In response to the recent video footage of Mark Todd using a branch as a whip excessively, the Blue Cross animal welfare charity have made a statement.
Grace Shayler, horse welfare and training supervisor at Blue Cross said: “Recently released footage shows Mark Todd using a branch as a whip excessively, in order to force the horse to move into the water. Sadly, time and again Blue Cross see the impact of incidents like this, where individuals have used totally unacceptable force on horses and ponies.
“The video may be two years old but, unfortunately, heavy-handed treatment of horses remains commonplace. Our charity deals with the fall-out from outdated methods of ‘training’, and we are needed to rehabilitate horses who are nervous and psychologically affected by mistreatment.
“Anyone in a position of influence, like Mark Todd, should act as a role model to eradicate techniques which rely on the horse’s fear from the equine world. And instead, to champion positive and compassionate training, through ‘Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive’ (LIMA) training methods.”
