[3] In 2009, a video of Kittel riding Watermill Scandic using rollkur, or hyperflexion of the horse's neck during warm up at a competition in Denmark caused international outcry.

[5] Tens of thousands of letters in protest were sent to dressage's world governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), who banned the practice of rollkur after public pressure.

[6][7][8] At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Kittel was pictured riding Scandic in rollkur in the warm up prior to the competition.

[11][10][12] In 2024, Kittel was pictured riding in competitions in Amsterdam and Neumünster where his horse's tongue was noticeably blue, suggesting his mount was in pain and had lost oxygen.

[15] When asked about the incident, Göran Åkerström, the International Equestrian Federation chief veterinarian said a blue tongue was unacceptable.