2025 Swan Draught Dongara Cup plays host to more than 4000 punters upon its return to racing
After a year hiatus, the Dongara Cup returned on Easter Saturday with more than 4000 punters turning out for a day of festivities.
The marquee race of the day — race five, the Swan Draught Dongara Cup — was won by Mid West trainer Peter Bamford's Striking Fella who held middle of the pack before storming home at the final to win by three lengths.
Ava Catarino gave the Bamford stable product a perfect ride ahead of a field of strong competitors including Julia Martin, Ashley Maley and Perth trainer Adam Durrant.
Bamford claimed the Dongara Cup and the lion's share of the $30,000 prize pool, the first to do so since 2023 as the cup returned with a bang in 2025.
Dongara Irwin Race Club president Pat Ryan said the meeting exceeded expectations.
'It was absolutely awesome to see that many people coming through the gates,' he said.
'To have over 4000 people come when we were a bit unsure of it was even going to happen a month ago was really great to see.
'Everyone had a great time with off the track activities too with Fashions on the Field and what not.'
Only three weeks ago it was unclear if the meeting would go ahead as the club faced its second successive year of cancellation but due to the work to volunteers and the community it was held and was a success for the region.
Last year's cup was axed due to the condition of the track.
Ryan said the track held up a treat and performed well for the trainers and horses alike.
'The track was great, it really held up nicely and provided a great base for a great day of racing,' he said.
'The trainers were impressed with the track and the crowd which is always a plus for us.
'It gives us a lot of confidence as we eye off the cup for next year.'
Dongara trainer Jackie Scott claimed a win in race four with her five-year-old mare Dirty Chai. Paired with up-and-coming jockey Chanel Cooper, the pair rode a strong race to victory.
In typical Cooper style it was an aggressively ridden race with the pair stamping their authority on the field early in the piece as they stormed home with a win by seven lengths.
Performer of the day was Collie trainer Chris Gilbert who picked up two wins, the first in race two with Talking Heads and then in race six with Bitovemu.
With the 2025 cup marked down as a success, the Dongara Irwin Race Club has now set its sights on the Dongara Rodeo in October as their next major event at the club.
'We were really happy with how the cup went so we now have a really good feeling as we look forward to the rodeo later this year,' Ryan said.
'It is always a great time and is sure to welcome a similar number of people to the region.'
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7NEWS
15 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Australian Olympian and national champion Heath Ryan suspended over ‘alarming' whipping video
An Olympian and Australian dressage champion has been suspended after video emerged of him whipping a horse at his property in New South Wales. In a v ideo uploaded by DressageHub, Australian Grand Prix champion Heath Ryan can be seen in a short video allegedly whipping a horse 42 times in a matter of minutes. Heath Ryan made his Olympic debut at the age of 50 at the 2008 Beijing Games. Ryan had previously been the assistant coach of the Australian Team at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Ryan coached the eventing teams to gold medals in Atlanta and Sydney. He competed in individual and team dressage at the 2008 Beijing Games, placing 35th and eighth respectively. Ryan is also a popular commentator for various events, including Equestrian news sites such as Equestrian Life for his ' Ryan's Rave' opinion pieces. Equestrian Australia, Australia's sporting body for the equestrian Olympic sports, has been quick to suspend Ryan pending further investigations and are 'alarmed' by the actions seen in the video. 'Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,' they said in a statement to '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. 'We also have a Code of Conduct which requires participants to adhere to the FEI code of conduct for the welfare of the horse. 'The person depicted in the video is a member of Equestrian Australia. '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.' Ryan is now banned from taking part in any competitions affiliated with Equestrian Australia, with the suspension affective immediately barring him from the current competition season anywhere in Australia. Because of his Equestrian Australia suspension, Ryan has been automatically suspended by the world equestrian sports body, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Equestrian Australia has also denied they asked for Dressagehub to remove the footage on YouTube. An RSPCA NSW spokesperson confirmed to a report has been made to them, with an investigation into the alleged abuse starting. 'After being sent footage this morning that contains distressing content of a person whipping a horse, RSPCA NSW has commenced an investigation and will be making further enquiries,' they said. In NSW, the penalties for animal cruelty can vary depending on the severity of the offence. For general cruelty acts, individuals face a maximum penalty of $44,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment, while corporations face a $220,000 fine. RYAN'S RESPONSE Hours after the video was made public, Ryan responded to the video on his Ryan's horses facebook page, claiming the horse was dangerous and had hospitalised another rider and friend of his. Ryan posted a video of the same horse, Nico, with another rider on him. Where the horse can be seen being pushed forward without a whip by a female rider using a training aid gadgets, such as spurs and a 'stabilising' martingale, which is used prevent the horse lifting his head up. According to Ryan, Nico is now 'thriving' under a new owner and rider. Ryan claims the video comes from an 'unhappy ex-employee' 2 years ago. He doesn't apologise for the whipping of Nico, instead claiming he has never ridden like that, and said it was a 'life or death moment for Nico.' 'I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable,' he said. 'I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. 'If you think I did that flippantly, you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that, and I certainly will never do it again.' Ryan said that Nico would've gone to a slaughterhouse if he had not intervened. Ryan has not responded to his suspension. WHAT IS NAPPING? In the sport of dressage, or flatwork used for other disciplines such as Showjumping or Eventing, the horse is taught to move forward off the riders leg with minimal interference from the rider. A long dressage whip is commonly used in training, to tap horses on their flanks to encourage engagement from their hind end, so they move forward into the bridle and contact from the rider. Napping behaviour by the horse Nico in the video is a known negative behaviour, which according to Horse & Country describes the behaviour as a horse who refuses to move forward, often planting itself, rearing, spinning, or even turning and heading back towards home or another familiar location. This behaviour can be a challenge for new and experienced equestrians, according to Horse & Country. Other issues than can influence a horse's risk of negative behaviour include: Physical discomfort. If a horse is in pain — whether from an ill-fitting saddle, sore muscles, or dental problems — it may resist moving forward. In these cases, identifying and addressing the source of discomfort should always be the first step. Lack of confidence: Horses that feel uncertain or anxious, especially in unfamiliar environments, may use napping as a way to cope with their lack of confidence. Reinforced behaviour: Napping can become a habit if the horse has previously been allowed to return to a place of comfort after an episode. If a horse has learned that this behaviour gets them what they want, they are more likely to keep doing it. Social instinct: Horses are social animals, and when separated from companions, especially during solo outings, they may nap as a way to seek a return to the herd. Mental stimulation or boredom: Horses that are underworked, bored, or lack proper mental stimulation may develop napping as a coping mechanism to deal with their idle state. VIDEO BACKLASH As other news outlets both in Australian and internationally started to pick up the video posted by Dressagehub, there have been thousands of comments wanting Equestrian sports bodies to take such incidents of abuse caught on video more seriously, with some equestrians wanting a lifetime ban for riders who are caught doing the wrong thing. Another NSW dressage rider commenting on the DressageHub video being shared in Facebook equestrian groups labelled Ryan a 'barbarian'. 'This makes me physically sick,' they said. 'All it shows is that Heath is not a horseman trying to find a way through an issue but a barbarian. 'Not acceptable, whatever his excuses. I bet Tristan Tucker or Michael Pearce or any other true horseman could have done a calm soft job of helping this horse understand. Sorry Heath, you should be very very ashamed.' The Animal Justice Party of NSW has also comment on the video, pushing for an independent office for animal protection. 'Olympian Heath Ryan was caught on video whipping a horse named Nico around 40 times. His defense? That it was in the horse's 'best interest',' they said on Facebook. 'No animal deserves this. 'This isn't an isolated incident, it's a symptom of a system that lacks real accountability and protection for animals, especially in competitive sports. Horses are sentient beings, not tools to be pushed until they break. 'We're calling for an independent Office of Animal Protection. An office that puts animal welfare above industry interests.' On Friday, Bates Saddles announced they have dropped Heath Ryan's sponsorship in response to the whipping footage. Bates is one of the biggest saddlemakers in the world, and are very popular for various equestrian disciplines. 'At Bates Saddles, horse welfare isn't just our priority, it's our purpose. Horses deserve nothing less than our complete respect, care and protection,' the said on Facebook 'We are shocked and heartbroken by the recent video involving Heath Ryan and do not support any treatment that causes distress or harm to horses. The video footage is completely at odds with the Heath Ryan we have partnered with for decades, and we have immediately ended our sponsorship. The saddles will remain at the property, as the comfort and safety of horses must come first. 'We respect the due process that the relevant federations will follow in their investigations, and we will not be making any further comments while this process takes place.'
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
Authorities take action over horror horse whip video
An Australian Olympian filmed whipping a horse 42 times has claimed he was doing so in an effort to save the animal's life. The footage, taken around two years ago at his stables in NSW, shows Heath Ryan repeatedly striking a horse named Nico as it bucks in distress. The video was recently shared online, sparking widespread outrage. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING Now Equestrian Australia has provisionally suspended Ryan from national and international competitions while it investigates the incident. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is a three-time Australian three-day event champion, claimed the footage was taken by a disgruntled former employee. The 66-year-old said the whipping of the six-year-old gelding was a last resort to prevent the horse from being euthanised. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' Ryan wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. He described the situation as 'life-and-death' for Nico, who he said was destined for the knackery. '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,' he said. '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. By the end of that initial ride, I did feel Nico was responding.' Ryan added that after a few more days of training, Nico began responding well and no longer required 'excessive driving aids.' However, Equestrian Australia strongly condemned the footage. 'Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,' the organisation said in a statement. 'We have imposed a provisional suspension of this person's membership and all associated rights, privileges, and benefits while the matter is investigated.' Heath Ryan at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Credit: MIKE CLARKE / AFP Ryan also claimed that Nico had previously attacked its former owner. 'The horse grabbed her by the mouth, ripped her out of the saddle, and savaged her,' he said. 'It would stop, then turn around and try to grab you like a stallion. It had done this with its previous owner, who had never hit it.' '(The whipping) turned everything around. This horse went on to have its best interests looked after. Clearly, in hindsight, it wasn't horse abuse. It was actually saving its life. That's irrefutable. It's just that when you look at it, I understand—it's bloody horrendous.' 'And if you think I enjoyed that, I did not. I hated it, but I felt desperate. This horse was maybe as good as dead. Could I talk to it? Could I open up channels of communication?' The video was shared by US equestrian channel Dressage Hub, whose owner Susan Wachowich said it 'infuriates me to the core.' With 7NEWS
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
‘Savage': Video shows former Australian Olympian whipping horse 42 times
Equestrian Australia is investigating former Australian Olympian Heath Ryan over a video that shows him whipping a horse 42 times. The footage was originally shared to US-based Facebook account Dressage Hub, before being taken down and re-uploaded to their YouTube, where it has sparked outrage in the comments section. A narrator over the footage claims that Ryan 'savagely' whipped the horse '42 times without stopping while in training. It was posted by a rider in Australia. Once the report was filed with Equestrian Australia, they asked her to remove the video, to cover it up. 'It's never-ending. This horse is completely shut down. It's traumatised in every state. This video infuriates me to the core, and I'm trying to remain calm.' EA said it was investigating whether the incident broke its welfare policieswhich protect horses and riders from physical, social, and emotional harm, as well as the international code of conduct, which says horses 'must not be subjected to methods which are abusive or cause fear'. Horse whipping is not allowed at elite levels and is heavily regulated against. Ryan could face permanent expulsion from EA and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports if he is found to have breached the code. 'Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage,' the organisation said in a statement. 'The person depicted in the video is a member of Equestrian Australia. EA is currently investigating this matter ... and will have more to say about the matter when we have more information.'
