The Disciplinary committee of the Danish Equestrian Federation (DRF) has ruled in the case of Carina Cassoe Kruth. After receiving a video with alleged horse abuse, it decided to fine the rider 5,000 DKK (670 euro).
Alleged Horse Abuse
On 7 July 2024 the Danish equestrian federation received a controversial training video of Carina Cassoe Kruth.
TV2 Sport reported that the video is of Kruth whipping a horse in a very hard way during a training session in February 2022. Right before the Olympic entry deadline the Tokyo Olympic rider got reported to the disciplinary committee of the Danish NF and withdrew as Olympic team reserve.
The video has never been made public. (Editor's note: on 9 August the video was leaked to the Danish publication Nordjyske).
The Danish equestrian federation opened a case with the disciplinary committee: "8/7-2024 - DRF reports rider for breach of joint regulations §16 to the disciplinary committee. The case awaits the disciplinary committee's assessment."
The same weekend this case became known, Kruth and her young horse Svalegaards Hot Driver were also sent home from the CDIO Falsterbo as her young horse had "a scratch by the mouth" and considered not fit to compete.
670 Euro Fine; No Suspension
On 1 August 2024 the DRF disciplinary committee ruled in Case no. 2024-11 (Breach of Common Provisions section 16 8/7-2024) and concluded the rider has broken the applicable rules when she used a whip against a horse.
DRF stated the following: (Google translate from Danish)
"The defendant has not previously received charges. According to Common Provisions section 107, a first-time violation of the provisions of the DRFs, if there is simple negligence on the part of the defendant, is sanctioned with a prosecution. Violations due to gross negligence or intent are sanctioned with a fine of up to DKK 10,000 per violation. The size of the fine is determined based on a specific and individual assessment of the seriousness of the act."
"The disciplinary committee finds that what happened cannot be attributed to simple negligence. The use of the whip is, as is also evident from the video, done on purpose and thereby with intent.When taking into account the Respondent's experience, position, age, etc., the Disciplinary Committee finds, after a concrete and individual assessment, that there is a serious violation of the code of conduct that applies to the handling of horses."
When determining the sanction, however, the Disciplinary Committee has chosen to give importance to the fact that it happened happened more than 2 years ago, that the person who submitted the video has not found reason to further justify the background for this, and that the Respondent has not previously received sanctions.
On that basis, the sanction is fixed at a fine of DKK 5,000 (670 euro). She has not been suspended.
Kurth is selected to compete at the World Young Hose Championships in Ermelo on 3 - 8 September 2024 with Svalegaards Hot Driver.
Rumblings
In Denmark there are still rumblings of animal welfare issues. Right before the dressage Olympics took place in Paris, Idrætsmonitor ("an independent, digital news media with a focus on the development and social significance of sports") published an accusatory article on several Danish Olympic dressage team members with photos of alleged poor bridle contact taken in Amsterdam and Falsterbo.
As a response the Danish Equestrian Federation issued a statement in support of its riders and the FEI framework they compete.
"Photos represent a snapshot of a situation without a coherent context. Therefore, still photos can rarely stand alone, and therefore we have also not been able to come up with a professional assessment on the current basis," DRF wrote. "The photos referred to come from international FEI meetings in 2024, which are all held in a very professional setup, where the meeting places are for example monitored by professional stewards, and the competitions are judged by professional and competent judges. In the event that horses in competition at FEI events exhibit persistent conflict behaviour, the judges have an important responsibility in judging and possibly sanction the rider. None of the Danish riders who appear in the photos have been sanctioned by the judges at the relevant FEI events, and we at the equestrian association have also not received any reports. In addition, it is important to emphasize that the FEI competitions are public with many spectators, TV coverage, press photographers and medical checks of the horses both before and after the competitions."
The case prompted Danish tabloid Ekstrabladet to interview board members of the DRF. They are suggesting that the newly elected board is already having issues of mistrust and non-cooperation. Also TV 2 dug deeper and interviewed Morten Schram Rodtwitt on whether photos can provide sufficient data for a medical/welfare assessment. In Sweden mainstream press is also on high alert since Aftonbladet posted a blue tongue article in March 2024.
Related Links
Falsterbo Applies Stricter Welfare Checks - Cassoe Kruth Sent Home
Controversial Video Forces Carina Cassoe Kruth to Withdraw from Olympic Team Contention
Casper Cassoe Kruth Leaves Danish Warmblood for Global Equestrian Group