Forbidden method on horses
Video emerged: German Olympic champion under criticism
November 12, 2025 – 12:12 p.mReading time: 1 min.
A year ago Christian Kukuk was a celebrated Olympic champion. He’s currently in the spotlight again – just not for positive reasons.
A video from the sidelines of a World Cup tournament in Verona brings Christian Kukuk into criticism. The show jumper can be seen using the controversial Rollkur – with bare draw reins.
The clip was published by the platform “Dressur-Studien.de”. It shows the Paris 2024 Olympic champion forcing his horse into a narrow head-and-neck position while riding. Such scenes are more than controversial in equestrian sport.
Martin Richenhagen, President of the German Equestrian Association (FN), said when asked by the SID news agency: “We find this unacceptable.” The FN is in contact with Kukuk, his long-time supporter Ludger Beerbaum and national coach Otto Becker. Richenhagen explained: Kukuk was “a very sensible rider.” One can assume “that this will no longer happen in the future”.
Rollkur, also known as hyperflexion, is a practice that is frowned upon, just like the use of draw reins in equestrian sports. The horse is instructed to stretch its neck far downwards.
In the worst case, it will almost bite its own chest, which could cause injury. With the help of the draw reins, horses are brought into a certain position and thereby restricted.