Latest news with #horsewelfare
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
FEI investigating Ryan for repeatedly whipping horse
The FEI, equestrian sport's world governing body, has launched an investigation into Australian Olympian Heath Ryan after a video emerged that appeared to show him repeatedly whipping a was suspended by Equestrian Australia last week after the video - said by Ryan to be about two years old - showed a man striking a horse about 40 FEI has now also provisionally suspended the 66-year-old, who issued a statement after the video emerged to say he was acting in "the horse's best interest".But the FEI says it has opened an investigation "following allegations of horse abuse reported to the FEI and Equestrian Australia, as well as the posting of a video on social media showing abusive training techniques"."The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said."The FEI has opened an investigation to thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI rules and regulations. We are committed to ensuring that any behaviour which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly." Sam Jones, the CEO of Equestrian Australia, added: "It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter."Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can."We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures."Ryan represented Australia in dressage at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and finished said the horse, named Nico, came to him after an accident which resulted in a female rider needing hospital Australian said that Nico "had always been a problem child and would just not stop" and after the video he was able to rehome the said, external: "I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the knackery."That video was a life or death moment for Nico and I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options."All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video."Britain's three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin missed the Paris Games last year after a video emerged of her repeatedly striking a horse around its legs with a long whip. She was subsequently banned for a year by the FEI.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Equestrian Australia suspends Olympian Heath Ryan after concerning video surfaces showing him whipping horse
Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia on Thursday after video shared online showed him reportedly whipping a horse. The sports governing body announced the suspensions in a lengthy post, adding that it followed both the revelation of the video online and a formal complaint. "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," the statement read. Ryan was not named in the statement. "Equestrian Australia has this afternoon imposed a provisional suspension of this person's membership of Equestrian Australia and their rights, privileges and benefits associated with their membership. This means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organization of, or participation in, any event under the jurisdiction of Equestrian Australia." Ryan, who represented Australia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, posted a lengthy message on social media claiming that the video was from two years ago and shared by an "unhappy ex-employee." Reports say the video showed Ryan whipping the horse 42 times. He claimed that the horse, Nico, had been brought to him by a family friend after that person was hospitalized following an incident with the horse. Ryan claimed he had saved the horse from being euthanized. "If a beautiful [6-year-old] horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable," he wrote in a post on Facebook. "I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware," Ryan said, later adding that his actions were done in the "best interests" of the animal. Equestrian Australia said it "takes matters of animal welfare very seriously" and that Ryan's suspension will remain in place pending an investigation by the Equestrian Australia's Integrity Unit. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Olympic rider, 66, filmed striking horse '40 times' in ‘most awful video' banned a year on from Charlotte Dujardin shame
AUSSIE former Olympian Heath Ryan has been suspended following the emergence of a distressing video in which he can be seen whipping a horse around 40 times. Ryan, 66, represented Australia in dressage at Beijing 2008. 3 Equestrian Australia have since suspended the Sydney-born rider, while launching an official investigation into the online video. Their statement read: "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage. "Our policies include high standards to protect all participants and their horses against any adverse physical, social, and emotional conditions." In a lengthy Facebook post, Ryan claimed that he had been trying to save the horse, named Nico, from being put down - and that the footage was taken around two years ago. An excerpt of his post read: "Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. "This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. "(After the events of the video) I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well. "All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. "I need to add that this happened about two years ago…..and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex-employee. "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." Dressage trainer at centre of Charlotte Dujardin vid leak unmasked and says Team GB star 'threw her under bus' Ryan went on to add: "I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the knackery. "That video was a life or death moment for Nico and I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. "All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video." DUJARDIN CONTROVERSY Last summer, decorated British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin pulled out of the Paris Games just days before after video footage emerged of her whipping a horse. Dujardin, 39, was subsequently handed a one-year ban by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. The three-time Olympic gold medallist subsequently released a statement, in which she revealed that she was pregnant. It read: "I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), released today. "As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again. "I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better. This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time. "To those of you who have sent messages, emails and tried to reach me to check in on how I am – thank you. Every kind word truly has made a difference, more than you'll ever know. "What I was unable to share at the time is that I am currently pregnant, with my baby due in February. "This was planned well before the Olympics and something my partner Dean and I have been excited about for a long time. "At the moment, the energy I have is focused on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we are all very much looking forward to the arrival of our new family member."
Reuters
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Australian Olympian suspended after video of horse whipping emerges
SYDNEY, June 13 (Reuters) - Dressage rider Heath Ryan, who competed for Australia at the 2008 Olympics, has been suspended by Equestrian Australia after video of him whipping a horse during training was posted on social media. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed Ryan whipping the horse repeatedly. "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," the governing body said in a statement. "Equestrian Australia has imposed a provisional suspension of this person's membership (which) means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organisation of, or participation in, any event under (our) jurisdiction." The 66-year-old rider will remain suspended until an investigation into the video is completed, Equestrian Australia added. Ryan released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it had attacked its owner. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to (it) and asking the hard questions," he added. "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. "Equestrian Australia takes matters of animal welfare very seriously," the local governing body added in its statement.
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Olympian filmed ‘hitting horse over 40 times'
A video has emerged of an Olympic dressage rider repeatedly whipping a horse barely six months after Charlotte Dujardin was banned for a year for a similar incident. Heath Ryan, 66, was filmed apparently hitting a horse called Nico more than 40 times in footage uploaded to the Facebook page of Dressage Hub. The video prompted a response from Ryan, who competed for Australia at the 2008 Olympics, stating that his actions had been part of a 'rescue mission' to prevent the horse from being sent to the slaughterhouse. He also claimed the video had been 'posted by an unhappy ex-employee'. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' he wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. 'This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was six years of age. A beautiful type.' Ryan said the 'problem child' horse had been sent to him after putting a 'wonderful family friend' of his in intensive care. 'That video was a life-or-death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. 'I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the excessive use of driving aids. 'All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. 'I need to add that this happened about two years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex-employee. 'All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.' Ryan, who has competed in equestrian events in Australia for decades, is the brother of triple Olympic equestrian gold medallist Matt Ryan. In December, Britain's three-time Olympic champion Dujardin was banned for a year for whipping a horse on the legs more than 20 times. That followed the emergence of years-old footage shortly before the Paris Games, from which she withdrew, conceding she had made 'an error of judgement' during a coaching session.
