“The well-being of the horse is crucial” (daily newspaper Junge Welt)

The German Equestrian Association FN has announced that in a RTLContribution to examine allegations of illegal training methods expressed on Tuesday in the stable of four-time Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum in Riesenbeck. However, the FN did not mention the name Beerbaum in its statement published that night. The world association FEI has also got involved. One has an investigation into those in that RTLThe FEI announced on Wednesday: “The welfare of the horse is always crucial, and the FEI condemns all measures that are contrary to this.” The methods shown in the article are »Absolutely unacceptable and contradicts all FEI regulations«. The FN also takes the allegations very seriously. “That is exactly why we will carefully analyze the footage broadcast late on Tuesday evening and then draw appropriate conclusions on how to proceed,” said FN General Secretary Soenke Lauterbach.

In order to be able to make a serious assessment of the facts, however, all video and evidence material is required: »We demand RTL therefore again to make this completely available to us, «said Lauterbach. Already now, “regardless of the contribution shown, we can clearly say that the use of square poles and dimpled or spiked poles is unacceptable and not in accordance with the principles of fair equestrian sport.” In the show “RTL extra «, on the basis of secretly filmed video recordings, evidence should be provided that the unauthorized parallel bars are used in the training of show jumpers on the Beerbaum estate. Whether the rider in the video images is actually Ludger Beerbaum, however, cannot be determined with absolute certainty. You can see, however, that a man kneeling behind an obstacle pulls up a long bar at the height of the front legs when the horse takes off.

Beerbaum denied the allegations and announced legal action. According to Beerbaum, the scenes shown in the article on the riding arena »have nothing to do with parallel bars. It is allowed touching that was carried out by an experienced, experienced horse specialist. “The object seen in the video met the requirements of the German Equestrian Association for permissible touching:” No longer than three meters, a maximum of two kilograms in weight. «(Sid / jW)