The scenes from the Modern Pentathlon at the Olympics are still preoccupying equestrian minds: The Equestrian Federation in Germany fears that equestrian sports will suffer damage to its reputation. In their opinion, the Modern Pentathlon should change its rules.
According to its new President Hans-Joachim Erbel, the German Equestrian Federation (FN) wants to increase the pressure on the Modern Pentathlon. After the scandal involving the Olympic pentathlete Annika Schleu at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, organised equestrian sport was also forced to justify itself.
“We see it as our task to exert pressure,” said 62-year-old Erbel at the CHIO in Aachen on Wednesday. “We say that the pentathletes should remove riding from the Modern Penthalon. If they are unable to do that, they should change the regulations in such a way that they protect the animals and people.” The FN and the World Equestrian Federation FEI have clearly distanced themselves from the pentathletes after the shocking pictures with Schleu.
31-year-old Schleu had not been able to cope with the horse assigned to her, which had been completely unsettled. National trainer Kim Raisner had asked the crying Berliner Olympian to use her whip, shouting at her with the words “Hit it hard!” – and then proceeded to hit the horse with her fist. Schleu and Raisner were then accused of cruelty towards animals, and caused a worlwide uproar.
Source: Der Spiegel
