunter/jumper barns. I usually ended up quitting. One Saddlebred barn I worked at one summer while in college was horrific. Back then there was little one could do about such things and I was a nobody. I still have flashback of some of the awful things I saw, a form of PTSD I guess. I worked at two seperate Saddlebred farms in two different states and both were horrible, almost as bad as Big Lick Walkers. Both places i quit after working there for less than 2 months. Never again.
Hello❤ Denmark girl here💝 So let me say something that i hope youll see link❤ So ive seen the program from the day it came out in my tv. In the second episode i cried. There was to much abuse going on every secon. If he cant control 350 horses at once. Then dont have 350 horses. I think that you have every right to say what ever you want abt him. If you didnt tell in the video his dad was in the care of horses in denmark or smth and he denied every single hate that came toward his son. Time changes and a new one become the leader. This man shouldt even be sitting on a horse. As i said ive seen the whole tv program and in secon episode i think it was, she girl that was under cover was talking to one of the rider. The rider said "Yeah, But we only have 30 min on each horse. There is also a lot of things that we need to get done and thats why we get told that we could use theese yhings." And then she left just so she could go and ride another horse. But lets take a min to think of how bady all of the grooms is getting treated and actually also the riders. They have NO weekends. They work from early in the morning to late at night without nearly getting payd for it. Okay. Now when that part is done lets think of how his horse 2 TIMES have bleeded out of its mouth. "It just bit itself in the tongue"-Andreas. Bullshit. That horse is not well trained and in fact prob more abused then all of the other horses at that barn. And come on. We all now the abuse isnt going to stop just bcs of an interviev. As an well trained equestrian i dont see the must to f*cking have 350 horses if i should say it short. And the way theese horses is treated is bad. Like not bad bad just BAD. I think that every single horse in that barn could have had a perfect amazing life without all the abuse. Many of theese horses have bad teeth and marks all over their mouth and body.
I REALLY hope you see this massage Raleigh❤
Hey Raleigh! I love your videos and I am such a big fan of you! I agree with you on EVERYTHING! I and doing horse riding for about three years now, and this weekend I brought this horse in a race for the first time! He was very very good! I wanted to ask you if you could judge my video and tell me what I am doing wrong please? Thank you Raleigh!
Hate show Barnes!! Pro riders. ….
Oh yeah and Raleigh I'd love to see what you think of Daisy reins/grass reins , martingales and stuff like that?
Hi - I love what you do. I think it is so important to protect horses and expose cruelty. Please have a look at "Tara" and her training of Bella.... would really like for you to do something on her. People have commented, but she ignores constructive criticism in my opinion. You need to look at a few of the sessions.
Y’ALL, I JUST REALIZED THIS IS HER LAST VIDEO. She’s been saying that she’s going to quit UA-cam at the end of the year, and we’re well into 2024 now. It’s safe to say this is her last video for a while. I think we expected a goodbye but in retrospect this makes sense as a goodbye
The competition world in general makes me sick. We demand a lot from the horses and how much we give back to them? not much. Not saying that everyone that competes abuses their horses or don't care about them. The thing is that the competition world promotes quick fixes and whatever makes that horse go over the jump. No matter how they do it. I am tired of seeing horses hollow, tense, getting pulled from their mouths to turn or stop and then kicked to go forward. What matters is the ribbon at the end. Same with big yards that produce horses in any way. What he said on the video about riding so many horses basically means that they take short cuts cause they don't have the time to train every horse individually and at the pace they need, so they do whatever they need to do to get them to do what they want. It's just sickening. I see it all the time as well.
Are you going to post again ❤❤❤
God, I'm going to miss you! You're the only equestrian that i watch, and one of the only ones that I've seen who are willing to call a lot of crap like this out.
i’m so GLAD. so GLAD. that i am a beginner 😨 people who abuse their horses or animals in anyway is just outrageous!!😢
Love the video, you always give your opinion in the best way. I will love to see a video in which you react to the videos of Horseracingkills to hear a honest specialist opinion 😊 and poor horses 😢
I was recently at a national dressage show and was very disappointed at how poorly some of the upper level riders were riding. Most of the riders using double bridles had no clue about how to use it correctly and the judges don’t say anything.
DON'T EVER STOP EXPOSING THE TRUTH! The horses cannot speak. They're the "silent sufferers." People who intentionally abuse animals (no matter what the reason!) are among the lowest lifeforms on our Planet. Oh, if horse people could model the character of great men like Col. Alois Podhajsky and Walter Zettl. I had the great privilege of watching an event at the famous Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California years ago. Walter Zettl was one of the honored presenters and conducted an exhibition involving riders on three different breeds of horses--two big warmbloods, and a real Cowboy aboard a darling Quarter horse mare. In less than 20-minutes, Mr. Zettl had that cowboy and his Quarter horse doing spectacular half-passes, collected and extended trots and other dressage movements. All through communication through a willing Cowboy's legs and soft hands. He truly impressed me and we gave that Cowboy and his sweet Quarter horse mare a standing ovation. It's never necessary or justified to be cruel to an animal. It simply demonstrates how utterly base you are as a human being. Thanks for all you do, Raleigh! Love your colorful language!
I agree with everything you say, but I also have to say that some professional riders actually did speak out. One of them was Patrik Kittel. I have no idea how he treats his own horses, but he did speak out amongst a couple of other people.
Excellent vlog. You always say what others won't and that's why we need you. As with any organisation that is exposed for malpractice/fraud/abuse - whatever it is - all you need to do is follow the money. This is a business and the horses are their commodity and anyone associated with them including the governing bodies are taking a share of their illgotten gains. I would like to see someone make a documentary on the dressage world and put them under the spotlight as has already been done with horse racing. I too am sickened by what I saw in the clips and yet rollkur is still in full sight at international competitions. The FEI is a joke. My heart bleeds for those 350 horses in training. They're just a lump of meat, used and abused and sold on to endure further abuse. And what about the ones that don't make the grade - do they simply disappear? How would we know. I listened to a vet recently at a conference who said that many dressage horses don't get beyond 6 or 7 because they're 'broken' and that owners claim insurance for loss of use. Would be interested to see the stats on that.
You should do something on Ellie McCarthy. She’s a bad dressage rider
No she isnt
@@LadyAntwillSSO yes she is.
Rollkurr, spurs, seesawing.
@@horselover91067 spurs aren’t abusive.
@@LadyAntwillSSO It depends on the spurs. Big rolling ones are but small little nubs aren't.
@@Hoppin_n_Stoppin rolling spurs aren’t abusive. My mum uses them on her horse and she even did a test where she rubbed them on the horses nose and he didn’t react.
I would love to see Tommy Garland, a top Arabian circuit "trainer". I worked for
him for a short while, and quit because I couldn't continue to witness his sadistic abuse
Goodbye, Raleigh! You taught me so so much and ive always loved watching your videos
He was exposed about 15 years ago as well… but nothing was done, unfortunately. Norway is full of people and judges and whatnot mimicking him, using his techniques and such. It is so, so sad.
you go girl, exposing this kind of stuff is much needed! Animals , dogs, horses, being tortured for what? So a bunch of professional riders and show geeks can make money that is what. No care at all for the animals they are just a vehicle to these people's greed to make it to the top and therefore make top dollars. The people who go to these shows should be ashamed of themselves, but hey, they can't feel anything either, so many abused animals these days, it is a super RED FLAG as to the devolution of mankind. When they are done with these beautiful animals, they toss them to the auctions where they get tortured some more and then bought by the GREEDY SOULESS kill buyers and the animals are loaded into semi's for the roadtrip to hell. I watch several rescues and it is just awful to see all kinds of breeds of horses they rescue that are still YOUNG but they are wrecked from making them do unnatural things and their poor bones just get so overworked they are done for by as young as 4 or so. The Big Lick is sick, just like extreme dressage and extreme jumping as well.