Top American rider Amy Tryon has been found guilty of abuse for failing to pull up the injured Le Samurai at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event in April.
But, crucially, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tribunal that examined the case has ruled that the abuse was unintentional. As such, Amy, a World Equestrian Games bronze medallist, has been banned from competition for two months and ordered to pay £1,013 in fines and costs.
If the tribunal had found the abuse to be intentional, Amy could have faced a life ban.
Le Samurai, who had been leading the competition after the dressage phrase, went badly lame prior to the final fence on the cross-country course. Amy continued to ride him to the finish and afterwards it was discovered that he had sustained a severe ligament injury. Despite efforts to save him, Le Samurai was put down on 5 May.
A video clip of the incident was posted on YouTube and was the subject of heated debate on the H&H forum.
For more on this story, don’t miss this week’s H&H (26 July)
