Changes needed for Modern Pentathlon

MADAM,

I HAVE been involved as an equestrian in five Olympic Games but this time tears came to my eyes. Modern Pentathlon hurt both human and equine performers and this should never be allowed to happen again. I do not want to take away from the incredible performances of the medal winners, especially Olympic champion Kate French who is one of the finest athletes in any sport in Tokyo.

While some have chosen to blame the athletes for what happened in the riding section, it is important to set the record straight. There was nothing fair about drawing a horse that’s clearly not fit to compete, as happened with two highly rated medal contenders who were at the top end of the leaderboard after two disciplines.

The horses in Tokyo looked to be in very good shape physically, but I would seriously question the mental suitability of some for this competition. I base this observation on what I saw at close quarters and my 50 years with competition horses.

It is essential that the horses selected by the organisers of Modern Pentathlon for the riding phase should have a proven record in competition, as well as being used to being ridden by different riders. Some of the competitors undoubtedly rode poorly and were overfaced by a 1.20m course, rather than the 1.05m maximum used in World Cups and Olympic qualifiers, but this was not the case with Germany’s Annika Schleu and Ireland’s Natalya Coyle.

Schleu, a former World Champion and fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, led by an impressive 24 points when she entered the jumping arena. Her medal chances ended when her horse, Saint Boy, stopped and refused to go forward before crossing the start line! It was at this point that the German coach Raisner punched the horse. For me this was when the Modern Pentathlon hit rock bottom!

If he had refused four times he would have been eliminated and not allowed to be used by Schleu. Instead, because he simply refused to go forward the time limit was reached and he was eliminated on a technicality. As a result, Schleu had to compete with Saint Boy.

Natalya Coyle is a three-time Olympian, 9th London 2012, 6th Rio 2016 and an experienced, excellent rider but Constantin refused twice at the combination as he had done with his previous rider. There ended her Olympic dream.

Constantin and Saint Boy were withdrawn from the men’s final – they should never have been in the Olympic pool of horses in the first place.

The organisers of the Olympic Modern Pentathlon need to review what happened so it is not repeated. The format for Paris 2024 will have riding as the first discipline but this will solve nothing; more radical change is what is needed but removing riding from Modern Pentathlon is unnecessary and would destroy de Coubertin’s concept for the sport.

I would suggest three changes:

1. Course of 10 fences with no double or triple combinations.

2. Maximum height of 1.10m.

3. Each horse to be ridden by only one athlete.

As a coach, I have a responsibility to protect the mental and physical health of both equine and human athletes; so do the Olympic organisers.

Yours etc,

John Ledingham

Equestrian Coach, Modern Pentathlon

Team Ireland, Tokyo 2020