WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Equestrian’s world governing body, FEI, has launched an investigation into Australian Olympian Heath Ryan after a video from two years ago surfaced online.
The footage was shared on the YouTube channel “Dressage Hub” with a narrator describing Ryan as “savagely” whipping a horse 42 times.
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Ryan, 66, said he was acting in “the horse’s best interest” however, the FEI has provisionally suspended the rider pending an investigation.
“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.
Heath Ryan in 2007. Getty
“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.”
Horse whipping is not allowed at elite levels and is heavily regulated against.
The 66-year-old could face expulsion if he is found to have breached the code of conduct from EA and the international governing body.
Ryan defended his actions, which he believed were in the “best interests” off the horse named Nico.
“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, he said via Facebook.
“I’d never run into anything like that before. It would just stop, but it would also turn around and try and grab you like a stallion and rip you out of the saddle. It had done this with its previous owner, who had never hit it.
“[The whipping] turned everything around. This horse went on to have its best interest looked after. Clearly, in hindsight, it wasn’t horse abuse. It was actually saving its life.
“It’s just that when you look at it, I understand it. It’s bloody horrendous.
“And if you think I enjoyed that, I did not. I hated it, but I just felt I was desperate. This horse was maybe as good as dead as I thought it could be.”
The FEI has suspended riders in the past for horse abuse.
Britain’s three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin missed the Paris Games last year after a video emerged of her repeatedly striking a horse. She was banned for a year.
