Paul Estermann, Swiss Olympic showjumper banned for seven years

Swiss Olympic showjumper Paul Estermann, pictured, has been banned from participating in equestrian sport for seven years after he was found guilty of animal cruelty — Pictured: Paul Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Swiss showjumper Paul Estermann has been banned for seven years after he was found guilty of animal cruelty charges relating to his Olympic and European Championship rides.

In January H&H reported that the Swiss equestrian federation (SVPS) had applied for a provisional suspension of 60-year-old Mr Estermann after he was found guilty of animal cruelty charges against Castlefield Eclipse and Lord Pepsi.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

Olympic showjumper banned from equestrian sport for seven years after animal cruelty

Legal proceedings were launched against Mr Estermann in 2017, and in 2019 SVPS announced he had been found guilty by Willisau District Court of violating the Animal Welfare Act.

The case was then taken to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, and in March 2022 Mr Estermann’s appeal was “partially admitted”. The judgement of the Cantonal Court was annulled and it was sent for new assessment. In December 2022 Mr Estermann was again found guilty by the Lucerne Cantonal Court.

In January the SVPS board asked the SVPS sanctions commission (SAKO) to provisionally suspend Mr Estermann while an investigation took place. But on 24 February SAKO rejected this request, and said there was “no urgency”, as the outcome of its investigation was due in March.

In an SVPS statement yesterday (13 April) it was announced that during the SAKO investigation Mr Estermann was invited to a “voluntary survey”, but he decided not to.

“For SAKO, this underpins the behaviour of the rider, who showed no insight and no remorse for his actions throughout the criminal proceedings. This was also the case in the context of the SAKO procedure,” read the statement.

SAKO president Thomas Räber added that SAKO considers the “willful, selfish, and aggressive behaviour of the rider to be a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the horse”.

Paul Estermann was banned from participating in national equestrian sport for seven years. He must also pay legal costs of 1,200 Swiss francs (£1,080). He has 20 days to appeal the decision.

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