There have been many reactions after Norwegian Olympic rider Geir Gulliksen whipped his 11-year-old horse, Equine America Grandino H, twice in the 1.50 Grand Prix class at the Norwegian Horse Festival (NHF) in Lillestrøm on 3 December. news has heard from spectators at the convention that the audience was shocked after the incident. Strong reactions Many were surprised that it was Gulliksen who used a whip on his horse, as he is known in the community to be kind to his horses and rarely uses a whip. – This incident shows that there is a kind of acceptance of inflicting pain on animals. And we have previously received many tips from the equestrian community about violence against animals, but it is rare to have video evidence, says press contact at the animal rights organization NOAH, Siri Martinsen, to news. OLYMPIANS: Geir Gulliksen became the oldest Norwegian Olympian of all time when he participated in show jumping in Tokyo 2021. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Hest.no and trav365.no have previously discussed the matter. The editor of hest.no, Line Bjølgerud, writes to news that the case caused such strong reactions on their Facebook page that they eventually had to close the comment section. – Sometimes similar cases come up that lead to debate about this, but generally speaking, there is very good horse riding and good horse welfare in Norway. For example, whips are prohibited in trot and gallop races, writes Bjølgerud to news. Within the regulations Since the incident occurred at an international event, the competition regulations of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) apply. In the FEI’s general regulations for 2022, it states, among other things, that whipping or hitting the horse excessively or more than three times is abuse of the horse. Gulliksen was not punished for using the whip as the judges believed it was within the rules. In a media statement, the FEI writes that they were made aware of the incident and have followed it up with the judges for further clarification: – We take all potential violations of the horse’s welfare very seriously. In this specific situation, the jury did not sanction the athlete as there was no breach of FEI rules. The horse was also checked by the official, who reported no problems and confirmed that the horse was fit to compete. news has spoken to Geir Madland, who is an international show jumping judge and official. An official checks the horse’s well-being in the stable, before and after competitions. – I was present at the convention as an official, but did not catch the incident when it happened. When I’ve seen the video afterwards, I didn’t really react. In relation to the regulations, it is within. The whip has a large surface that makes loud bangs when it hits, to which the horse reacts. The FEI regulations state that three punches are the maximum, but if one punch is hard, it means disqualification. The way I see it, it is not violence against animals, says Madland to news. Madland also checked Gulliksen’s horse after the competition, and according to the official, it was in 100 per cent physical condition. CHECKED: The horses are checked by a steward before and after competitions. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / Gunhild Hjermundrud Sorry Geir Gulliksen, who has been active in equestrian sports for 47 years, says he has received many inquiries afterwards and regrets the incident. – The big difference between equestrian sports and other sports is that you practice the sport in collaboration with an animal. The animal, in this case the horse, touches people’s emotions. I did not expect that such strong emotions would be expressed, says Gulliksen to news and continues: – I understand that the public can perceive that a correction that I had to make on my World Cup horse in Lillestrøm can look violent. I apologize. As a sport, equestrian sport must also adapt to the world around us, and take into account that there may be reactions to the way we perform the sport today. Both FEI and NRYF are working on adaptations that will ensure that the performance of equestrian sports is generally accepted. HORSE TRANSPORT: How to transport horses over longer distances is discussed in NRYF. Photo: Kyrre Lien / SCANPIX This is confirmed by Norwegian Riders’ Association (NRYF) president Tore Sannum. He is concerned with how equestrian sport is perceived from outside. – Most of the time spent in both national and international forums revolves around horse welfare and the future of equestrian sport from a societal perspective. We believe that the current regulations safeguard the horse’s animal welfare, but we recognize that we should look further at what we can improve. Transport, medication and use of equipment are examples of things we discuss. It is important that we operate in a way that is generally accepted, says the president. Gulliksen also says that he wants to stop using a whip at events: – I know several other international riders have also stopped riding with a whip for the same reason. – You are a role model for many, do you feel an extra responsibility for how you behave in competitions and training? – Yes, I am a profiled rider and am a well-known person in the riding community. It makes some additional requirements. That is also the reason why I take the consequences of the reactions that have come and make the above adjustments, says the top rider. WHIP-STOP: Gulliksen says he will stop using whips in competitions after the strong reactions. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Exposed to incitement Gulliksen, who is Norway’s oldest Olympian, recounts several ugly comments afterwards. He can tolerate that, he says, but it is not just the rider himself who has had to undergo it. Show jumping daughter Victoria Gulliksen, who is known to many through the news program “Familiens ære” where father and daughter participated, has also received harassing messages in her inbox. Victoria says that she has received many messages on her social media and on the family’s joint account on Instagram: – I manage our Instagram account, and I have had to make it private and block many people. I have never experienced cyberbullying before, but now I understand how terrible people who are subjected to this feel. – What happened should preferably not have happened, but people make mistakes. It’s absolutely terrible what people will write online to put people down. It has been so disgusting that I have logged off completely. I received a comment via someone else that someone had said I should hang myself, says Victoria, who believes it is wrong that she should be dragged into this. THE HONOR OF THE FAMILY: Geir and Victoria Gulliksen were participants in the news program “Honor of the Family” in 2021, where six well-known sports families get to test their physics and put their relationship to the test. Photo: Cato Ingebrigtsen / Photographer Cato Ingebrigtsen Animal welfare projects nationally and internationally Secretary General of NRYF, Beate Heieren Hundhammer, writes to news that they understand that the episode may arouse reactions, which they have also communicated to the international judges. – NRYF and FEI are very keen that all our athletes have good knowledge of horse welfare and apply this in practice. Horse welfare is central to everything NRYF does. The Equestrian Association has begun work on “Tomorrow’s Equestrian Sport”, where horse welfare is a central theme. And in June 2022, the FEI set up an independent Commission on Equestrian Ethics and Animal Welfare, with one of their aims being to provide the FEI and equestrian sport with a framework to address and improve the welfare needs of the horses in the sport.
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Steiler over the use of whips on horses – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
