Be responsible & responsible rider
I have had two role models in my life: my grandmother Ebba von Bismarck, who taught me everything about horses, riding, and the associated values, and passed on to me her deep love for animals; and Jane Goodall.
It is to these two women that we owe the “RESPONSIBLE” initiative.
read more
Some time ago, when I was speaking with Jane about how we can make a positive change in the world, she essentially said: “Basically: take action yourself, change your own behavior, take responsibility. But for you: what you do for the horses actually concerns all animals. Nature, the oceans, everything. Why should only riders be aware of their responsibilities? This applies to everyone.” Then she winked at me with a mischievous smile, and since then the idea for the “BE RESPONSIBLE” initiative has been growing in me.
Thanks to the recent videos of “horse training for high-level sports,” which must bring tears to the eyes of any feeling person and provoke the utmost disgust, it was finally time last week. I thought of my grandmother, how her face would have turned to stone at the sight of the “top rider” hitting that horse for „training“. And that she would have absolutely not tolerated me doing nothing if I could have done something. It felt like a thunderclap. I don’t know if you’ve ever felt that way, but at that moment, there was absolutely no doubt that I had to act. Just to give everyone, not just riders, the opportunity to distance themselves from such horrific images and behavior and to create a counterbalance.
For this reason, the two logos are available for download here. Additionally, statement items are to be created, with which anyone who identifies with this cause can make a statement. The proceeds from Responsible Rider will go towards promoting horse-friendly training and knowledge dissemination, and if there is enough support, towards a series of competitions emphasizing horse-friendly riding. For Be Responsible, the proceeds will go towards projects in reforestation, species protection, and animal and nature conservation.
Be responsible
“BE RESPONSIBLE” was created for two main reasons:
First: To give people who are not riders the opportunity to distance themselves from violence against horses and other animals, and to advocate for horse welfare and horse-friendly handling and riding.
Second: Because values like responsibility are naturally important not only for riders but are lacking everywhere in the world, and because I promised Jane Goodall, among others, to help spread them. It starts with a mindset that puts responsibility for one’s own actions at the forefront.
read more
Be Responsible is a reminder to each of us to help others, to be kind, and to actively contribute to the protection of nature, forests, oceans, and animals, no matter how small the contribution may be. Looking at the logo should inspire one to pick up a plastic bag in the forest, to be mindful of what one buys, preferably local and as natural as possible, to occasionally forego meat and eat vegetables instead, or perhaps to help an elderly lady cross the street. These are simple acts of decency whose importance often escapes us in daily life. The logo should remind us of this.
The horse in the center represents this because it was the horses that brought me here and ultimately sparked this initiative.
Be Responsible is a statement for anyone committed to the protection of all animals, nature, forests, and oceans. The logo can be used by anyone (e.g., as a profile frame) who identifies with these values and the initiative and wants to publicly show that the well-being of animals, nature, and our planet is at the center of their actions.
Proceeds from the Be Responsible Statement items go to projects for reforestation, animal, species, and nature conservation, and education.
Responsible rider
“Responsible Rider by Julie v. Bismarck” is an initiative against violence in equestrian sports, advocating for the old values of horsemanship and horse-friendly riding, with the goal of putting horse welfare back at the center of riding where it belongs.
read more
The horses owe us nothing. Treating them with the utmost care, love, and respect is the least we can do and is a given for a Responsible Rider.
Responsible Rider stands for love for the horse, decency, respect, self-discipline and self-reflection, working on oneself, calmness, kindness, helpfulness, goodness, humility, camaraderie, fairness, integrity, courage, perseverance, discipline, generosity, and loyalty to oneself. And of course: the self-evident protection of the weaker ones.
This has often been forgotten today, not just in equestrian sports. It is time to remember this—for the welfare of our horses and ourselves.
“Responsible Rider by Julie v. Bismarck” is a statement for anyone committed to the protection of horses (and ideally also nature and other animals). The logo can be used by anyone (e.g., as a profile frame) who identifies with these values and the initiative and wants to publicly show that the well-being of animals is at the center of their actions.
Proceeds from the Responsible Rider Statement items go towards promoting horse-appropriate riding lessons, the dissemination of knowledge about horses, tournaments in horse-friendly, correct riding where the unloading from the trailer, handling of the horse, warming up, physical condition of the pair, calmness, handling after the competition, and much more are included in the evaluation.