FOUR riders were disqualified from the Olympic show jumping in Rio de Janeiro under the FEI rule on horse bleeding due to excessive use of spurs or whip.

The Ukraine’s Cassio Rivetti (Fine Fleur du Marais) and Brazil’s home-crowd favourite Stephan De Freitas Barcha (Landpeter Do Feroleto) were disqualified after round two, while Jur Vireling (Zirocco Blue) of the Netherlands and Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts (Zilverstar T) were also disqualified under the so-called blood rule on Sunday.

The FEI rule states: “Article 242.3.1 Horses bleeding on the flank(s), in the mouth or nose or marks indicating excessive use of spurs or of the whip anywhere on the Horse (in minor cases of blood in the mouth, such as where a Horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip, Officials may authorize the rinsing or wiping of the mouth and allow the Athlete to continue; any further evidence of blood in the mouth will result in Disqualification.”

Stephan Ellenbruch, president of the Rio 2016 Equestrian Olympic Ground Jury, when confirming the disqualifications, stated: “Horse welfare is the most important element of equestrian sport. Disqualification under this rule does not imply that there was intent to injure the horse, but it is essential that the rules are enforced in order to ensure that horse welfare is protected.”

He later elaborated: “We see that a lot of riders are very much under pressure here. Maybe they are overusing their spurs a little bit. We had no case where someone did this with the intention of hurting the horse. Sometimes it just happens.”

However he warned riders about the use of sharp spurs.

We see a certain tendency that there are clipped horses with short fur and sharp spurs. This combination is dangerous, simple as that. We had to disqualify two riders on both the first days,” said Ellenbruch.

The good news is that today (Wednesday) a lot of riders had changed their spurs. More and more riders are protecting their horses using spur belts and things like that. The huge majority of riders do everything to protect their horses. And then there are sometimes cases where it happens and we have to take action.”