Australian Olympic equestrian Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended following the emergence of a video showing him repeatedly whipping a young horse. Ryan, 66, responded to the backlash by describing the incident as part of a desperate attempt to rehabilitate the animal, which he claimed was otherwise destined for slaughter.
The footage, which has circulated widely across social media, prompted swift action from both Equestrian Australia (EA) and the FEI, the sport’s international governing body. Both organizations confirmed that formal investigations are underway.
“Deeply Disturbing”
In a statement to Horse & Hound, a spokesperson from EA said the organization is “extremely alarmed” by what was depicted in the video.
“Equestrian Australia is committed to the highest standards of welfare for both horse and rider,” the statement read. “We have received a formal complaint and are investigating the matter under our complaints and discipline policies, as well as our code of conduct, which aligns with the FEI’s welfare principles.”
Ryan, who represented Australia in dressage at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was competing at a four-star eventing level as recently as 2024, is a registered member of EA and therefore subject to its disciplinary procedures.
Ryan’s Defense: “A Last-Chance Attempt”
In his own public statement, Ryan claimed the video was recorded two years ago and involved a six-year-old horse named Nico. He described the horse as “exceptionally bred,” but dangerously unpredictable—an animal that had sent its previous owner, a close family friend, to the hospital in intensive care after a serious incident.
“Nico had always been difficult. He would stop abruptly and without warning. It got progressively worse,” Ryan explained. “The day he arrived at my property, he was on his way to the knackery. I felt an obligation—both to the horse and to my friend—to see if there was any chance he could be turned around.”
According to Ryan, the ride captured in the video was his first and only attempt to evaluate whether Nico could be saved. He admitted the footage looked harsh but said it was never meant to be seen publicly.
“If I had been thinking of myself, I would have walked away,” he wrote. “But in that moment, I believed Nico deserved a final chance.”
“Collateral Damage”
Following what Ryan described as a tentative breakthrough in that initial ride, he said Nico began to respond positively over subsequent days. He then arranged for the horse to be placed with another dressage rider who could offer a suitable home.
Ryan shared that Nico is now thriving and training competitively in his new environment. He attributed the video’s release to a disgruntled former employee.
“This was never about me,” he added. “I made a judgment call that day, and the video you’ve seen is a painful result of trying to save a horse that everyone else had given up on.”
EA and FEI Take Action
In an update released later the same day, Equestrian Australia confirmed Ryan’s suspension and emphasized its firm stance on animal welfare.
“The welfare of horses is central to our mission,” the statement read. “We want to clarify that Equestrian Australia has not requested any videos be removed from YouTube, despite rumors to the contrary.”
The FEI also confirmed it had enacted a parallel provisional suspension and is collaborating closely with EA to determine the next steps.
“The FEI takes this matter very seriously,” a spokesperson told Horse & Hound. “We are reviewing all available evidence and will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds.”
As of now, no timeline has been given for the conclusion of the investigation.
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