Rider guilty of horse abuse shows ‘sincere remorse’ as much evidence against him discredited

Five-star event rider Andrew McConnon showed “sincere remorse” for his actions that constituted horse abuse, the FEI Tribunal found – and was not guilty of most of the allegations made against him.

reported that the US rider had been suspended for 20 months. The full FEI Tribunal report into his hearing has now been published.

The Tribunal panel disregarded most of the evidence from the FEI’s multiple witnesses, as the FEI sought to prove Andrew had committed abuse, including preventing horses from breathing and riding in hyperflexion.

It found that he had “slapped Horse A on the top of his neck seven times”, that his use of the reins on the same horse was “firmer than necessary” to keep his head to the right and that he “jabbed Horse A in the mouth three times by crossing the rein o