animal abuse

Scandals involving top equestrians have ignited fierce debates about animal welfare at the Olympics. As comparisons to horse racing's more controversial practices emerge, TTR AusNZ's Vicky Leonard discusses how all equestrian sports face mounting pressure to address these issues head-on, requiring strong leadership to ensure robust practices that can uphold public acceptance. It's the grand stage of the Olympics, where the thunderous applause for our elite equine athletes should be deafening, but instead, it's muffled by controversy. The recent removal of revered British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin from the Olympics...

Dual Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian and licensed trainer Sir Mark Todd has become the subject of much criticism after a video showing him repeatedly striking a horse with a tree branch emerged on social media. The video, from 2020, shows the New Zealand native striking a reluctant horse some 10 times when it baulked at a water crossing. "I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip," Todd said in a statement. "One of the main things I preach is about establishing a...