Olympic dressage rider cleared of cruelty in case brought by animal rights activists

Edward GAL (NED) riding Glock's Undercover N.O.P. during the Grand Prix Team Competition at the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany on 13 August 2015

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Edward Gal has been acquitted of cruelty in a case brought by the German branch of PETA — and is now considering taking legal action against the animal rights activists.

The Dutch Olympic dressage rider was cleared in court in Aachen, Germany, of riding Glock’s Undercover in rollkur during the 2015 European Championships, during which the combination were on the gold medal-winning team. The Dutch equestrian federation said the charge was “dismissed as completely unfounded and the judge immediately acquitted Edward of all charges against him”.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS

Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

Olympic dressage rider cleared of cruelty in case brought by animal rights activists

The federation added: “It was the second time in a row that PETA had tried to sue Edward.

“In 2018, just before the World Equestrian Games in the US, PETA filed the exact same complaint. The case was then immediately dropped.

The federation added that Edward is “very happy” at the verdict, but that his reputation may have been damaged by the negative publicity caused by the case.

“He is now having lawyers investigate whether he will take legal action,” a spokesman said.

PETA’s Edmund Haferbeck said: “It is a milestone that an animal welfare case with a prominent [figure] after more than six years — and despite considerable resistance also within the judiciary — even comes to court.”

PETA added that its motto in part is that “animals are not there to entertain us”, and that it works against “speciesism”.

You might also be interested in:

‘My love for you lasts for ever’: Edward Gal pays tribute to wonder horse Totilas

H&H interview: Edward Gal — ‘riding to Totilas’ music again gave me goosebumps’ H&H Plus