Paris 2024: UNACCEPTABLE! New abuse scandal out as Olympics rider accused of hitting horse with bar

With the Paris Olympics 2024 commencing on Friday (July 26), another abuse scandalhas emergedwith Austria's Max Kuehner accused of hitting his horse with a bar.Kuehner has been subject to criminal proceedings in Germany for allegedly hitting his horse's legs with a bar in order to make it jump higher. The world number three is accused by Munich II public prosecutor's office of violating the German Animal Welfare Act by virtue of engaging in "active bar jumping" or "barring". Notably, the technique is more widely known as "rapping". It is a technique where a pole is used to smack the horse’s legs over a practice jump, forcing it to lift. Since early 2023, it has been strictly banned in Germany.

According to the Austrian Equestrian Federation, the 50-year-old Kuehner, who is scheduled to competein both the individual and team jumping competitions in Paris, has rubbished all such allegation. The governing body told a German newspaper,"We can confirm, based on everything we have observed during the years of working with Max, that the way his horses are kept, trained and presented is of the highest quality."

"Due to his impeccable attitude towards his horse as a sports partner, there is no reason whatsoever to assume that he uses methods in training that are contrary to animal welfare, or that he has used them in the past," it added.

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The statement alsomentioned that Kuehner would participate at the Olympics as planned.

A REPEAT OFFENDER?

This is not the first time when Kuehner has come under the scanner for beingaccusedof animal cruelty. In 2008, courtesy ofan anonymous letter, the show jumperfaced the brunt for allegedly using a wire to make his horse jump more carefully. His method was severely criticised bythe Bavarian Riding and Driving Association, however,the disciplinary commission was unable to establish behaviour that breach the animal welfare laws. Hence, the case was discontinued with a ruling that was described as "minor guilt".

Ahead of the Paris Games, three-time British Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin was alsohanded a provisional six-month ban over horse welfare allegations.