Australian Olympian Slammed For Horse Whipping Video: Heath Ryan Suspended

A storm of outrage erupted across the internet after a video showed Australian Olympian Heath Ryan striking a horse multiple times with a whip. The 66-year-old dressage rider, who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, defended the act by calling it a “rescue mission,” claiming the six-year-old horse, Nico, was bound for the knackery after injuring a previous rider. In a lengthy Facebook post, Ryan described the moment as a desperate attempt to rehabilitate the horse, insisting it came from compassion, not cruelty. But the internet wasn’t buying it. Users flooded social media, calling the footage “disturbing” and “unforgivable,” with many demanding a lifetime ban. The backlash led to Equestrian Australia suspending Ryan after a formal complaint, followed swiftly by an international suspension.