Horse injured at Kentucky three-day dies

Le Samurai, the horse injured during the final stages of the cross-country at the Kentucky Three-Day-Event on May 5, has been euthanised.

The announcement of the loss of Le Samurai was made at the weekend by his owners, the Broussard family.

“From the outset we have been determined to give this magnificent horse the best veterinary treatment available, but only so long as the continuation of that treatment remained consistent with Sparky’s best interests. Regrettably, the veterinarians treating him have advised us that a successful outcome is not possible,” Jerome and Rebecca Broussard said.

“Sparky will be greatly missed by our family, Amy Tryon and everyone who knew and loved him. We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Hunt and the veterinary staff at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for their tireless dedication to Sparky’s well-being. We also wish to thank the eventing community around the country for all the kindness and good wishes that have been extended to us and to Sparky.”

His rider, Amy Tryon, said: “I am heartbroken at the passing of Le Samurai. Sparky was a wonderful horse and a gallant partner who meant the world to me. His loss has left me indescribably sad. I want to join the Broussards in thanking the veterinarians who tried so hard to save him.”

The FEI is investigating the incident.

Kentucky horse trials death may go to FEI tribunal

May 17, 2007

Amy Tryon, the US rider at the centre of horse abuse claims at the Kentucky three-day-event earlier this month, has until today to decide if she wants her case to be referred to an FEI tribunal.

Le Samurai died as a result of injuries sustained during the latter stages of the cross-country phase at CCI 4* in Lexington on 28 April 2007.

The FEI said it had received the official reports and video footage regarding the case. The FEI has notified Ms Tryon through the USEF of her right to be heard before a panel of the FEI Tribunal, which has been constituted to address the matter after it was referred to the Tribunal by the FEI Secretary General further to the applicable rules.

Hearing over death of eventing horse

June 6, 2007
United States three-day-event rider Amy Tryon has requested a hearing into her case. The case centres around events resulting in the death of her mount, Le Samurai, after the Kentucky three-day-event in late April.

Le Samurai was injured but completed the cross-country course at the CCI 4* Lexington on April 28.

The 12-year-old bay holsteiner-thoroughbred cross gelding lost the supporting ligaments in his left front leg. He was taken to the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute but euthanatized a few days later when veterinarians deemed a successful treatment outcome was not possible.

The FEI has reviewed the official reports and video footage regarding the case, and Tryon has requested a hearing. The hearing is to be held on 25 June in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Hearing into Amy Tryon – Le Samurai case completed

June 26, 2007

The hearing in the case of alleged abuse at CCI 4* Lexington involving rider Amy Tryon (USA) and horse Le Samurai, which had occurred on April 28 at the Kentucky three-day, took place on Monday at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The panel accepted the evidence presented and will issue its decision within 30 days.

The hearing began at 9am and ended at 4.30pm. The panel examined the evidence received, which included numerous witness statements and video footage in addition to various testimonies from several people.

FEI Tribunal Panel members – Ken Lalo, Patrick Boelens, and Erik Elstad – were present. At the hearing for FEI were Alex McLin, FEI General Counsel, and Laetitia Zumbrunnen, FEI Legal Counsel.

Amy Tryon was present, with two attorneys, Kevin Baumgardner and Andrew Temkin.

Those giving evidence included Christian Landolt, Wayne Roycroft, Catrin Norinder, Frits Sluyter, Rebecca Broussard, Mark Phillips, and Karen O’Connor.

Fine, suspension for Amy Tryon in horse abuse case

July 21, 2007

The FEI has suspended and fined US rider Amy Tryon over continuing to compete after her horse broke down. The incident happened when Le Samurai was injured during the Kentucky Three-Day-Event in April.

Tryon has been suspended from competition for two months, starting immediately, and also fined her 1000 Swiss francs, and ordered a contribution of 1500 francs towards the legal costs of the judicial procedure.

The case centres around the riding of an apparently lame Le Samurai in the final moments of the cross-country phase of the 2007 Rolex Lexington Kentucky 4-Star Event on 28 April 2007, and the state of the horse when the last fence was jumped. Le Samurai was euthanised some days after the event.

A hearing was held on June 25, at which the parties presented a substantial volume of evidence including testimony from several experienced members of the international eventing community.

The FEI said: “The dilemma which the Tribunal had to resolve was a very difficult one. The main issues to be decided were (a) whether the competitor committed an ‘abuse’ as this term is defined under the applicable rules (see note to the editor) and, if an abuse was committed, (b) whether it was an intentional act or an unfortunate omission to take action and stop the horse, as signals of discomfort were not correctly perceived by the competitor.”

It concluded that Amy Tryon’s behaviour at the end of the cross-country phase of the event “objectively constitutes abuse according to the requirements of the applicable FEI regulation. The competitor acted, by continuing to ride after the horse was objectively lame and injured. Conversely the competitor omitted to act, by failing to pull up the horse when she could have. This caused or was likely to cause pain or discomfort to the horse.”

The Tribunal expresses its opinion that “abuse of horses constitutes an offence that violates the most fundamental rules of the equestrian sport and is, as such, highly reprehensible from a moral point of view”. It also determined that, had “the competitor intended to ride a lame or injured horse, a suspension for life would not have been an inappropriate or a too severe penalty”.

However, the tribunal’s decision indicates that it determined in this case that there was a “significant disconnect between what Amy Tryon felt and what was actually occurring.” It said that while Amy Tryon was negligent in not stopping the horse, the Tribunal determined that she did not understand that the horse had been injured until just as she pulled him up. The decision states that “The Tribunal believes that in the state the competitor was in – tired, focused on completing the course and without the benefit of video and ability to observe matters or analyze them logically – she did not realize that the injury had occurred, and thus never intended to continue on course with a lame or injured horse. The Tribunal believes that the competitor clearly realized that the Horse took quite a number of uneven strides, but could not determine their cause or likely severity. The Tribunal believes that the competitor should have nevertheless stopped earlier to understand the severity of the lameness.”

The determination that there was no premeditation and no actual awareness by the competitor that she was riding a lame or injured horse is taken into account in imposing sanctions on Tryon.

After careful examination of the parties’ submissions and evidence, the Tribunal confirms the disqualification of horse and the competitor from the event and imposed the suspension and fine. The suspension is to “commence immediately and without further notice at the end of the 30-day appeal deadline, or sooner if the right of appeal is waived”.

The decision stated that David O’Connor, President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Member of the FEI Eventing Committee and Chairman of the FEI Eventing Safety Committee, phrased the dilemma and the conclusion well in remarking: “Premeditated abuse is an action that should, and needs to be dealt with in the most severe actions that we as a sport can take by our judiciary side. Similar cases to this [the present case] are much harder to judge and I feel should be dealt with on a whole different level. Should this be taken seriously – yes; career changing – no.”

• Definition of abuse according to the applicable FEI rules:

The principle of the horses’ welfare is of paramount importance and inherent in the conception of the equestrian sport promoted and regulated by the FEI, as expressed by the Code of Conduct, Statutes and General Regulations (GRs). The rider who puts his or her horse’s health and life at risk must be held responsible for this conduct.

Under the heading “Abuse of horses”, Article 143 of the GRs provides a general definition according to which the following requirements must be met for a case of abuse to be realized: act or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or discomfort to a horse.

In the context of Eventing, Article 520 of the FEI Rules for Eventing states as follows: “Any act or series of actions that in the opinion of the Ground Jury can be defined as abuse of a horse or dangerous riding shall be penalised by disqualification and such other penalties in accordance art. 532.1 of the present Rules as the Ground Jury may determine. Such acts include, for example: rapping, riding an exhausted horse, excessive pressing of a tired horse, riding an obviously lame horse, excessive use of whip and/or spurs, dangerous riding”.

Amy Tryon thanks supporters after FEI decision in horse case

July 21, 2007

US event rider Amy Tryon has released a statement following the decision of the Tribunal of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Judicial Committee, over the Le Samurai case.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the Tribunal … I am prepared to accept the Tribunal’s decision for the good of the sport,” she said.

Tryon acknowledged the support of her husband Greg, the Broussard family, Captain Mark Phillips, Karen O’Connor, “and the hundreds of people that have written letters to me over the last two and a half months. Your support has helped to get me through this very difficult time.”

She continues: “I also want to reiterate my unequivocal apology to the Tribunal, the FEI, the USEF, the Broussards, and eventers and horsepeople everywhere for the mistake I made during the cross country at the Lexington Three-Day Event. I misperceived the situation and acted incorrectly. Had I known that Le Samurai was injured in any way, I would have pulled up immediately. In the sport of eventing, the welfare of the horse must be paramount at all times. I firmly believe in this principle, and to the extent that my actions on April 28, 2007 appeared inconsistent with it, I again want to express how truly sorry I am.

“Most importantly, I want to again express my devastation at having lost Sparky as a friend and a partner, and how much I miss him.”

Amy Tryon waives right to appeal horse abuse verdict

July 24, 2007

Amy Tryon has waived her right to appeal the FEI’s verdict of horse abuse at the Kentucky Three-Day-Event in April.

The FEI released a statement today that it had received official notification of Amy Tryon’s acceptance of FEI Tribunal’s decision.

Consequently, Amy Tryon’s suspension commences immediately and will run from July 20 through to September 19, 2007. She was also fined her 1000 Swiss francs, and ordered a contribution of 1500 francs towards the legal costs of the judicial procedure.

The FEI suspended and fined Tryon over continuing to compete after Le Samurai broke down in the final moments of the cross-country phase of the 2007 Rolex Lexington Kentucky 4-Star Event on 28 April 2007, and the state of the horse when the last fence was jumped. Le Samurai was euthanised some days after the event.

A hearing was held on June 25, at which the parties presented a substantial volume of evidence including testimony from several experienced members of the international eventing community.

The FEI tribunal concluded that Amy Tryon’s behaviour at the end of the cross-country phase of the event “objectively constitutes abuse according to the requirements of the applicable FEI regulation. The competitor acted, by continuing to ride after the horse was objectively lame and injured. Conversely the competitor omitted to act, by failing to pull up the horse when she could have. This caused or was likely to cause pain or discomfort to the horse.”

The Tribunal expresses its opinion that “abuse of horses constitutes an offence that violates the most fundamental rules of the equestrian sport and is, as such, highly reprehensible from a moral point of view”. It also determined that, had “the competitor intended to ride a lame or injured horse, a suspension for life would not have been an inappropriate or a too severe penalty”.