The scene in which pentathlete Annika Schleu tries with whip strokes to get her refusing horse under control is one of the low points of Tokyo 2021. Now the athlete and her trainer face legal consequences.
The German Animal Welfare Association has filed a criminal complaint against modern pentathlete Annika Schleu and national trainer Kim Raisner after the events at the Olympic Games. As the organization announced on Friday, it accuses Schleu of animal cruelty due to the events at the equestrian competition and Raisner of aiding and abetting animal cruelty.
Horse refused in the course
The horse drawn from Schleu had refused in the course in Tokyo, Raisner had the crying Berliner with the words “Hit it right!” prompted to use the device. Animals have no place in a performance-oriented competition between people, said Tierschutzbund President Thomas Schröder. The ad also serves to fundamentally clarify this problem. Schleu failed to gain insight in subsequent interviews, criticized the Animal Welfare Association.
Schleu defends himself against allegations
In an interview with the weekly newspaper “The time” Schleu recently defended himself against the accusation of torturing her horse in a competition. “I didn’t treat the horse extremely harshly. I had a crop with me that was checked beforehand. Just like the spurs. I am really not aware of any animal cruelty”said the 31-year-old. But she also confessed that she might have said earlier “okay, it just has no value”.
Afterwards she felt left alone by the world association, whose German President Klaus Schormann did not speak to her. Tierschutzbund President Schröder described Schormann’s (75) resignation as overdue.
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