Dressage Olympian suspended for repeatedly whipping horse

Australian Olympian Heath Ryan has been suspended by Equestrian Australia aft a video emerged that appeared to show him many times whipping a horse.

Ryan, 66, represented Australia successful dressage astatine nan Beijing Olympic Games successful 2008.

The video - said by Ryan to beryllium astir 2 years aged - shows a man striking a equine astir 40 times. Ryan issued a connection to opportunity he was acting successful "the horse's champion interest".

Ryan said nan horse, named Nico, came to him aft an mishap which resulted successful a female rider needing infirmary treatment.

The Australian said that Nico "had ever been a problem kid and would conscionable not stop" and aft nan video he was capable to rehome nan horse.

Ryan said, external: "I americium truthful sad this was caught connected video. If I had been reasoning of myself I would person instantly conscionable gotten disconnected and sent Nico to nan knackery.

"That video was a life aliases decease infinitesimal for Nico and I genuinely had to effort my very hardest to spot if Nico would see different options.

"All of this transpired sincerely pinch nan horse's champion interests nan sole consideration. Unbelievably it was truthful successful for everyone isolated from maine pinch nan merchandise of this video."

Britain's three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin missed nan Paris Games past twelvemonth aft a video emerged of her many times striking a equine astir its legs pinch a agelong whip. She was subsequently banned for a twelvemonth by nan FEI, equestrian sport's world governing body.

After nan Ryan video drew attention, Equestrian Australia said it had received a general title astir 1 of its members and had imposed a provisional suspension from each competitions and events.

The nationalist assemblage said:, external "Equestrian Australia is highly alarmed and concerned by nan curen of nan equine shown successful this footage.

"Our policies see precocious standards to protect each participants and their horses against immoderate adverse physical, social, and affectional conditions."