Isabell Werth Enters Controversy Over Horse Abuse

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Isabell Werth on Superb. File photo. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Feb. 18, 2024

Isabell Werth, the most decorated Olympic equestrian in history, spoke out Sunday on the issue of horse abuse that has come to dominate horse sports.

In a brief statement on her Instagram account, the 54-year-old Isabell said:

“There is a lot of discussion going on at the moment, between horse lovers, riders and animal welfare activists.

“There have been very ugly pictures which need consequences.

“I am, however, worried that it is a controversy that divides us, although actually there is one thing that combines us and that it is the love of horses.

“That is why we should sort a few things out.”

Isabell herself has been criticized for her association with Helgstrand Dressage. She competed the horse Wendy de Fontaine, previously named Queenspark Wendy, that Andreas Helgstrand has been unable to do so because of ban on competition for a year.

However, since then the case has emerged of American trainer Cesar Parra of Jupiter, Florida and abuse of both horses and humans that has also embraced horse dealers in Germany.

And trainers elsewhere are being named as horse abusers.