Anyone who understands modern training practices knows that this type of training goes on - EVERYWHERE. It's not just Charlotte Dujardin, it's many 'top' trainers (and 'lesser' popular trainers who emulate), it’s in many disciplines and its global. No one should be surprised. I witnessed these techniques 25 years ago, if you spend time in this industry, it’s not hiding, it’s in plain sight. It's why I’ve spent my life dedicated to finding kinder ways to train.

Of course, the video is disgusting and should never, ever have happened - Poor horse, poor horses, but it's the thin slice of a very large wedge.

Anyone that holds modern training practices in high esteem is blinkered to the abuse that is happening in front of their eyes. Anyone who follows classical training methods that still advocate gadgets and overflexion is blinkered to the abuse happening in front of their eyes.

Just because a large percentage of the horse world does it and is rewarded for it doesn't mean it's correct and it doesn't mean it isn't abusive. Just because someone calls themselves 'classical' doesn't mean they are really benefiting the horses they train.

I've seen many people over the last 24hrs calling these practices out and rightly so, yet they still endorse trainers who train horses behind the vertical, overflexed and call it correct and they still ride and train their own horses in an overflexed manner.

It's a wake up and smell the coffee moment, everyone involved with horses needs to take a long, hard look at whether modern training practices actually benefit horses, analyse how their trainers ask them to train, analyse how their horse moves, is your horse overflexed? Are you relying on gadgets to lunge? Look at your horse’s muscular development. Are you supporting the organisations, competitions and publications that promote this type of training?

Be an advocate for the horse long term, not part of the blinkered problem. We can do better. You are your horse’s voice.

By Kat Layfield thinkingequitation@gmail.com