In the last week of July, the leading German equestrian magazine, St. Georg, published an article on extreme training methods, alleging that some top Dutch riders, including reigning Olympic dressage gold medalist Anky van Grunsven and her partner, Sjef Jensen, have engaged in practices that compromise the welfare of their horses.
The piece, titled “Dressur Pervers,” caused quite a stir in van Grunsven\’s home country, the Netherlands, and the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) responded by issuing a statement that defended all Dutch riders and trainers. Jensen is the coach of the Dutch team.
According to a Horse And Hound online report, officials from the KNHS said “allegations made in the [German] article on the use of such practices by top Dutch riders have no basis.”
The Dutch statement went on to say, “The KNHS thus views the article as a very unsporting attack on its dressage team before the European Championships in Hagen, Germany, and regrets that the Dutch riders have been connected with animal maltreatment.
“The KNHS is convinced that its coaches and the members of the national team train their horses in an animal-friendly manner. The Dutch riders and coaches are highly aware of the responsibility they have towards their horse and how they must prepare their horses in a welfare-friendly way for top games such as the championships.”
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Officials from the Federation Equestre Internationale also backed the KNHS\’ statement by drawing attention to the fact that its code of conduct requires that “at all stages during the preparation and training of competition horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands.”
Mariette Withages, chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee, said that “the FEI veterinarians and stewards continuously supervise the stables, training areas and grounds at all FEI events. The FEI Dressage Committee constantly is making every effort to foster the concept of the horse as a happy athlete.”
Van Grunsven won the individual gold medal, on Keltec Salinero, at the European Dressage Championship, in Hagen, Germany, July 28-31 just days after the article\’s release, and afterward she dismissed the allegations.
“I really felt great in my lap of honor with the enthusiastic cheering Dutch supporters, and all the Germans clapping and shouting as well. So at the end I feel really everybody was happy, except for a minor two,” she said, referring to the two German journalists who wrote the article.
Van Grunsven has also brought legal action against the St. Georg in a German court.
