Australian Olympic equestrian Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended following the emergence of a widely shared video showing him repeatedly whipping a young horse named Nico. Ryan described the footage, taken two years ago, as part of a “rescue mission” to salvage Nico, a six-year-old horse who had seriously injured its previous owner and was on the brink of being sent to the knackery. Ryan explained that despite the horse’s difficult behavior, he felt compelled to try and rehabilitate Nico due to the horse’s breeding and connection to a lifelong friend. He stated that the horse eventually found a new, loving home and was thriving.

Equestrian Australia (EA) and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) are investigating the incident, with EA expressing serious concern over the treatment of the horse and emphasizing their strict welfare policies. EA confirmed Ryan’s suspension and denied any involvement in requesting the removal of the video from social media. Ryan acknowledged the distress caused by the video but maintained that his actions were motivated by concern for the horse’s welfare, calling the video “collateral damage” from his efforts to save Nico.