An Australian Olympian has been suspended by Equestrian Australia after video footage that showed the equestrian whipping a horse 42 times emerged.
Equestrian Australia launched an investigation into Heath Ryan, 66, after the clip — which is reportedly two years old — was posted via YouTube, reported multiple outlets including Australia’s ABC and Nine News on Thursday, June 12.
The video, which was posted via YouTube Channel “Dressage Hub,” has since been deleted.
Ryan competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, representing Australia in dressage.
In a statement to Us Weekly, Equestrian Australia said it was “extremely alarmed and concerned” by the footage.
“Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,” the organization said in the statement. “Equestrian Australia’s Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy includes high standards to protect all participants and their horses against any adverse physical, social, and emotional conditions during all EA endorsed equestrian activities that are conducted under the auspices of EA or by any EA affiliate.”
The organization confirmed that Ryan was a member of Equestrian Australia and that a “thorough investigation” will take place and stated that it “takes matters of animal welfare very seriously.”
Heath Ryan. Photo by MIKE CLARKE/AFP via Getty Images)
“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,” the statement added.
Ryan defended his actions in the video via a Facebook post. He stated that the horse, named Nico, needed disciplinary actions to save it from being put down after a bad accident and that his actions were in the animal’s “best interests.”
“Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident,” Ryan wrote, explaining after the video’s events, he was able to ultimately rehome the horse.
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“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,” Ryan said. “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.
He continued: “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.”
