Olympic Equestrian Suspended After Rider Caught Whipping Horse 40+ Occasions On Video

Olympic equestrian Heath Ryan was simply suspended … after troubling video surfaced, showing to point out him whipping a horse dozens of instances, prompting outrage from followers.

The clip of Ryan and Nico, the horse — mentioned to be about two years outdated — surfaced lately on social media, prompting Equestrian Australia (EA) to launch a proper investigation into the dressage competitor, who was seen putting the animal over 40 instances.

EA mentioned they have been “extremely alarmed and concerned” over what they noticed from Ryan … who’s an achieved rider who even repped the oldsters down beneath throughout the 2008 Summer season Olympics.

The suspension will stay pending an investigation.

Ryan, 66, admitted the video is not a very good look, however defined he was truly making an attempt to avoid wasting the horse, which he says had disciplinary points. In different phrases, if he could not get Nico to behave and hearken to instructions, they’d should put him down.

“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 mentioned.

“That video was a life or death moment for Nico, and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options.”

Ryan mentioned he continued to experience Nico for a couple of days and was capable of finding him a brand new residence.

“Unbelievably, it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say? If you think I did that flippantly, you are wrong.”