Less whipping in competition and hay at will.
This is what a report for "equine well-being" during the 2024 Paris Olympics published in April by a study group of the National Assembly recommends.
“It is essential that this planetary event be an opportunity to raise awareness among the general public and all professionals of equine well-being and it must be nothing other than a source of pleasure for horses, riders and spectators", notes the "animal condition" study group chaired by Loïc Dombreval (LREM).
It offers 46 recommendations ranging from boxes that are large enough, "4 m side minimum", "to hay several times a day, even at will", passing through measures on "harnessing and artificial aids", little known to the general public but sometimes controversial, such as "sliding reins" or "rear gaiters".
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The latter, for example, "aim to artificially and painfully improve the performance of horses", which pass obstacles more easily, and "are therefore similar to
a real physical doping device
, as denounced by the French Equine Veterinary Association". , notes this report.
He also proposes to limit the use of the whip to once during the event and twice during the warm-up "under penalty of sanctions", to prohibit the "respect bands", a wide band which surrounds the belly of the horse under the saddle and allows you to protect him, but also to mount him if he is injured.
The modern pentathlon also concerned
At the Tokyo Olympics, the modern pentathlon event made headlines after German rider Annika Schleu manhandled her horse Saint Boy with a whip and spurs, giving a disastrous image of the discipline.
🐎 🇩🇪 Largely in the lead in the modern pentathlon, Annika Schleu is eliminated after show jumping and refusing to jump from her drawn horse Saint Boy.
Terrible disappointment!
#Tokyo2020 #OlympicGames
Follow the Olympics live ➡ https://t.co/vcD3RfzQAE pic.twitter.com/UVtwE4jbPj
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 6, 2021
Since then, the International Modern Pentathlon Federation has announced that it will abolish the horse riding event, but for the editions of the Olympic Games after those of 2024.
In terms of pentathlon stricto sensu, the report recommends "assigning a different horse per rider to avoid having to do several laps", "draw lots for the horse 24 hours before the event, so that the rider-horse couple can get to know as well as “reduce the height of obstacles to a maximum of 110 cm”.
“These recommendations will probably seem excessive to some professionals and insufficient to some animalists,” the report concludes.
For the Paris 2024 Olympics, the riding events will take place in Versailles.