Latest news with #HeathRyan
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sponsors drop Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan after horse whipping video goes viral - 'shocked and heartbroken'
Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan has been dropped by two major sponsors after shocking footage emerged of the equestrian star whipping a horse 42 times. Prydes EasiFeed and Bates Saddles - both long time supporters of Ryan - announced separately on Friday they have severed ties with Ryan. In a statement, Bates Saddles said they were 'shocked and heartbroken' by the damning vision. Newcastle based Ryan, 66, has also been suspended indefinitely from competition by Equestrian Australia. The governing body confirmed they received a formal complaint from a member of the public - and have since launched an investigation into the matter. As a result, Ryan is provisionally suspended from the sport. The suspension was mirrored by the international governing body, Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). According to News Corp, Equestrian Australia said in a statement they were 'extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in the footage.' The RSPCA are said to be 'making further enquiries' and the Australian Olympic Committee are aware of the video - but it remains unknown if they will take further action. Earlier this week, Ryan insisted he was on a 'rescue mission' after horrific footage emerged of the international equestrian star whipping a horse more than 40 times at a private stable. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Games in Beijing in the dressage team event, issued a statement online after the confronting vision appeared on social media via US-based Facebook page Dressage Hub. He conceded the footage is 'awful' - but maintained he was doing his utmost to ensure the horse wasn't sent to the slaughter house. Ryan also claimed the vision was posted 'by an unhappy ex-employee.' 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' his lengthy Facebook post began. 'This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. '(After the repeated whipping) I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well. 'All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. 'I (also) need to add that this happened about two years the video has been 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 has competed in equestrian events in Australia for decades, with his crowning achievement an appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Heath Ryan's lengthy statement after the confronting vision appeared on social media via Facebook page Dressage Hub He is also the brother of triple Olympic equestrian gold medallist Matt Ryan, who was part of the eventing team who famously stormed to victory at the Sydney Games in 2000. The incident follows British golden girl Charlotte Dujardin sensationally quitting just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics after a video emerged of her allegedly whipping a horse on the legs repeatedly. Last December, Dujardin was suspended from the sport for 12 months by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), as the six-time Olympic medallist conceded she made an 'an error of judgement' during a coaching session. Dujardin had returned to competition leading into Paris after giving birth to her first child Isabella in March of 2023.
Fox News
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Equestrian Australia suspends Olympian Heath Ryan after concerning video surfaces showing him whipping horse
Print Close By Paulina Dedaj Published June 13, 2025 Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia on Thursday after video shared online showed him reportedly whipping a horse. The sports governing body announced the suspensions in a lengthy post, adding that it followed both the revelation of the video online and a formal complaint. "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," the statement read. Ryan was not named in the statement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "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. This means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organization of, or participation in, any event under the jurisdiction of Equestrian Australia." Ryan, who represented Australia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, posted a lengthy message on social media claiming that the video was from two years ago and shared by an "unhappy ex-employee." Reports say the video showed Ryan whipping the horse 42 times. GOLD MEDAL EQUESTRIAN RIDER WITHDRAWS FROM OLYMPICS AFTER VIDEO SHOWS ALLEGED 'ERROR OF JUDGMENT' WITH HORSE He claimed that the horse, Nico, had been brought to him by a family friend after that person was hospitalized following an incident with the horse. Ryan claimed he had saved the horse from being euthanized. "If a beautiful [6-year-old] horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable," he wrote in a post on Facebook. "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," Ryan said, later adding that his actions were done in the "best interests" of the animal. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Equestrian Australia said it "takes matters of animal welfare very seriously" and that Ryan's suspension will remain in place pending an investigation by the Equestrian Australia's Integrity Unit. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Print Close URL
Fox News
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Equestrian Australia suspends Olympian Heath Ryan after concerning video surfaces showing him whipping horse
Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia on Thursday after video shared online showed him reportedly whipping a horse. The sports governing body announced the suspensions in a lengthy post, adding that it followed both the revelation of the video online and a formal complaint. "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," the statement read. Ryan was not named in the 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. This means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organization of, or participation in, any event under the jurisdiction of Equestrian Australia." Ryan, who represented Australia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, posted a lengthy message on social media claiming that the video was from two years ago and shared by an "unhappy ex-employee." Reports say the video showed Ryan whipping the horse 42 times. He claimed that the horse, Nico, had been brought to him by a family friend after that person was hospitalized following an incident with the horse. Ryan claimed he had saved the horse from being euthanized. "If a beautiful [6-year-old] horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable," he wrote in a post on Facebook. "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," Ryan said, later adding that his actions were done in the "best interests" of the animal. Equestrian Australia said it "takes matters of animal welfare very seriously" and that Ryan's suspension will remain in place pending an investigation by the Equestrian Australia's Integrity Unit. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Australian Olympic dressage rider suspended after video appears to show him repeatedly whipping horse
Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended by Equestrian Australia, pending an investigation. (via CNN Newsource) 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
a day ago
- 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.
