Cassoe Kruth Temporarily Excluded from Danish National Team and Squad

Dressage

Denmark

Carina Cassoe Kruth, Danish 2022 WEG team gold and 2023 European team bronze medal winning rider, has been temporarily excluded from the Danish national team and squad.

The decision surprisingly came two weeks after the Danish Equestrian Federation's (DRF) Disciplinary Committee had decided not to suspend Kruth but fine her 670 euro for whipping Heiline's Danciera in a training video dating February 2022.

Whipping Video

The video was sent to the DRF on Sunday evening 7 July, the evening before the Olympic nomination deadline. Kruth was expected to be Danish Olympic team reserve, but because of the video she withdrew and Nadja Aaboe Sloth was nominated as reserve.

On 1 August the the DRF disciplinary committee ruled that the rider had broken the applicable rules when she used a whip against a horse. However, because of Kruth's clean record the committee argued that a 670 euro fine and no suspension sufficed. The fact that it happened happened more than 2 years ago and that the person who submitted the video has not found reason to further justify the background for this worked in Kruth's favour.

Social backlash

The social backlash to the fine has been enormous and various mainstream newspapers picked up the news.

On 9 August the video was leaked to the Danish publication Nordjyske and it led to more outrage for the allegedly weak sanction of the DRF's disciplinary committee.

Cassoe Kruth has stated that she has received death treats and has deleted her social media accounts.

Temporary Exclusion

On 14 August the DRF announced that "the board of directors has made a decision to exclude Carina Cassøe Krüth from the DRF's squad and the national team in dressage."

"The decision has been taken as a result of the rider's behaviour in the video being incompatible with DRF's sports plan , in which " norms and values for gross group, national team riders and their personal team " are described.

The time frame of her exclusion from the team has not been announced.

Kruth was scheduled to compete for Denmark at the 2024 World Young Horse Championships with Svalegaards Hot Driver, but Danish Warmblood confirmed that due to her exclusion, she will not be eligible to go. She will be replaced by first reserve Susanne Barnow on Kjeldgårdens Django (by Hesselhøj Donkey Boy x De Noir).