by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 19, 2025
A two-year-old video reportedly showing Australian Olympian Heath Ryan striking a horse 42 times has led to the FEI (international equestrian federation) opening an investigation into the trainer’s actions after allegations of abusive training techniques.
“The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
Coordinating with Equestrian Australia, she emphasized the FEI will “thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI Rules and Regulations. We are committed to ensuring that any behavior which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly.”
Equestrian Australia CEO Sam Jones said, “We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience, as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures.”
Ryan, 66, a 2008 dressage Olympian who coached his nation’s eventing team to gold medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Games, said the video was posted by a disgruntled former employee. Ryan characterized the whipping incident as a “rescue mission” for a horse named Nico, saying he “had the horse’s best interests as the sole consideration.”
Heath Ryan. (Equesstrian Australia photo)
He then explained that it was a a “life-and-death” situation for the horse and it was in fact saving the animal from the “knackery” (slaughterhouse).
“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. 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.”
Ryan commented that Nico “had always been a problem child and would just stop,” eventually resulting in the hospitalization of his rider at the time.
He contended Nico is now “thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future.”
The FEI, which will provide no further comment while the investigation continues, asks anyone who witnessed the incident or who possesses relevant information or evidence to contact the FEI at welfare@fei.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 23, 2025
At its mid-year meeting, the U.S. Equestrian federation made rule changes “in keeping with its ongoing commitment to equine welfare,”
including one that allows testing of a horse’s hair, as well as blood and urine, for detection of certain prohibited substances such as barbiturates (including the euthanasia drug).
Using hair for testing can be done more readily than blood and urine, and involves a considerably longer period of time for revealing presence of a drug. A full list of banned substances will be published prior to rule implementation July 1.
Also effective July 1 are rules dealing with horse collapse at hunter and jumper shows.
“The intent is to ensure horses received appropriate care and are fit to compete before they return to the ring after an unexplained collapse,” according to USEF.
This rule will be modified to state that any horse/pony who collapses at one of these competitions is barred from competing for a minimum of seven days afterward, and is not permitted on the grounds of a USEF-licensed competition during that time. The horse may compete again only if a licensed veterinarian files a form with the federation attesting to the fact that the horse has been examined and is fit to return to competition.
Originally, a horse who collapsed was to be barred from competing for 14 days, but members felt that was too long, and that seven days, combined with removal from the showgrounds, would be more effective.
A rule going into effect Dec. 1 requires veterinarians treating horses on competition grounds to register with USEF, but does not mandate they become members. The new rule ensures event organizers have contact information for practicing veterinarians in the event they need to issue communication about disease outbreaks, biosecurity and best practices for rule compliance.
Some business along welfare lines has been referred to future meetings. They include Hunter/Jumper competition mileage and points, whip use, blood on a horse and return to competition. Board members wanted more work on the proposed changes before voting on them.
The board approved position statements for the organization on Equine Overuse and Equine Safety and Welfare.
The latter emphasizes USEF’s commitment to ensuring horses are fit to compete, maintaining optimal conditions for equine welfare, increasing uniformity, integrity and clarify through oversight, providing lifetime care for horses, and sharing information that enhances safety for every horse, every day.
The Equine Overuse statement acknowledges the growth of competition calendars in several disciplines, which has resulted in more opportunities for horses to compete frequently. USEF asks that horses are assessed regularly for signs of discomfort related to overuse.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 17, 2025
Vanessa Coleman has been named chief competition and operating officer of Equestrian Events Inc., which supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, including eventing’s Defender Kentucky 5-star.
EEI, which also presents the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S and Kentucky International CSI5* show jumping competition on the same April weekend as the 5-star event, attracts nearly 90,000 spectators.
Vanessa, who has a bachelor’s degree in business from Lindenwood University in St. Louis, worked as an accountant, ran her own barn and organized a local horse trial.
Vanessa Coleman
She volunteered annually at the Kentucky Three-Day Event for her mother, who was the chief steward of horse inspection. In 2008, Janie Atkinson, director of the event at that time, asked Vanessa to help with the fixture, and she has been on staff ever since.
Vanessa, who had been senior director of competition for EEI since 2013, is responsible for overseeing all competitive aspects of its events, including coordination with contractors and volunteers. Before that, she served as director of ticketing and transitioned to lead sponsorship in 2012.
Vanessa, who tries to give back to the sport by volunteering and supporting other local events as much as she can, was an eventer most of her life and still owns two horses. She and her husband, Anthony, have a daughter, Alexa.
“Few people in our sport are as universally liked and respected as Vanessa,” said EEI Chief Executive Officer Molly Day.
“Vanessa has played an integral role in the Kentucky Three-Day Event achieving its position of worldwide prominence, and EEI is incredibly fortunate to have her as a key member of our team.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 18, 2025
Fake saliva foam is no longer to be allowed in a horse’s mouth, as well as around it or the tongue. Marshmallow fluff is not the only substance that can cover a multitude of sins, including an open mouth in dressage. A new FEI rule will go into effect on an emergency basis July 1 to prevent administration of substances that mask what is going on in a horse’s mouth.
Word came out Wednesday from the FEI’s board meeting in Switzerland that according to rule 1004.4 “It is strictly forbidden to use any type of substance/product inside or around the horse’s mouth and/or tongue that may (i) imitate, induce or cause foaming; and/or (ii) coat or otherwise cover, or partially cover, the bit. The prohibition excludes the use of products permitted in
the FEI Tack App and the provision of permitted natural treats given in moderation.”
The penalty for violation? A Yellow Warning Card and elimination.
Horse welfare these days is job one, as it always should have been. For information on the Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan discussed at the meeting, click on this very informative link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 17, 2025
Veterinarian Mike Fugaro received the Governor’s Award from the New Jersey Equine Advisory board, part of the organization’s activities during the state’s month of the horse to recognize outstanding individuals. Dr. Fugaro owns and operates Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services in northwestern New Jersey.
Dr. Michael Fugaro.
He was the resident veterinarian and a tenured full-professor at Centenary University, and taught as a visiting instructor at Rutgers University in the Animal Science Department. Other positions he has held have been with the state Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health and the state Racing Commission.
The Morris County resident also has been president of the state Association of Equine Practitioners, an advisory board member for the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement and an admissions committee member for University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, from which he graduated.
Other award winners include Karl, the New Jersey Sire Stakes Award /Horse of the Year; the Standardbred of the Year honors went to Sig Sauer and who else but the brilliant racehorse Book’em Danno could have been Thoroughbred of the Year.
Katharina Boucke is the Youth Horse Person of the Year, the Superior Horse is Lightning Moon, Mark Mullen took Breeder of the Year and Standardbred Pleasure Horse of the Year is Slippery Slope.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 20, 2025
The Dutch had a popular home win in the third leg of the Longines FEI League of Nations Rotterdam on Friday, as their 87-year-old Princess Beatrix looked on from a packed gallery.
The new Dutch chef d’equipe, Wout-Jan van der Schans, noted he had never won in Rotterdam as a rider, but was excited to enjoy victory in his first effort guiding the team at the venue, the site of the initial European Championships in 1957.
“I’m really proud of them, how they were fighting and riding and together as a team, we work really nice and good,” the chef said of his squad.
The Dutch team on the podium: Maikel van der Vleuten, Harrie Smolders, Wout-Jan van der Schans, Willem Greve and Kim Emmen.
The U.S team of Karl Cook, Alessandra Volpi, Aaron Vale and Laura Kraut stood third after the first round over the extremely challenging course designed by Bart Vonck of Belgium (in his League of Nations debut) and his team. With fences rising up to 1.62 meters and a water jump on an angle near the in-gate, it’s not surprising there were only two double-clear performances in the two-round class.
“The course was good today; fair for the horses but (they) had to work quite a bit and make a real effort to get a clear round. It was a tough course,” the designer observed.
One belonged to Maikel van der Vleuten (Beauville Z NOP) of the Netherlands, helping his team to its score of 10 penalties. The other was logged by Jeanne Sadran (Dexter de Kerglenn) of the second-place French squad (13 penalties). Britain was third on 16 penalties.
After the second round, where League rules call for only three riders to compete and no drop score, the U.S. wound up fifth with 19 penalties, one penalty behind Belgium. The USA’s Laura Kraut (Bisquetta) and Aaron Vale with Devon Grand Prix winner Carissimo 25, were fault-free in the second tour of the course, but their respective scores of 4 and 7 penalties respectively from the first round weighed down the effort.
Karl Cook, the pathfinder in the first round, dropped two rails with Caracole de la Roque to be the drop score there and left the arena shaking his head. He did not ride in the second round. Alessandra Volpi (Gipsy Love), the youngest rider on the team, was the only U.S. competitor fault-free in the first round, but she had two rails in the second.
In the overall League standings, looking toward qualifying for the finals in Barcelona this fall, the U.S. is tied for fourth with Belgium. The only other qualifier left in the calendar is St. Tropez in September.
Click here for results, and here for overall League standings.
