Australian rider Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended by the FEI and Equestrian Australia after a video, approximately two years old, surfaced this week of the Hong Kong dressage Olympian repeatedly whipping a horse. Heath, an Olympian who represented Australia at the 2008 Olympics and the 1990 and 2002 World Equestrian Games, has competed in both pure dressage as well as upper-level eventing throughout his career.
After the release of the video, which depicts Heath repeatedly whipping a horse over the span of several minutes, the rider posted a statement on his social media pages. We’ve provided statements given about this case in full for additional context:
“Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery [slaughter]. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico.
“Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn’t and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video.
“I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding.
“I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future.
“All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee.
“All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.”
Equestrian Australia responded to the video, confirming that it had enacted a suspension of Heath as it investigates the matter.
“Equestrian Australia is aware of footage posted on social media showing a person repeatedly whipping a horse. We have also received a formal complaint about the matter. Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage.
“Equestrian Australia’s Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy includes high standards to protect all participants and their horses against any adverse physical, social, and emotional conditions during all EA endorsed equestrian activities that are conducted under the auspices of EA or by any EA affiliate. We also have a Code of Conduct which requires participants to adhere to the FEI code of conduct for the welfare of the horse.
“The person depicted in the video is a member of Equestrian Australia.
“Equestrian Australia has this afternoon [June 12] imposed a provisional suspension of this person’s membership of Equestrian Australia and their rights, privileges and benefits associated with their membership. This means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organisation of, or participation in, any event under the jurisdiction of Equestrian Australia.
“The suspension will remain in place pending a thorough investigation of this matter by Equestrian Australia’s Integrity Unit.
“Contrary to commentary on YouTube, we have no information to suggest Equestrian Australia management asked for the footage of this incident to be removed.”
EN reached out to the FEI to verify that a corresponding suspension had been handed down, to which they responded with the following statement:
“The FEI is aware of the footage published on social media and is taking it very seriously. We are liaising with Equestrian Australia and looking into this incident. Equestrian Australia has imposed a provisional suspension against the athlete Heath Ryan (AUS) and the FEI has recognised and implemented it at FEI level as of 12 June 2025. It is visible in the FEI database here.”
EN will continue to monitor this investigation and will provide further updates as they are made available to us.
