According to the Centre for the Accommodation and Protection of Mistreated Equines (CHEM), cases of mistreatment of equines are unfortunately constantly increasing.
Horses: Abuse Even at the Olympic Games
It was the Olympic Games that brought the subject back into the spotlight: On July 23, British rider Charlotte Dujardin suddenly withdrew from participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The reason: a video posted online showing her hitting her horse multiple times during training. Since then, the five-time Olympic medalist has been under investigation by the International Equestrian Federation. In sport, cases of equine mistreatment are unfortunately not rare. But few have real consequences.
This is why several animal protection associations, such as the Fondation 30 Millions d’amis and PETA, have requested that certain horse riding events that are too dangerous or demanding for animals be removed from the Olympic Games. Indeed, while athletes choose to train constantly to win a medal, horses have not chosen to participate in the Olympic Games. Thus, these Paris Olympics will be the last where pentathletes will ride horses. For this last edition, the obstacles that the horses will have to overcome are fewer and lower. Furthermore, during dressage events, the obligation to wear spurs has been removed.
24 lashes in less than a minute.
Charlotte Dujardin was caught whipping her horse during a “training session” and was therefore withdrawn from the Paris 2024 competitions.
However, the difference with other competitors is that she was put on display.
Sports… pic.twitter.com/kszJzJ8hoP
— Lucia Hernandez | I love science (@YoAmoaLaCiencia) July 26, 2024
Supervise the accommodation of horses
But the road to truly caring for and protecting horses remains long. According to the Centre for the Accommodation and Protection of Abused Equines (CHEM), which has been working since 2011 to help equines with the Fondation 30 Millions d’amis, cases of mistreatment of equines held by individuals are constantly increasing. In addition, there is no legislation to limit or regulate the accommodation or reproduction of horses, as is the case for dogs.
The CHEM works in collaboration with veterinary services and the gendarmerie when a case of mistreatment is reported to it. If a court decision removes the animal from its owner, it can be placed. Thus, the CHEM becomes the owner of the removed horses. It owns more than 800 of them, and works alongside the Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis to help equines whose life or health is in danger. Since 2016, the Foundation has been responsible for more than 450 mistreated or abandoned equines, placed in boarding houses or foster families. In 2016, it acquired the Domaine des Aubris, with an area of 180 hectares, which has taken in hundreds of rescued equines.
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