‘These coaching strategies haven’t any place in our sport’: British rider suspended over horse welfare issues

Showjumper James Smith has been instantly suspended because of horse welfare issues.

British Showjumping (BS) introduced on Saturday (16 March) that the British rider could not compete at any worldwide or nationwide occasions. The suspension pertains to photographs that “seem to have been taken at a current FEI occasion”.

BS mentioned in an announcement it was “liaising carefully with British Equestrian [BEF] and the FEI” on the problem. It added {that a} block has additionally been put in place to stop the groom, Nicola Park, from renewing her BS membership whereas the investigation is underneath manner.

“The coaching strategies depicted within the photographs haven’t any place in our sport, are towards our laws and won’t be tolerated,” the BS assertion reads. “Horse welfare is the best precedence for British Showjumping, the BEF and the FEI, and we’ll proceed to work carefully collectively to make sure our guidelines and laws regarding equine welfare and wellbeing are each revered and enforced.”

The FEI has additionally provisionally suspended James, which suggests he can not enter, compete or practice riders or horses at any FEI or nationwide occasion “till additional discover whereas the photographs and circumstances of the incident are being investigated”.

The 31-year-old rider, who gained three pony European Championships medals for Britain and has made two senior Nations Cup appearances, was competing in Valencia in February and March this yr, then Oliva. His most up-to-date consequence was twenty seventh place in a 1.45m CSI3* class, on 15 March.

James was unavailable for remark. Nicola couldn’t be reached for remark.

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by means of to worldwide championships.