Today, the Real Escuala of Jerez de la Frontera, released its official press release upong the incident that has lead to the abuse and partial castration of their Andalusian stallion Distinguido.
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art wishes to inform that:
On December, 18, 2002, round 6.10. P.M., the horse "DISTINGUIDO" bit the young man who was grooming him during one of the daily grooming sessions of horses at the Real Escuala Andalusian Riding School. Distinguido bit the groom, did not loosen him and kept tight, so the man desperately, and in an instinctive attempt to stop the horse, hit him with the foot without having the faculty of being able to direct the impact. He, unnfortunately, hit him in the testicles. The testicle was affected seriously upon inspection at our Veterinary Clinic by the Head of the Services.
The incident, which we considered very serious and which we condemn, was immediately filed and taken to the disciplinary commission at the Real Escuela.
The R.E.A.A.E. felt very affected about the abuse of the horse and apologises for what has happened. This incident is an isolated and unique fact in the great, long history of the world-wide recognized Royal School. The school has displayed its continuous demonstration of love for horses and dedication to the education of the most compatible tasks for the best treatment and yield of horses, as well as to the promotion of Spanish Purebred horses in our exhibitions and sports, particularly after competing these horses for the first time in the two Olympic Games and several world championships in the discipline of Dressage and Driving at the last World Equestrian Games in Jerez 2002.
Luckily and thanks to the immediate, professional and correct reaction and attention of our veterinary services, the horse "DISTINGUIDO" has had a fast recovery and is in normal training again at the moment. The R.E.A.A.E. wants to take this opportunity to thank for the solidarity and affection and supporting notes received, that far from trying to magnify the exception, they have wanted to support our positive and constant daily work.
Needless to show for what it is well-known by most people, it is the love for the horses on behalf of the Royal School that makes us be the first ones to feel deeply hurt by the facts that all we condemned and we were sorry. We hoped it is understood what could be obvious. Nobody wants more for our horses than the Royal School.
We do not know which information some Institutions or individuals have received upon the incident, but by the received notes we think that in some cases the information procidedhas been weakened or magnified in a negative way. We gratefully thank those institutions and individuals, that continue to realise that the love and care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, is the main concern of the Real Escuala and its employees. Thank you to those who have showed their total support and confidence after an incident that we are deeply sorry for.
Image © Dirk Caremans
Related Link
Andalusian Stallion Distinguido Abused by Groom