Latest news with #horseabuse
CNN
13-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
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. Heath Ryan, who represented Australia in dressage at the 2008 Olympics, can be seen in the video – which the rider said is about two years old – hitting a horse around 40 times. Ryan said in a lengthy Facebook post defending the incident that everything in the video 'transpired sincerely with the (horse's) best interests the sole consideration.' CNN Sports has reached out to Ryan for comment. EA said the provisional suspension will last until 'a thorough investigation of this matter' has been completed, adding that it had also received a formal complaint about the incident. 'Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,' the governing body said in a statement. '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.' EA said it 'takes matters of animal welfare very seriously.' In his Facebook post, the 66-year-old equestrian rider said the horse was brought to him on the way to the 'knackery,' where animals go to be killed, after a riding accident had left his owner in intensive care. Ryan described the horse, Nico, as a 'problem child' that got 'worse and worse until the accident.' 'I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable,' Ryan wrote on Facebook. 'Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. 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. 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. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids.' Alongside his statement, Ryan posted a new video, which he described as Nico 'thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future.' Ryan said the video which prompted the EA suspension was posted by an 'unhappy ex employee.' 'All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission,' Ryan added.
CNN
13-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
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. Heath Ryan, who represented Australia in dressage at the 2008 Olympics, can be seen in the video – which the rider said is about two years old – hitting a horse around 40 times. Ryan said in a lengthy Facebook post defending the incident that everything in the video 'transpired sincerely with the (horse's) best interests the sole consideration.' CNN Sports has reached out to Ryan for comment. EA said the provisional suspension will last until 'a thorough investigation of this matter' has been completed, adding that it had also received a formal complaint about the incident. 'Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,' the governing body said in a statement. '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.' EA said it 'takes matters of animal welfare very seriously.' In his Facebook post, the 66-year-old equestrian rider said the horse was brought to him on the way to the 'knackery,' where animals go to be killed, after a riding accident had left his owner in intensive care. Ryan described the horse, Nico, as a 'problem child' that got 'worse and worse until the accident.' 'I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable,' Ryan wrote on Facebook. 'Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. 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. 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. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids.' Alongside his statement, Ryan posted a new video, which he described as Nico 'thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future.' Ryan said the video which prompted the EA suspension was posted by an 'unhappy ex employee.' 'All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission,' Ryan added.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
2 arrested in investigation into dozens of dead horses on San Joaquin County properties, sheriff says
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY – Two arrests have been made in a months-long investigation after dozens of horses were found dead on multiple properties, the San Joaquin County Sheriff announced on Thursday. Deputies said they served a search warrant in January at multiple properties in the Clements area, where they found dead and malnourished animals, including 53 dead horses. The sheriff's office said 90 other horses were rescued and 13 had to be euthanized, the sheriff's office said. Among other animals that were rescued were five donkeys and three alpacas. A donkey and a bull also had to be euthanized. At that time, the sheriff's office said they arrested 62-year-old Jan Johnson, who authorities said appears to own the farms the animals were found on. Johnson has a history of running into the law, including reaching a plea deal related to financial elder abuse more than a decade ago. But she posted bail and was later arraigned in February on felony charges of threatening a public official and criminal threats, the San Joaquin County District Attorney said. On Thursday, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow announced Johnson was arrested on Wednesday evening on 21 felony counts and 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of cockfighting and three firearms-related felony charges. Mugshot of Jan Johnson San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office Withrow also added that Justine Fitzhenry was arrested on Wednesday on three counts of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of cockfighting. Mugshot of Justine Fitzhenry. San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office The San Joaquin County District Attorney is expected to provide an update on the case at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
