Carlos Parro and Safira. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This story has been updated with comment from the rider.
The FEI have issued a yellow card at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to Brazilian team rider Carlos Parro in response to concerns raised by the animal rights group PETA.
A letter of concern and photographs were sent by PETA which appear to show Carlos hyper-flexing Safira to FEI president Ingmar De Vos on Friday.
“The FEI can confirm receipt of the letter and accompanying photographs from PETA highlighting the concerns about the conduct of Brazilian athlete Carlos Parro. The FEI Officials have issued a yellow warning card as the action of the athlete could have caused unnecessary discomfort to the horse,” The FEI said in a statement.
“Additionally, the Ground Jury has directly addressed the situation with the athlete and the chef d’Equipe of Brazil. The FEI Stewards are aware of this incident and will be vigilant at all times for any behavior that is not in line with horse welfare and are prepared to take immediate action if such behavior occurs.”
The four-time Olympian is ranked 51 after the first phase with his and John and Juliet Chambers’ Safira, a 12-year-old British Sport Horse (Spring’s Spirit – Hidden Sapphire, by Uptons Deli Circus), on a score of 37.7.
Following cross country, Carlos responded to the warning stating that the mare is an anxious type and “naturally” can move in that way when the reins slack. “The stewards were there. They could have seen if I was done anything wrong, and they didn’t. She will do that anytime. You let the reins go, the first thing she’ll do is put her head down,” he said, adding that on that day schooling he tried Safira in a double bridle, which he doesn’t normally employ.
“I did try a double bridle on her that day. I was suggested to try it because as I said she does tend to put her head down. It was suggested to me that I put a double bridle to help her come up a bit. It could have been that she didn’t want it, but I’ve never ridden in a double bridle before. It’s always on a snaffle. I put snaffle back, it’s fine,” he said. Carlos went on to complete his dressage test in his usual snaffle bridle.
“I think it’s it’s wrong that the governing body is accepting that and giving them wood for the fire. Because, as I said I was not riding her over-bent. She did it by herself. My hands were loose. The curb rein was loose. It’s not something I do. We love the horses. That’s why we do sport. When we were kids we rode every day because we wanted to be around them not to treat them badly,” he said.
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