Swedish European medal-winning showjumper Douglas Lindelöw has denied allegations of mistreating horses, as he has been suspended from nationwide crew actions and worldwide competitors – and reported to the police.
On Monday (11 March) Swiss publication Aftonbladet reported that an elite showjumper “abuses and punishes horses after poor outcomes”, and that 5 grooms had come ahead with allegations of mistreatment.
On the time the rider had not been publicly named, and on Tuesday in a press release a spokesman for the Swedish equestrian federation said that “a rider belonging to one of many leaping squads will take a break from all nationwide team-related actions” – and that the federation had been taking the data “extraordinarily severely”. The spokesman, who added that the rider “doesn’t belong to the championship squad”, mentioned the choice was “not presently a disciplinary measure, however a pause throughout additional overview”.
In an additional assertion on Wednesday the spokesman mentioned the federation had been in touch with “a number of individuals who testify to an motion that would point out against the law” – and that the rider in query had been reported to the police.
“Within the final 24 hours, now we have been in touch with various individuals who have expertise with the rider. What they inform us signifies that we can not rule out crime within the dealing with of horses and meaning we select to report it to the police. If against the law is suspected, it’s at all times vital to let the police examine,” mentioned Johan Fyrberg, the Swedish equestrian federation’s secretary normal.
Mr Fyrberg added that as of Wednesday (13 March) the federation is not going to sanction worldwide competitors for the rider “in the intervening time”.
“Our sport have to be characterised by pleasure and love for the horses. Subsequently, there are various of us in equestrian Sweden who at this time are extraordinarily unhappy, indignant and pissed off by the tales and footage now we have been uncovered to. There’s nothing that belongs in equestrian sports activities,” he mentioned.
Right now (Friday 15 March) Douglas Lindelöw issued a press release denying the allegations.
“I want to deal with the intense allegations which were made towards me and the operations I oversee, as reported within the media. I absolutely recognise the gravity of the state of affairs however firmly refute the accusations of horse mismanagement. Whereas I’m actually not infallible, I preserve that our care and coaching of horses are performed with utmost respect and in compliance with established norms and laws,” he mentioned.
“In mild of the latest allegations, we’re in fact ready to totally cooperate with any potential investigations or inquiries – which we welcome. We’re open to implementing additional measures to make sure and improve the welfare of our animals if obligatory. This has been confirmed by inspections by authorities over time. Simply this week, I initiated an impartial veterinary examination of all of the horses. The outcome: No remarks.”
Douglas added that he “urges the Swedish equestrian federation to provoke a broader overview of the trade in Sweden as considerations are often raised about horses being pushed too exhausting and improper strategies getting used”.
“It’s in everybody’s curiosity to totally examine these considerations,” he mentioned.
Douglas made his senior crew debut on the 2015 European Championships, having received medals at youth stage. He was on the crew that took silver on the 2017 Europeans on Zacramento. He has ridden at three World Cup finals. In 2021 he was a part of the Swedish crew that positioned fourth on the Europeans.
Right now the spokesman for the Swedish Equestrian Federation advised H&H that “the truth that the rider says he needs to take part in any investigation is sweet and we welcome that”.
“For us nevertheless, it doesn’t change something. The continuing course of continues in accordance with plan.”
An FEI spokesman mentioned the allegations are “very disturbing” and that the alleged behaviour has “no place in equestrian sport”.
“The FEI is in shut contact with the Swedish nationwide federation and the federation has undertaken to the FEI that it’ll not enter the athlete in FEI competitions whereas the matter is below investigation,” he mentioned.
“Additional to that enterprise, the FEI has not deemed it essential to difficulty a provisional suspension at this stage however we’re monitoring the state of affairs carefully.”
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