News | International
13 Jul 2025 9:23
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Equestrian Australia suspends Olympian Heath Ryan over horse whipping video

    Equestrian Australia suspends Beijing Olympics competitor Heath Ryan over a video of him whipping a horse.


    Australian Olympian Heath Ryan has been suspended by Equestrian Australia after a video emerged that appeared to show him repeatedly whipping a horse.

    Ryan, 66, represented Australia in dressage at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

    The video — reportedly about two years old — shows a man striking a horse around 40 times. Ryan issued a statement saying he was acting in "the horse's best interest".

    Ryan said the horse, named Nico, came to him after an accident that resulted in a female rider needing hospital treatment.

    The Australian said Nico "had always been a problem child and would just not stop" and after the video he was able to rehome the horse.

    "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," Ryan said.

    "That video was a life or death moment for Nico and I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options.

    "All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video."

    Britain's three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin missed the Paris Games last year after a video emerged of her repeatedly striking a horse around its legs with a long whip. She was subsequently banned for a year by the FEI, equestrian sport's world governing body.

    After the Ryan video drew attention, Equestrian Australia said it had received a formal complaint about one of its members and had imposed a provisional suspension from all competitions and events.

    "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," a statement read.

    "Our policies include high standards to protect all participants and their horses against any adverse physical, social, and emotional conditions."


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     13 Jul: Iga Swiatek flattens Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes to claim Wimbledon women's singles title
     13 Jul: Australia's small Tuvaluan diaspora is about to grow fast — and it's determined to keep traditions alive
     13 Jul: New FBI case files reveal suspects, tips and hoaxes in DB Cooper plane hijacking manhunt
     12 Jul: California worker dead and hundreds arrested after cannabis farm raid
     12 Jul: The first report on the deadly Air India crash is out — what did it reveal?
     12 Jul: How customers 'play the Hermes game' to secure a coveted luxury handbag
     12 Jul: Air strike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar kills more than 20 people
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A much better night at the office for the All Blacks has the Scott Robertson seal of approval More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    How customers 'play the Hermes game' to secure a coveted luxury handbag More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    Shane van Gisbergen has taken pole position for tomorrow morning's Nascar road race at Sonoma 8:16

    Cycling:
    Jonathan Milan has sprinted to victory on stage eight of the Tour de France over a 171 kilometre flat track 8:06

    Tennis:
    Iga Swiatek flattens Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes to claim Wimbledon women's singles title 7:56

    Environment:
    Australia's small Tuvaluan diaspora is about to grow fast — and it's determined to keep traditions alive 7:56

    Golf:
    Golfer Ryan Fox has fallen down the leaderboard after a four-over par 74 in his third round at the Scottish Open, moving into a tie for 61st 7:56

    Motorsports:
    Indycar ace Scott Dixon has qualified sixth for this morning's opening race of the latest round in Iowa 7:46

    Rugby:
    A much better night at the office for the All Blacks has the Scott Robertson seal of approval 7:36

    International:
    New FBI case files reveal suspects, tips and hoaxes in DB Cooper plane hijacking manhunt 7:26

    Living & Travel:
    A reward for information about three sea lion deaths in Southland has soared to 50 thousand dollars 7:26

    Rugby League:
    A pair of NRL contenders are keeping pace with the top-of-the-table Canberra Raiders after winning their respective games 7:16


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd