What Happened To Everdales Tail? Ridden By Charlotte Fry In The Grand Prix Dressage Test

[@jannagrosse8057]

I was interested in a young horse whose tail was strongly bended to one side. The responsible vet at that large stable said that this was easily “removeable” in a tiny operation where they cut the muscle at the side of the tail. He suggested to cut the other side as well as it prevents tail swishing. I might have looked shocked, so he added “That’s no big deal, we do it all the time”. At that point I started looking into dressage horses tails closer. ALL the heavy swishers like Bella Rose, Van Olst and Glock horses suddenly stopped swishing at one point. It’s just two small cuts at the right and the left side of the tail. The horse can still carry the tail but not swish it any more. It’s done regularly in Dressage. It’s all so sick.

[@AmantAndMe]

Thats very sick und shocking. Thank you for sharing that information I would never have thought of something so deranged

[@shelleyjennings7383]

Omg this is shocking. That also means they can't swap flies 😢

[@ruthhamilton4882]

​@@shelleyjennings7383correct. I have a 26yo horse with a "set" tail from his saddleseat days. Flies distress him beyond measure and it is very sad.

[@shelleyjennings7383]

@@ruthhamilton4882 I'm sorry to hear that. Also just thought about them communicating with other horses 😢

[@katekayak]

Just insane!

[@susanwilling6854]

It's more concerning that his face is behind the vertical for the majority of the performance.

[@ruthlucille9824]

Why does he look so much better and less stressed in 2019 than today? And what is it with high level riders being so rough with their reinbacks. I have no intellectual response today, just two things I noticed because I just woke up to this video 😭😭

[@Kht_star1]

CHARLOTTE FRY ABUSES HER HORSES WITH ROLLKUR! How does that poor thing breathe?!

[@pixie706]

A stable jockey for our point to pointers asked us to stop plaiting manes as the horses seemed reluctant to stretch their necks . the vet confirmed that plaiting tightly could inhibit muscle function and cause discomfort

[@mshorselover77]

I wondered about this also.

[@amazon4111]

Yes, you need to be careful to leave a bit of room with the big braids and plaits like the ones Friesians wear too or they are uncomfortable 😣

[@natalya402]

I used to braid my horses mane a lot because I thought it looked pretty. I had just finished the whole mane and was admiring him, when he tried to stretch down to eat grass. It was like he was tied up, he couldnt reach low enough to reach the grass. I felt super bad and undid all the braids and he was able to graze. It wasnt worth it when I was only doing it for aesthetic reasons

[@55magicponies]

The first thing I ever noticed about Valegro was how he worked so beautifully with a completely quiet tail. I thought WOW! What superior training and handling allows a horse to be THAT at ease. I hope I wasn't wrong.😐

[@TheOldandslow]

me too. How will we ever know? :(

[@caciliawhy5195]

I remember being told in Germany over 40 years ago that they nerved jumping horses around 6-8 y.o BEFORE they got sore from jumping. I was shocked!!

[@phantomsoulplayer]

I'm not saying it isn't possible or it doesn't happen but it seems very weird to have a horse like him in top competition just suddenly have his tail deadened when he's had no previous issues with him getting bad marks because of excessive swishing. Botoxed/blocked tails hang limply, they won't be held away from the body the way his is. Also Everdale is a VERY valuable breeding stallion, and blocking/botox in the tail is commonly connected to permanent nerve damage that leaves a horse unable to completely empty his bladder or rectum which could also possibly ruin his very profitable (likely more so than competition) breeding career. I feel like an injury is more possible at least in this case especially where he is carted around so often but it's defiantly a thing to keep your eyes open for.

[@blackequine.official]

very valuable point

[@Menoetia]

That's why I suspect surgical procedure, similar to what's done to saddleseat and big lick horses rather than injections.

[@lieke9460]

Botox in the tailmuscle won't have ANY effect on the bladder !!

[@DeborahHamilton-q1w]

In the one, the horse has a swish tail, and in the other a banged tail. The banged tail is also braided, the swish tail is not. In both, the horse can clearly be seen moving his tail. It is simply more noticeable with the swish tail, as the hair is loose and is moving more freely on the tail bone. I'm very sorry, but the difference is the direct result of the "hairstyle", and not of any wrong-doing, that I can see. A swish tail that is braided will also seem to move less. Look more closely, please. As far as I'm concerned, in this instance, at least, this is a non issue.

[@sunnybunny7053]

I agree, definitely a possible issue in other cases, but here it seems to be just a difference in hairstyle giving the illusion of stillness on the left. In both, though, the tail is held away from the body for balance, and I agree I saw movement in both. Not any swishing on the recent one, but that could simply be due to increased strength over time making the exercises easier

[@girlwithpups]

The 2019 video the loose tail also kept going between his hind legs. Along with the illusion of less swishing it also just kept the hair out of the way reducing swishing. Implying that something else is going on here is ludicrous. This channel has gone off the rails and the keyboard trainers need to claim down.

[@robertcandage5345]

While it might be only the hairstyle, I also think they added a fake tail to create enough hair to present it this way. The added weight would lower the degree of switch the horse can achieve with a *twitch*. It appears he is still using his tail but it is not as noticeable with the added weight. If he were blocked the tail would be quite *dead* and he still carries it gaily and it does move left to right a bit with lateral movement. I agree there is not enough here to infer something sinister.

[@jackiebretschneider1821]

I dint really see a difference in the bounce of the tail. The different style gives a different look. Not sure why this is an issue.

[@user-ut4zw6so6o]

Love the natural tail. Beautiful.

[@Imperatrix_Mundi]

He looked uncomfortable from the moment he came into the ring today. I don't agree with how high they scored either. The tail looks very fishy - maybe just because it's uncommon to see braided tails in dressage. It looks rigid most of the time while in the older video it moved normally. The horse moved much better in the older video as a whole.

[@katherinekoza6536]

False tail is braided into the tail . That is why the tail looks fuller and thicker In the left hand screen . THERE IS NOTHING UNTOWARD OR SINISTER GOING ON . Even Showies to this to their horses .

[@feraforestno88o57]

Yes, it seems they have atached extra hair. Heavier and less movable! If he will relax it down, the edge will touch the ground!

[@karlaadams8843]

Looks like a weighted tail extension that is so common in quarter horse circles. The weight makes the tail appear quieter. This would explain the more full appearance of the tail, as well as the braiding of the tail, as the weighted extension has to be braided or tied into the existing tail hair. As far as I understand, there is no specific rule against weighted tail extensions in dressage,

[@emilysmith7]

Actually there is a very specific rule stating no weights or metal material in the tail extensions.

[@pennybarboza1639]

There is,.or was, a dispensation required for an extention at one time. Rules change as fast as the cha$ching , money rules!!

[@Tenebrisvis]

Wrong there is a rule against it because the judges look at the tail as part of the scoring any performance enhancing object is considered illegal...

[@pennybarboza1639]

@Tenebrisvis true, except for a dispensation, which carries reasons with it and is required to be given to stewards, TDs, and ground jury should the need arise.

[@Tenebrisvis]

@pennybarboza1639 not wrong there either however, there is still those individuals who attempt it once get away with it and then are able to proceed with it with no consequences... the fact that he has one in one clip and doesn't in the other suggests maybe he shouldn't of been wearing one in the first place... we don't know the whole story but I'm willing to put money on it that she was using it to conceal tension and got caught using it and was told not to return with it for the next event.

[@vickiehunt2676]

Looks like the braided tail is fuller and longer. Perhaps they added extensions and braided them in. Is competitive dressage becoming a version of saddle seat and big lick? I hope not for the horses' sake.

[@DressageHub]

Read the description

[@Flugkaninchen]

Tail extensions are pretty common.

[@lori5455]

I thought maybe the braid was hiding a rubbed spot. But no swishing side to side at all. Tail not moving and still being carried like a flag raises a few for me.

[@DressageHub]

That was my first thought then I went down the rabbit hole.

[@sandralogue1774]

Not the only difference I see,looks as though she's been training rollkur also. So despicable to see a once vibrant happy galliant horse reduced to a machine. Shame on you for such a disgrace Charlotte Fry.

[@mauram3941]

Looks like they braided in hair extensions to his tail which might have been uncomfortable to carry how he does normally, but that’s the only difference I see tbh Edit: I work at a hair salon and have had hair extensions put in several times. The weight can cause tension and feel like tugging for a few days

[@amazon4111]

I actually thought his tail looked way fuller in the new one. Extensions would explain that.

[@lindseylyle6406]

This. I use to put a tail in when I grew up on the AQHA circuit and it looks exactly like this. Watching these two though I definitely prefer the natural tail

[@lizroberts1569]

I’d agree, his tail looks thicker. Horses do change their behaviours as they get older and it’s never the same from one year to the next. No proof of anything nefarious, I do worry this channel isn’t focusing on obvious and provable damage to horses.

[@Sofiacostadressage]

This braid is very used by Portuguese riders on the lusitanos, it doesn’t interfere in switching tail, if the horse switches the tail it will keep doing that no matter how much you tied the braid, that is my opinion.

[@hollyjanzen2595]

I wonder if they've used the braid to secure a false tail (can't remember what they're called)? The longer I watched, the more the tail moved like those you see with some western show horses. It's consistently one length and appears very heavy and dense. Could having an addition like that braided in (even weighted perhaps) influence how much or little the dock is moved? There must be some muscular tension as it's arched and does droop lower slightly at the free walk.

[@DressageHub]

A braid is not necessary to add a tail extension

[@hollyjanzen2595]

Well, that's what I was thinking - I've never seen it done braided.@@DressageHub It was mostly how the hair was moving that reminded me of the show tails I've seen other places. And even if his tail has grown out a great deal, his tail in the older video isn't very full. Such a mystery.

[@DressageHub]

It's definitely a tail extension but what else happened is the big question.

[@equestrianreality2524]

Yes looks braided in

[@Linda.0708]

Tail extensions to make a fuller tail, thats all. The difference in the wagging is more balance due hard work and training last couple years

[@badlander2000]

I also hope the fake taila and braiding dont become the norm, but if we're seeing it at this level its likely to trickle down.

[@janets6474]

GREAT OBSERVATION!! Tail swishing is definitely a sign of discomfort and we see it happening more and more. What isnt typical is seeing a horses tail braided in dressage. It would be nice if you could get a vet to confirm your theory (which I believe to be true). The rider rides the same - aweful. And the horse is the same - not relaxed, on the forehand, not through the back and very choppy behind. Disgusting!! 😢 Thats far worse than a little marshmallow fluff. Great job!!

[@rosemarysyverson5967]

Could the horse have had his tail cut off by someone? I saw a AQHA horse, back in 1984 that had been allowed to compete with a fake tail possibly because of the same thing. I think it was under a hardship clause.

[@janets6474]

@@rosemarysyverson5967 While that's always possible, it's not likely.

[@equestanton1017]

I also suspect a false tail in this arrangment. To stop tail swishing? Suddenly a very full, perfectly banged, very long tail. A very long, full, weighted, banged, plaited tail.

[@dc1752]

It is commonly done in showing and nothing sinister! If the horse has rubbed its tail or it is not a full to finish the complete picture and balance of the hindquarters, false hair pieces are plaited in! Just like hair extensions

[@dc1752]

I am referring to English showing, not Saddle breds

[@joannesmartens9442]

I'm almost sure lotty put extention hair in his tail. I saw an influencer amazone in spain putting extention hair in her horse tail. But i think that there are two reasons: the tail is havier and he is braided very strong.

[@peregrination3643]

It's quite a rabbit hole. I'm used to localish workshops and shows, keeping the socializing in person, and rarely watching but having questions as to why elite footage seems off. Now I'm paying attention to online discussion, quickly seeing why the elites are so different from the principles.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

After recently looking at Arabian hunt seat show horse videos , G's braided tail carriage is nearly identical to theirs . Also , if you look at G's swish tail , the top line of the tail is somewhat arced , very much like an Arabian w.pl. horse tail's natural carriage . That being said , still not really sure what's going on ... just an observation .

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

I'm not there, I've never set hands on that particular horse, I'm not a vet and even if I were, I couldn't diagnose via the internet... but I have a little human experience with a combo shot of Botox + lidocaine for pain reduction in a facial scar that causes muscle spasms in the facial muscle that was also cut under it (in other words, Botox for medical reasons rather than cosmetic--the appearance of the scar was unaffected by the Botox but the underlying muscle spasms were relieved). It took a little trial and error of dosage in combination with exact placement of the teensy-weensy micro-doses of the Botox cocktail to get the desired effect of relieving the muscle spasm without so much paralysis that it caused the corner of my mouth to droop, which caused problems with inadvertent drooling. Once my doctor had it figured out, he tattooed a tiny freckle marking the exact spot--it looks totally natural, I have a few freckles and even though I don't have any freckles that far away from my nose, the dot is so tiny and so close to my skin tone, it really isn't noticeable. You have to know it's there and that it's a tattoo and not a natural skin marking in order to know what it is. The needle my doctor uses to injection me is thinner than a human hair and doesn't leave a visible mark on my face. He has warned me that there is a small chance that if he hits a capillary someday, it may leave a very small bruise behind but so far it has never happened. And I have very pale skin--my younger brother used to tease me when we were teens by describing me (accurately) as "fish belly white" back in the 1970s, when being deeply tanned was the in thing. So, I suspect that Everdale has had a little strategic Botox and/or lidocaine to the muscles to the tail. Not enough so that it's completely deadened, like the western pleasure horses in the 1980s and 1990s whose tails just hung straight down (that would be like me after the first injection when the corner of my mouth just hung open for about 3 weeks--not as horrible as it sounds because at least the ferocious headache and jaw pain caused by the muscle spasms was gone). Just enough so that the muscles are slightly weakened. Small tail movements still possible, large tail movements not possible. I'd be really, really interested to have an hour or two alone with Everdale with a comb and headband light, maybe also magnifying glasses to examine his dock for little tiny dots of colour that are just barely darker than the surrounding skin. Very natural looking, wouldn't stand out even if you were looking for them from 2 feet away but would be clear if you were looking for them from about 6 inches away. You know, about the distance you'd be focussing from if you were about to do a precision injection. If the injection hit a capillary and left a small bruise, would it really be visible on the normal blue-ish black pigmented skin on a horse's dock?

[@TheOldandslow]

Very interesting. So glad you found a solution to your issue! It definitely looks abnormally still compared to previous vid. A tail test from a bodywork perspective would be super helpful to find out. I do it a lot for clients' horses to check core integration.

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

@@TheOldandslow At my next appointment, I'm going to ask my doctor if an EMG, which is a test of the electrical activity of the nervous system in specific muscles or areas of the body, would pick up on the difference between muscles treated with Botox and untreated muscles. I've watched the video a couple more times now and I am more convinced. In the first couple weeks after the injection, my face is a little stiff. Not so much that most people seem to notice it but enough that a doctor or speech therapist can spot it. Then there's a couple months where it's all normal looking, then it starts to tighten up again as it gets close to the time for the next injection. I'm not sure how to describe it because it's not the same sort of barely perceptible stiffness that happens right after the injection, it feels different. I've read some of the other comments, too. A combo effect is possible--slightly weakening the tail with targeted micro-doses of Botox plus a heavy extension to make it even more difficult to move the tail in big motions night be the explanation. I doubt that tightly braiding the tail would have much effect. I showed in the hunter ring in the 1970s and we braided those hunters as tightly as possible to last through several days of showing. It never seemed to inhibit a horse that was not happy from lashing their tail around, particularly after they started testing for tranqs in 1973 and a whole bunch of horses were abruptly retired.

[@syzygyfarm]

Is he not wearing an extension in the earlier clip?

[@thetiredwitch]

at 4:37 when flying changes started, we can clearly see his tail moving as in 2019 on the same movement. he really is better at carrying himself, the balance improved, i saw it at the walk-to-gallop transition. in 2019 it was a little shaky, in 2021 it was almost seamless. braiding (especially competitive) also comes with a little ‘false tail’ - like a wig or hair extension, they put it over the end of the braid. i think we need to stop being suspicious, FEI stuarts are there for a reason, they look for any horse abuse, even slightest. we don’t know how stressed this horse was, maybe he was nervous or wasn’t familiar with competition arenas. we, like horses, need experience to be comfortable in stressful situations. i think in 2021 clip hey had more connection, rider reassured him it’s okay, and they danced beautifully. he still has his own character, he just trusts her to lead him and is visibly more relaxed.

[@DressageHub]

TD's never eliminate people they would lose their job. They are there to make people like you feel good. And it works

[@sophiesaraby1105]

“FEI stewards…. look for any horse abuse, even slightest” hahaha 🤣 Keep up, please

[@dog2484]

In which lost world are you living? This horse is abused.

[@thetiredwitch]

@@DressageHub well, in my 'fantasy world' i still belive in humanity. whether it's rich parents, luck, sponsors... it's all business, anyway. equestrian sport wouldn't be here if someone wasn't profiting. we won't be able to see competitions at all or be part of it if it wouldn't exist. these horses recieve medical help, live well, eat well, they are cared for as best as possible, they are athelets. and people who ride them too -- i think if they were horse haters or abusers, they wouldn't be here. and oh well, charlotte is competing at the top dressage levels, and where are we? sitting on the couch writting guessing comments whether this horse is abused or not. it's only up to people's consciene who are related to this horse. how do they sleep at night? is it all worth it, because it's business? i may be in the wrong, but i think if we criticize, we take action. reach out to fei, hold petitions to more thorough vet checks before and after. are we contributing? i think not. is anyone brave enough to voice out this and make even slightest change? haven't seen one here.

[@DressageHub]

@@thetiredwitch actually we have created change. Remember when people like you attacked me for talking about marshmallow fluff ... Yeah ... Well .. the fei changed the rules. Remember when the judges stepped out of line at the pan am games and I called it out ... Well .. yeah ... They stepped back in line the next day. If you don't see the change you arent watching. Just sitting on the couch hating. Kind of like if you don't see the abuse cuz a horse gets fed and watered... You don't want to see it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@BK-is5fj]

I don’t know but this horse is being abuse either way. The rider is using Rollkur on the poor thing.

[@equestanton1017]

What Im noticing without all the hair is a decidely pair of sickles here LOL. Yes his dock still swishes when plaited, the hair stops flying into the air with the plaits, though. I suspect this is intentional rather than a sudden switch to plaits (/plats/plæt) for aeshetic reasons. Could also stop the hair getting caught up in the back legs while it swishes, outcome is the same, no swishing of the hair just the twitching and jerking of the doc. If those are modified plaits in any way or not I can't say but it's perfectly plausible they've been introduced to lessen the affect of swishing which causes hair to get inbetween the back legs which can irritate sensitive horses. Any artificial modifications of the horse body to enhance performance should be banned unless we are to go the way of Big Lick competitions etc. Not sure this counts, it's like putting your hair in clips though plaited tails do hurt when a horse swishes, same sensation as pulling the hair.

[@sharihazlett3774]

I certainly hope this is a non issue and ge is just more comfortable now. If they did something judges should examine closely

[@equestrianreality2524]

The thick full tail is one I’ve always assumed to be fake - it looks fake especially at the end and always looks plaited in or joined underneath. Every time I watch the fake tail catches my eye and drives me mad 😂Always also assumed it’s heavy and designed to make the tail look quieter but also wondered if it annoys him. Maybe that’s why they took it out.

[@TriciaBridgesKoontz]

He also could have had a tail injury. Which is actually very common among horses especially those being shipped all over, stalled a lot, etc. Why accuse with insinuation? What grounds?

[@CurtWhitcomb]

Because that is Ms. Dressage Hub's career. Every juicy lie gets gobbled up by fools, and another click and more $$$ for Ms. Dressage Hub. And anyone who refuses her 'business proposition' immediately gets trashed online for 'sleeping their way to the top,' 'being a horrible rider,' blah blah blah. That's this lady's career. This is what she does. She's done it for years. She has reached a certain level of notoriety. Everdales' tail isn't 'frozen' or 'drugged.' It's moving normally, though, as training continues, we can expect the tail to just swing along quietly rather than be flipped around ot twisted. The only difference is a hair extension, which is why he's braided(helps the extension to stay on, but can also hide bare spots if they actually rubbed the body of the tail itself), which is very, very obvious as it's easy to see the attachment, that doesn't mean the tail is doctored, muscles cut, drugged, etc. If the muscles are cut, there are drugs or whatever, that looks nothing like this. Why does he have a hair extension? He probably rubbed his butt on the fence, though they sometimes achieve this by laying back and snoozing while leaning on the butt bar on the trailer. Horse comes out looking like he's wearing the latest rat's nest fashion. They usually do that the day before a horse show....then you run around trying to borrow a hair extension, rather than answer questions about why your horse's tail now looks like a cow's tail.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@CurtWhitcomb Yes. She doesn't seem to have actual proof of any of this.

[@MP-bx3uj]

Are horses with nerved tails able to hold the tail away from their body like that? I’ve never seen a horse with a nerved tail.. Perhaps the braid makes him hold it still?? Regardless, I don’t like her riding at all and I don’t feel harmony or compassion from her rides… Just mechanical drilling.

[@DressageHub]

I've never nerved a tail so I don't have experience but I know they also Botox tails so they don't move.

[@MP-bx3uj]

I really wouldn’t put it past them to do that… The whole Operation X situation is more of a systemic issue than a singular sad story. We need judges that are willing to hold the correct standard and the rest of the equine world would be better for it.

[@syzygyfarm]

​@@DressageHub How is that not cheating?! Ugh.

[@DressageHub]

@@syzygyfarm cuz nobody catches it.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

@@MP-bx3uj In most breed shows in the US , once a bad / unhealthy / foolish " trend " sweeps thru the show world it's pretty near impossible to eradicate . If all horses in a class move / look / behave the same ridiculous way , what is a judge to do ? Not place anyone first or not give any placings at all ?? There are rule books & usually judges are required or at least encouraged to attend occasional judging clinics to keep their cards & ratings current . Why is abuse , in any form , first & foremost not the focus of a judge's responsibility ? !

[@amandasaeger4052]

all I see is the use of rolkur tell me if I'm wrong plz

[@amazon4111]

She was using her spurs very hard in the older video… might account for some of the tail swishing but in the new video it’s just too still. But still raised. Very odd 🤔

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

Good point

[@nicolealbk6333]

You should check out Cathrine Dufour on Freestyle from the Herning rides 8-9 march. She has has made a Miracle with freestyle. From propel tail to no tail action at all.

[@gabriellehowell7198]

The braided tail looks fuller and he may have a false tail in? More weight but don’t forget he has evolved more too in his training in that footage and looks significantly more relaxed contributing to the overall picture.

[@elkefaber3103]

Judge Christoph Umbach gave less than the others around 72%. Maybe because Behind the vertical over the whole test. In the pricegiving Everdale was total relaxed.

[@DressageHub]

He uses his wallet to score.

[@shirleygeorge5222]

If something has been done to the trip how can the rider/owners be okay with this?? Just absolutely blows my mind that people are okay either way with this level of cruelty. It needs to stop. And judges need to stop rewarding this. I despair for the human race I really do.

[@thelastmedici4764]

🙄It looks they have put hair extensions, the tail is heavyer and not so natural

[@TheOldandslow]

To be fair, look at the mouth as well, very busy in 2019, very quiet in 2023... maturity maybe? He does lift his tail during the extensions, so its not a "dead" tail. I would love to watch him in his stall for an hour and see how he uses it at rest. Interesting for sure.

[@atsushisakurai7849]

It's just a plait + fake hair. That's all. And fake tail is quite heavy that is why it's not moving much.

[@DressageHub]

There is another video where it has the fake tail in but it still moves.

[@godisreality7014]

Why burned the natural horse with a heavy prosthetic that hinders his movement?

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@godisreality7014 Why not? It's really not that heavy

[@godisreality7014]

@@ThatBuckskinPony Because the horse is natural and mankind with his silly ornaments to create false impressions is not.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@godisreality7014 Well horses aren't really natural. Domestic horses were created by people...

[@lt4198]

Your constant desire to find wrong doing is disgusting. You make terrible accusations with no actual proof. Everdale swishes his tail in both videos, you just conveniently cut off the video where it suits you. Anyone can gooflr the full video and see that during all his flying changes and often during transitions he still swishes his tail and he carries it the exact same way he always has! And of course the addition of a tail extension for aesthetic purposes also adds weight which makes the swishing less distracting and there is absolutely nothing wrong or cruel about that.

[@DressageHub]

😂😂😂 or the video doesn't fit squarely ... Speaking of trying to make false accusations....

[@godisreality7014]

@@DressageHub I agree. Evil must be exposed and there is plenty of it.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

I sort of agree. There needs to be actual proof before accusations.

[@lottefleck3688]

Never liked her backward hands and how thight the horse’s neck always is, even in extended gaits, and her leg aids…the tail’s just one more thing

[@elisabethandersen1102]

I thought tail extensions werent legal in dressage?

[@MegaStormxX]

I knew an old time show guy that had historically cut his horses tails so the nerve didn't work anymore, no 'unsightly' swishing.

[@stephenrider1]

He’s got a fails tail in to so it might be weighted

[@1lezar]

Have some people nothing better to do than look for controversy? I'm honestly sick of non entities trying to make it big and become 'influencers'. I agree we have to protect the horse but plz people just grow up !

[@DressageHub]

Hey Bestie! I am not trying to become anything. DH has been around for 12 years and has 25 million views. We also do educational videos and show top show footage. I'm tired of people complaining but here you are .... 😂

[@loredelore7286]

When extensions on put into a tail, the weight of the tail has to be held by the very small muscles at the top which has the effect of freezing the muscles. If botox had been used it would not be detected in a blood test or urine test. I would doubt botox was used here as the outcome if caught would be very detrimental for her name . Braiding also has an effect on the way the tail is held particularly if it is very tightly braided. Horses tend to carry theirs tails higher when braided.

[@DressageHub]

One of my thoughts is that something is in the braid to prevent movement.

[@rottiegirl0077]

It almost doesn’t look real. It looks like an extension instead of the natural tail. Is the rider thinking that his natural tail distracts from his leg action? I don’t think I like it.

[@betsydoylelevy8861]

I cannot get past the closed throat latch 😢

[@kahunatomata9478]

It kind of looks like they inserted something stiff and curved along the inside of the top of the braid---and the tail bounces like it's weighted. Clearly a weighted fake tail in there, but it also looks like the tail is laid on top of something curved and stiff. Strange.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

I'm very curious as to the tail carriage situations also . Coming from a decades long QH show background , years before " dead " tails were common & then tail extensions becoming " required " , & also some years showing Arabians w/ extremely long tails , I still am not sure of the whys & wherefores of G's tail . I've seen tails accidentally injured so carried differently ( flat w/ no movement or away from the body in the manner of the Arabian breed & even slightly off center ! ) , manes rubbed out w/ replacement pieces added til grown out , long tails stepped on so extensions actually needed & I even had a mare who rubbed her fine-haired forelock to a few whisps so I braided in some mane hair for fullness for the show season . Multiple naturally occurring reasons besides abuse ... 🥰

[@mintychoc6674]

Is it not blindingly obvious it's just the addition of a false tail?

[@DressageHub]

Just because you can't see the abuse doesn't mean it's not happening.

[@fionawilders3287]

Movement is normal in both. The way it had been presented is different.

[@michaelapisters1879]

Its a fake tail thats all.

[@DressageHub]

😂😂😂 I wish I could be this naive. Remember when people thought I was wrong about fluff....

[@godisreality7014]

What is the point of a "fake tail" on a horse?

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

You need to watch the whole vid. I almost said the same thing.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@godisreality7014 To make it look pretty

[@godisreality7014]

@@ThatBuckskinPony Right. The horse is not pretty, but the artifice is.

[@HelenRussell-rl4es]

It looks like he has a false taìl extension in the left video

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

That's not what the vid was talking abt

[@BarbKoster]

Seems logical that the tail has been altered. In Quarter horses when they kill off the tail muscles, in hunters, those horses leave their hind legs behind when jumping and don't lift naturally behind. ( look at video of winning hunter over fences AQHA horses and USEF horses. ) there are many muscles around all sides of a horses tail. The ones on left and right most likely have been changed by botox or whatever else people have discovered.

[@Tenebrisvis]

He's got a fake tail in because he carries a higher set tail (this is an unspoken thing in dressage I've noticed it becoming more and more popular) since he carries tension in his tail or what we call a J tail hyper tension they put weighted tails in to try to counter act this now in dressage its supposed to he illegal not sure how the groom even got away with putting a fake tail in but that's what I'm seeing as someone who's used plenty of them on my QH (which is legal in the pleasure ring) they're becoming something more common in other practices as well as someone who competes dressage regularly I've seen them its like the new hush hush thing

[@ruby_tuesday_dressage]

The 2023 one looks unnatural in the way his tail is being held and In the way that it is completely still in the whole test…very weird and suspicious

[@shelleyjennings7383]

I've never heard of any of this before... I'm gutted for the horses 😢

[@CurtWhitcomb]

This is more of Ms. Dressage Hubs hateful garbage. She loves doing this, and loves the clicks on her garbage which gives her $$$. She stopped caring long ago if it's true or not. She's a hate-filled gossip.

[@oswaldwagner3302]

this sort of riding is disgusting and has nothing in common with classical dressage. the horse is a typical rollkur result.

[@elkefaber3103]

Er trägt jetzt eine Schweifperücke. Aber das ist nicht der Grund für die auffällige Verhaltensänderung. Da wurde manipuliert. Dalera trägt auch eine Schweifperücke und schlägt trotzdem manchmal mit dem Schweif. Manche Pferde stören sich eher an dem fremden Haarteil und schlagen deshalb mit dem Schweif.

[@DressageHub]

There was footage of him flipping his tail with the tail wig

[@jonjonwp]

A wig is worn on the head ! I think you mean either a false tail or extensions.

[@caciliawhy5195]

The horse looks better in the older video and he looks a tiny bit uneven in the newer one. hmmmm.

[@ElyseOstland]

I own his daughter. He stamped her in most ways. We show her and we have discussed braiding her tail because inevitably she will find a way to rub her tail to a rat's nest before a show ... just may be the answer 😅

[@CurtWhitcomb]

That bloodline is famous for rubbing the tail. Allergies, usually. Over the counter allergy medicine fixed ours.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

People need proof before saying "what actually happened"

[@DressageHub]

So why do you think the tail no longer moves?

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@DressageHub I don't know. That's why I said what I said. Do you have proof?

[@DressageHub]

Proof of what? I am asking why the tail stopped moving.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@DressageHub Oh ok I thought you were saying you knew there was a specific thing they did to him.

[@claudia273]

Nerve blocking in tails in dressage is unfortunately more common than you would think.

[@DressageHub]

Thank you!!!

[@claudia273]

@@DressageHub it’s also quite easy to get through doping checks.. Ethanol does the job and is a controlled substance, so it’s prohibited..

[@badlander2000]

It looks like he has a fake tail or extensions. I didn't notice it until the side-by-side, but the extra weight and the tightness from the braid could definitely make his tail swish a little less.

[@mameschwarzfischer2806]

I feel so sad for these animals

[@elkefaber3103]

Same with Imhotep maybe and other horses? You always hear: No tail swishing at all! Very relaxed horse therefore!

[@DressageHub]

I will do another video with some people who know what they do to tails

[@coldwhitespring5004]

@@DressageHub That would be interesting to watch, just hearing about this is shocking, I had no idea.

[@Gulliver-m3v]

Its always abuse when you start looking closely in the horse world.

[@lottefleck3688]

Is her horse‘s head ever before the vertical? Ever not tight and narrow? Not even in extended trot or walk…. Tight and tense…. I don‘t care how successful she is. Unfortunately, that kind of riding is now being rewarded. Unless the FEI and their judges change their ways, classic dressage is gone

[@superlativesultan6165]

Everything in this sport is unnatural and pushed to the extreme anyways.

[@godisreality7014]

I agree. Making the horse suffer while keeping up appearances is the recipe for success.

[@coldwhitespring5004]

It's hard to see if the tail is really different, or if it's due to the braiding. But it does look like there's less movement in the braided tail than in the non braided one. What I know for certain is both these videos make me very uncomfortable. The horse looks like it's struggling, and more so in the video with the braided tail. No horse should be forced to work with this insanely bent neck, I wonder how many pounds this rider has in her hands.

[@katharinejungkind356]

I'm guessing the muscles have been clipped and sure that a false tail has been added. Maybe the weight of the extension reduces tbe flipping and it is only an extension. Too bad the sport makes such a big deal about tails such that someone would choose to clip muscles. Not the only discipline to do it I'm sure. But frankly, this is nothing in comparison to what is done to Big Lick TWHs by some of those show horse owners.

[@mintychoc6674]

Left has a false tail in

[@loreleirosemagic]

So evil and heartbreaking. As bad as what was done to saddlebreds tails at a stable I once worked in. Saddlebred 'trainers' also force flex necks and would put chains on horses too make them pick their feet up high.

[@AudreySuchoplas]

I love the swishy tail. It looks animated and fun. Could you imagine women not being allowed to sport a swishy pony tail.

[@Nadia-ms7ez]

If she pulled on the reins so hard then why does it not show? It’s not past her hands…or her shoulders

[@appylover5283]

False tail

[@pamgaige1282]

The tail obviously nonfunctional rider and trainer should be BANNED from having horses CRUELTY AT ITS FINEST FOR EGOTISTICAL MONSTERS OF HORSE OWNERS

[@elkefaber3103]

Did you watch "Collectiv pour les chevaux"? Blue tongue hanging out of the mouth 👿

[@AllisonMiller-KoolAldo]

It’s just a fake tail braided in to make it fuller. Geez You’re making it something it’s not.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

You obviously didn't watch the whole vid. Watch the whole thing before making comments like that.

[@AllisonMiller-KoolAldo]

I did watch the whole video. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Horses swish their tails when they’re using their hind ends. It’s not a bad thing.

[@ThatBuckskinPony]

@@AllisonMiller-KoolAldo Ok I was just a bit confused about your comment then. But still, horses swish their tails when in discomfort.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

I might give you some credence if the videos were months apart, but they are YEARS apart and reflect a more experienced better trained horse. You are clutching at straws when implying that tail plaiting is a cover up. If you actually look, the tail does move. And if a nerve block had been used it would lie flaccid between the legs.

[@DressageHub]

Stay tuned then my friend cuz I have another video about this.

[@nicolealbk6333]

Botox