The exploitation and treatment of horses in Olympic equestrian events are a far cry from the “respect and excellence” that the Olympics are supposed to demonstrate. So far, there have been four incidents of abuse from different teams competing in the Paris Olympics, revealing that cruelty to horses is widespread.

Austria

PETA Germany accused Austrian rider Max Kühner of striking horses’ shins with a bar to force them to jump higher—a practice known as “barring,” which is forbidden but common. The group filed a criminal complaint against Kühner last year, following a tip from a whistleblower, and a prosecutor fined him.

Brazil

PETA obtained photos of a Brazilian Olympic equestrian team member forcing a horse’s neck into an extremely painful hyperflexed position so exaggerated that the neck appears deformed. This banned training method, known as “rollkur,” compromises breathing and can damage the spine and lead to long-term health issues. After PETA filed a complaint, the rider—Carlos Parro—was issued a yellow card warning by a governing body, the Fédération Équestre Internationale, for potentially causing “unnecessary discomfort” to the horse.

Italy

Italian rider Emiliano Portale was eliminated from the Olympics after his horse, Future, was found bleeding from the mouth during post-competition checks.

The U.K.

The British equestrian team has been under heavy scrutiny after one of its members, Charlotte Dujardin, was caught abusing a horse in a video that surfaced recently. It shows her repeatedly whipping a horse’s legs “in the manner of ‘old-style abuse of elephants at the circus’” during a training session. Dujardin, who flippantly referred to the abuse she had inflicted on the horse as “an error of judgment,” was forced to withdraw from the games and is suspended from all events, pending an investigation.

PETA to the Olympics: Ban Equestrian Events!

Horses don’t choose to compete in the Olympics—they’re forced into submission through violence and coercion. You can take action for horses exploited in the Olympics by sending a message to the International Olympic Committee:

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