FEI Launches Horse Abuse Investigation into Australia’s Heath Ryan
8 months ago StraightArrow Comments Off on FEI Launches Horse Abuse Investigation into Australia’s Heath Ryan
June 19, 2025
The FEI has begun an investigation into Australian equestrian athlete Heath Ryan following allegations of horse abuse reported to the FEI and Equestrian Australia, as well as posting of a video on social media showing abusive training techniques.
Equestrian Australia and the FEI have imposed a provisional suspension against Heath Ryan, who competes in both top sport dressage and eventing. The investigation will be led by the FEI, in close cooperation with Equestrian Australia.
The suspension of Ryan, 66 years old, is the seventh of an international dressage rider, six of them Olympians, in the past 20 months. Ryan competed in dressage at the 2008 Olympics, in eventing at the 1990 World Equestrian Games, dressage at the 2002 WEG and dressage at the 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas in 2009.
“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 Thursday.
“The FEI has opened an investigation to 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 she welcomed the FEI’s investigation.
“It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter,” Jones said.
“Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can.
“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.”
Heath has defended his actions as seeking to discipline a horse that was so out of control that the alternative was to send it to a slaughterhouse.
The FEI invites anyone who witnessed the incident or who possesses relevant information or evidence to contact the FEI via email at welfare@fei.org.
The FEI said it won’t comment further while the investigation is ongoing to protect the integrity of the process.
