US EditionAustralian Olympic Dressage Rider Suspended After Video Appears to Show Him Repeatedly Whipping Horse
- Australian dressage rider Heath Ryan was provisionally suspended by Equestrian Australia on June 12, 2025, after a video surfaced showing him repeatedly whipping a horse during training.
- The suspension followed the emergence of a two-year-old video allegedly posted by a disgruntled former employee, prompting an investigation amid concerns about animal welfare.
- Ryan explained that the horse, called Nico, had behavioral issues that escalated until a serious accident occurred, prompting him to intervene in order to save the animal from being euthanized; he characterized the video as an unintended consequence of his efforts to rescue the horse.
- Equestrian Australia expressed alarm and concern over the footage, imposed a provisional suspension barring Ryan from events, and pledged a thorough investigation reflecting the sport’s strict animal welfare standards.
- The incident evokes parallels with the 2024 barring of British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin for similar treatment allegations, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of rider conduct in equestrian sports.
31 Articles
31 Articles
Eclat for animal torture in Australia: The Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan is suspended from all riding tournaments after a video showing how he repeatedly hit a horse with a whip. While Ryan fights against indignation, the rider defends himself.
Australian Olympic dressage rider suspended after video appears to show him repeatedly whipping horse
An Australian dressage rider has been provisionally suspended and will be investigated, according to Equestrian Australia (EA), after a video emerged on social media that appears to show him repeatedly whipping a horse.
Dressage olympian banned after abusing horse
Australian dressage Olympian Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended by both Equestrian Australia and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) following the release of disturbing footage showing him repeatedly whipping a horse during a training session. The video, which began circulating online earlier this week, shows the 66-year-old rider striking a six-year-old gelding named… Source
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 …
Australian rider Heath Ryan has been suspended after a previous video emerged showing him repeatedly hitting his horse.
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