Victory over Olympic horse cruelty
By Justine Thompson
General news
22 September 2008 16:09
A Your Horse reader has obtained a remarkable response from the body responsible for modern penthalon, following an outcry over horse cruelty during the Olympics.
Gemma Teed and other owners at her West Yorkshire livery yard were so incensed by the appalling riding and cruelty to the horse witnessed during the show-jumping phase of this Olympic event, that they wrote to the sport’s governing body.
She said: “We were shocked and horrified by what we saw. The modern pentathlon riders were mostly of the 'beat them over the jump' school of riding, with excessive use of the whip, which would have got them disqualified under normal Olympic show jumping rules.
“Horses crashed into fences and were remounted and ridden on, in one case appearing to be unsound. Many riders fell off and were allowed to get back on and continue the course.”
The reply they received from the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne agreed that the event had raised some serious welfare concerns, although it put some of the problems down to the heavy rain, which made the going very difficult.
The letter explained that modern pentathletes compete in five different disciplines and usually come from a swimming or running background, rather than a riding one, although they are all required to hold a riding ‘licence’. Riders are also required to compete on horses provided for them on the day.
It said: “Please be assured that all the athletes have a licence obtained through a very serious riding test. However, given this is a multi-discipline sport, not all riders are experienced to the extent of riders who train solely in equestrian.”
It was signed by President Klaus Schormann and Secretary General Joel Bouzou, and said the event on August 21 had highlighted the need for a review.
“The Technical Committee is in the process of reviewing the rules and regulations in light of this competition.
“These proposed changes primarily include increases in the means for which a ride can be terminated (for instance two falls from the horse, cruelty/ill-treatment, incorrect riding equipment).”
Changes, once agreed by the sport’s congress, will come into effect from January 1.
Gemma said: “It doesn't do equestrian sports any favours for this kind of treatment to be seen at such a high profile event. Most non-horsey people won't differentiate between professional show jumping and modern pentathlon, tarring us all with the same brush.
To see some of the coverage of the event go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/modern_pentathlon/7574994.stm
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