Brazilian rider Carlos Parro issued a warning at Paris Olympics over horse treatment
Brazil's Carlos Parros and his horse Safira during the Equestrian Eventing Dressage competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Versailles, France. Credit: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
VERSAILLES, France — Equestrian’s governing body issued a warning to Brazilian rider Carlos Parro on Saturday for potentially causing “unnecessary discomfort” to his horse Safira after receiving evidence from an animal rights group.
The decision was handed down by the Federation for Equestrian Sports just days after the withdrawal of three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin from the Paris Games.
The warning for Parro came after the FEI received a letter and photos that were sent to its president, Ingmar De Vos, by animal rights group PETA on Friday. One photo shows Parro hyper-flexing Safira’s neck in a prohibited movement called “Rollkur” — compromising the horse’s breathing.
“The FEI Officials have issued a yellow warning card (to Parro) as the action of the athlete could have caused unnecessary discomfort to the horse. Additionally, the Ground Jury has directly addressed the situation with the athlete and the chef d’Equipe of Brazil,” the FEI said in a statement. “The FEI Stewards are aware of this incident and will be vigilant at all times for any behavior that is not in line with horse welfare and are prepared to take immediate action if such behavior occurs.”
PETA's letter, which was shared with The Associated Press, said “Rollkur” also damages the horse's spine and leads to long-term health issues.
"The pain this horse must be enduring is almost unimaginable,” PETA said. “The public is unlikely to accept this, as illustrated by the mass outrage over the Charlotte Dujardin abuse video.”
The 45-year-old Parro took in the dressage section of eventing at the Paris Olympics on Saturday morning at the Palace of Versailles, and he had finished competing before the warning was issued.
Brazil's Carlos Parros and his horse Safira during the Equestrian Eventing Dressage competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Versailles, France. Credit: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Also Saturday, Emiliano Portale and his horse Future were eliminated during the dressage event after blood was found in the horse's mouth during post-competition checks.
However, this was in line with horse welfare protocol and “does not imply that there was any intention to hurt or harm the horse,” the FEI said in a statement.
On Thursday, the FEI spelled out a series of reforms for improving horse welfare after a video had emerged that showed Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse.
Dujardin is provisionally suspended from all events, pending results of the FEI investigation into her actions.
