Public prosecutors are investigating against Olympic champion Beerbaum
As of 7:02 p.m
Ludger Beerbaum of Germany riding Casello performs during the Jumping Individual 3rd qualifer competition of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Equestrian events at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 17 August 2016. EPA/ARMANDO BABANI +++(c) dpa – Bildfunk+++” /> Ludger Beerbaum, here at the 2016 Olympic Games, is facing legal action because of his training methods
Source: dpa/EPA
Ludger Beerbaum, Olympic champion in show jumping, is said to have used illegal training methods on his stud farm. The public prosecutor‘s office in Münster has now confirmed that an investigation has been initiated.
DThe public prosecutor’s office in Münster has initiated preliminary proceedings following allegations of illegal training methods against show jumper Ludger Beerbaum. The public prosecutor’s office confirmed this to the “Westfälische Nachrichten” and the “WDR” on Wednesday. It is therefore determined because of the accusation of tormenting animal abuse as an accomplice.
In an article on “RTL Extra”, the world-class show jumper was accused of using the forbidden parallel bar training method on his show jumpers. The four-time Olympic champion denies that.
Parallel bars are intended to encourage horses to pull their legs up more and thus jump higher. To do this, an obstacle bar or a stick is lifted up over the obstacle at the right moment, so that the animal hits it with its legs. This method is forbidden because it often causes pain to the horses.
Beerbaum defends himself against allegations
In a statement, Beerbaum, 58, defended himself against the allegations and wrote: “The contribution from ‘RTL extra’ is demonstrably wrong in many respects, defamatory and defamatory.” RTL had secretly recorded an informant in the program on January 11th videos shown. A journalist had also been hired to do research for some time as an alleged intern at the facility.
A scene from the RTL report: Ludger Beerbaum during obstacle jump training, while an employee hits the horse’s front legs with a pole
Source: RTL+
“The scenes in the riding arena shown in the article have nothing to do with parallel bars. This is permitted touching, which was carried out by an experienced, experienced horse specialist,” asserted Beerbaum, emphasizing “that this permitted training method is only very rarely used by us and is not part of our daily work”.
The public prosecutor’s office in Münster had recently not ruled out investigations into the Beerbaum case. “We’re keeping an eye on it,” a spokesman said. The animal rights organization PETA announced that it would file criminal charges against Beerbaum and another currently unknown person for cruel animal abuse.
