Dressage Disaster: Blood Elimination - Nanna Skodberg Merrald & Orthilia At London Olympia Dressage

Nanna Skodberg Merrald & Orthilia were eliminated in the Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle last night.
Watch to the end! Is Nanna using fluff or foam?
Dressage Hub first started talking about fluff in 2017 and the world was in an uproar. Fast forward to 2022 and fluff has now been eliminated from the show ring in dressage. We took a look at Nanna's instagram and found a picture that is suspect. We have added that photo to the end of this video.
Do you think that we will see more eliminations with the new rule change?
From the Horse & Hound:
Danish rider Nanna Skodberg Merrald’s London Horse Show dressage debut ended in heart-wrenching style, when she and the brilliant mare Atterupgaards Orthilia were eliminated from the grand prix freestyle under blood rules.
Nanna and Orthilia, the Gribaldi mare ridden to team silver by Britain’s Fiona Bigwood at the Rio Olympics, produced a fabulous performance, with their trending score sitting around the 80% mark by the latter stages. They had just ridden their final halt when head judge Stephen Clarke stepped out of his judges’ hut at C, to tell Nanna that blood had been spotted around the mare’s mouth, resulting in elimination for the pair.
“She did a really good test. I think maybe it was my best freestyle so far,” Nanna told H&H. “She was really good, but very tense today, and it can happen. I think she bit herself up around the nose band [on the inside of the mouth].
“I was really pleased; it is such a shame,” the 28-year-old rider added. “But that’s how it is sometimes. I didn’t recognize [the blood] at all, but it was definitely there.”
The pair had great success on the first day of London Horse Show dressage competition, finishing third in the short grand prix, behind Charlotte Dujardin and Frederic Wandres.
Nanna, who rides for the prestigious Blue Hors stud in Denmark, piloted 16-year-old Orthilia on the Danish bronze medal winning team at the European Dressage Championships in Hagen, Germany, in September this year. She also rode on the team at the Tokyo Olympics in July, with her other grand prix horse Blue Hors Zack. She and Orthilia have already enjoyed success on the World Cup circuit this winter, with second place at the Lyon CDIW in October.
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[@equineosteopathyalgotherap6857]

Unfortunately this is not the only horse who had the mouth open.

[@JackOllie4]

That poor horse has a heart of gold, to continue performing without protest with all that pain and tension. So sad to take advantage of such a good horse who tries so much.

[@claudia273]

Exactly. They’re taking advantage of them and the FEI/Judges are letting them. I honestly have a hard time believing the ‘big money’ has nothing to do with the scores they received.. Too bad for them today it backfired.

[@sjaelfre]

A miracle it didn't happen until now, she's had a lot of trouble in the contact in all their tests. True to corrupt form not one gatekeeping, interconnected commentator, coach, rider etc within the dressage world has mentioned it, and true to corrupt form not a single judge has marked them down.

[@randomperson748]

We need more eliminations like these, not for a select few, the horse should Always come first, not the competition. Even if it just a lil accident or it isn't that bad, it still hurt them and instead of watching for their signs their rider kept going.

[@sunnybunny7053]

Those first couple seconds you can just see the horse’s jaw being ripped open 😥

[@littlepony8571]

Very unhappy horse mentally abused.

[@littlepony8571]

ISES. Update please to better ways and ethological training

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

@@littlepony8571 even physically abused

[@Julia-mi2ij]

Considering how distressed the mouth looks everytime I see this horse I'm sadly not suprised at all

[@elgea4493]

I so wish that Bite-less bridles were allowed in dressage.

[@Sadimal]

Bitless bridles can be just as harmful as bitted bridles.

[@badlander2000]

To me the horse looked very tense through the neck and jaw, but for most of the test her hands didn't look horrible. I wonder if he already had pain for a mouth injury before they even started.

[@gillianmcgough271]

Why doesn't dressage allow the use of bit less bridles?

[@claudia273]

Allowing a snaffle would be a nice start.. for some horses a double bridle is just too much, Orthilia seems to be one of those horses. I believe multiple riders have spoken out about this. I don’t understand why the FEI has to be stubborn about this. They talk a lot about the well-being of our horses, but they don’t act accordingly..

[@trppro7640]

The horses mouth was open and strained the whole ride. The commentators are undermining it only a little cut they said. The horse was tense. Let’s see more of this. Let’s call a spade a spade. It’s not good riding or classical dressage. Time for the judges to start to penalize this more.

[@philippebeinaerts]

Having been a dressage rider during my teen years, it really pains me to say this, but I really don’t think dressage can ever be a horse-friendly sport

[@TheOldandslow]

It can, look at dressage naturally by Karen Rolfe

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

Who taught you? I rode for 20+ and only those who are rushing to to the top levels are that way. The vast majority of the sport is horse-friendly.

[@betsydoylelevy8861]

It absolutely can be horse friendly when done by putting the horse first. I have friends who ride that makes me cry because of the love and beauty, good communication, empathetic listening rider to the horse. Look elsewhere good people are everywhere XO

[@trppro7640]

That’s not true. Go back in history even 30 years. Today look at the Spanish riding school training, Charles de Kunfy, and from the recent past Dr Reiner klimke. Their horses are relaxed and not forced at all. Your knowledge is of more recent times and I agree about it not being friendly now. Horses are rushed in their training because riders want to compete. Dressage was about gymnastic training and always placed the horse’s comfort first. It has changed now. I can’t watch most of it anymore because of that. If the horses are not relaxed and comfortable you aren’t riding well and sure should not be winning classes.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@trppro7640 I agree but don't use the Spanish Riding school as the good example. The have used Hyperflexion/rollkur for years.

[@cissi2068]

I watched it live in the excel Centre and spotted the blood quite early on but wasn’t sure… luckily the judges noticed in the end. Honestly I think dressage hasn’t developed enough. I don’t understand the relevance of those bits, most of the horses and riders prefer standard bits anyway… I know that the bits aren’t usually the problem but it’s the hands that do the damage. But in a modern world I think dressage really isn’t a very animal friendly sport. If someone would come up to society and present the idea of dressage as a sport, it probably wouldn’t become a thing. It is only still tolerated because it’s „tradition“.

[@littlepony8571]

Cannot watch

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

Strong animal abusing. A shame. Modern Dressage is the new BigLick

[@littlepony8571]

Well put!!!

[@claudia273]

This is what bothers me most about dressage these days. When owners/riders invest in a horse, they HAVE to deliver. No matter how uncomfortable they are. The amount of money they spend and what the horse is worth is just unhealthy. If something just does not work for them, if they prefer another method/or no bit at all, they just get a big F you. There was a British rider where the horse was also clearly very uncomfortable. Why keep pushing them? It won’t get better.. they might become more numb, but that’s not improvement.. That’s abuse, hurting a horse until it doesn’t hurt anymore.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

you use to say it is okay with mouth stress/open mouth.

[@claudia273]

@@vibeskouenborg6842 opening a mouth once or twice in a ride is different than not being able to close the mouth. It’s not that complicated. And I thought you weren’t responding to me.. Only responding when you think you’re right?

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@claudia273 This is ''once or twice''? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3PTp5aMga-LpNE&lc=UgxHrt9gefkRaQ47VLd4AaABAg.9Vp_XC_u8Pz9Vti3wMciV-

[@claudia273]

@@vibeskouenborg6842 yes, I do not judge someone based on one of their worst moments. After the rein back and during one of the half passes he struggled with the contact. But other than that, that’s it.. but sure, focus on the words that are obviously not the point. If that’s your only argument, just don’t, it’s ridiculous. There’s a difference between sometimes opening and not closing at all. Do you understand that difference? Or do I need to explain it once again? (Even though the last time you stopped responding again)

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@claudia273 an open mouth is an open mouth, video or live. You only have to open your eyes to see it. Where have you heard it is okay that the horse open its mouth? If the 2.-3. vertebrae is highest it does not work. Where have you heard that?

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

Her horses always have open mouth 😡. All her programs at the Olympic were with open mouth... But the judges don't bother about that. Why does it have to show blood before elimination?

[@claudia273]

Orthilia used to do exactly the same with Fiona. And not all of her horses do it. Okay, I’ll admit Don did it a bit too I believe, but Zack looked actually quite content with her.. The worst thing imo is the scores she received. I believe it was constantly 75+ scores. That’s actually ridiculous. How can a suffering horse get those scores.. And the ‘worth of a combination’ is completely lost. She rode them for a little while and immediately has to compete at the highest level. Something that I believe is essential for dressage is trust from both sides. How can that be achieved in a couple of months? The ‘Helgstand/Blue hors’ way of dressage is no dressage at all. It’s just some gorgeous but highly pressured horses doing some cool tricks. It’s saddening.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@claudia273 in your term he doesn't...... kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6CbkqKIeJijjLc

[@claudia273]

@@vibeskouenborg6842 I prefer judging a combination on live experience, not on some low quality footage.. But if you think that’s the same, sure.. Be stubborn, don’t listen and learn nothing at all.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@claudia273 I always watch on wide screen, in slow, ask for 1080p HD video quality resolution so everything is very clear. I horse with 2.-3. vertebrae highest cannot carry himself. From here it is already very bad. The base of the neck is forced down and the hind end is lost behind- and hanging back. If you have an other explanation I would like to hear. When the horse is unable to carry himself the rein will never get light. If it gets ''light'' because the horse bend the neck more than the length of the rein, it become even more on forehand. AND 2.-3. vertebrae is FORCED into angle. VERY BAD. The chest vertebrae make an hard angle TOO and the pelvis is forced the 'wrong' way. You are welcome to tell your version. The horse need vacuum in mouth to breath properly. When the horse is supposed to be ON the bit , it need relaxation in the jaws and everywhere. If the horse open its mouth all this is not possible. You can tell your version. Not what you THINK, but how it is physically. These things I say it something I have read and experienced. It is not what I THINK. This it not about being stubborn. This is about horse welfare.

[@claudia273]

@@vibeskouenborg6842 watching a live stream is way different from watching live. And I’ve explained it 10 times to you.. Horse biomechanics aren’t that black and white. Horses don’t need a vacuum in their mouth.. I don’t know who told you that, but it’s absolute nonsense. There’s a bit difference between ‘making difficult’ and ‘impossible’. A vacuum is impossible to create with a bit.. and yes, I agree, relaxation in the jaw absolutely crucial for a decent connection. I never said that there’s nothing going on when a horse opens it’s mouth once or twice. It’s just a bit more pressure than expected. When someone slightly pushes you, you step aside right? You’ll react to the pressure as reflex/instinct. Not because it hurts.

[@lukaoisunicorn3837]

Whole this dressage world is a criminal offence against one of the loveliest and most graceful Animal. If you would do it to the dog or cat some animals right agency will throw you right in to the jail for long, but there is a permission for punishless Horse abuse. You can beat it, break it's jaw with sharpest bit use cruelest training methods, you can kill it, all for fun, and.. well, no one will do nothing bad to you, just opposite. Egshausted, beaten and tormented with bit Horse is that what is awarded and decorated. Sick. Money, medals cavemen congratulations and ovations... It is only some flesh in the end of the day isn't it. Clap it's neck in the end and all the sorrow has been rewarded to the Horse by that riding it primate. Dressage is Sadistic discipline.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

❤

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

Agree. Modern Dressage is a war against horses, they mess up horses. Its a sadistic perverse sport. Animal abusing is the normality in the higher levels, horse friendly riding and owning (everyday free running in the gras) the exception. Good riders that have a real partnership to their horses are maybe 1 - 2% in the Top Level. 98 %is narcissistic abuse.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@saarlooswolfhund6237 SO TRUE

[@jandavison7288]

Why is she waving after doing that !

[@laureneales1671]

I was there, the crowd wasn’t aware of the reason for elimination - the Olympia atmosphere was at its best so all the riders were responding this way.

[@jandavison7288]

@@laureneales1671 I meant she must have known why she was eliminated ?

[@laureneales1671]

@@jandavison7288 yes the official stepped into the arena to tell her, I mean she was waving to keep up with the audience mood if that makes sense?

[@jandavison7288]

@@laureneales1671 yes I get what you are saying, she must have been embarrassed, hope you had a great time 🐎🕊️

[@laureneales1671]

@@jandavison7288 it was fantastic thanks 🙂

[@dyzio8103]

"Sadly eliminated", "such a shame"? Wtf.

[@simonalorenzacaligaris476]

Terribile!!!questa non è equitazione!

[@minimax6666]

Applause for blood?

[@elgea4493]

I so wish that Bite-less bridles were allowed in dressage.