If I look back at the scenes today, the greatest miracle for me is that the horse Saint boy actually started the course with Annika Schleu afterwards, but did not finish it because of four refusals. Under these circumstances you should never have started this course.
Show compassion – for humans and animals
When I look at the crying Annika Schleu in this situation, I feel sorry for her. When I read the comments and hatred she was exposed to on the Internet afterwards, I find it outrageous.
The criticism of her behavior, the behavior of the trainer and the rules in the pentathlon were right and important, because this is the only way to improve the conditions for the horses (which, in my opinion, should be the main focus). But what exactly improves for the horses if you pillory a person and verbally beat them up? Nothing.
I know that it makes a lot of people angry when you say something like this. They cannot understand how to feel sorry for a person who treats a horse in this way. But I wonder why we deny humans the empathy we show towards animals. For me, these are inseparable: to show compassion for others, regardless of whether they are humans or animals.
Training, trainer, regulations – this must also be discussed
That doesn’t mean that Annika Schleu behaved correctly. On the contrary. She behaved completely wrong. She harmed the horse. She put it under massive pressure and extremely stressed and insecure with her behavior. At that moment she was responsible for a living being – and she did not live up to this responsibility.
Riders should see horses as partners, strengthen and encourage them and recognize when they are overwhelmed. Annika Schleu did not succeed in doing this. In my opinion, the fact that she did not succeed is not only her fault. Education, trainer and regulations have also contributed to these circumstances.
I can understand that Annika Schleu was desperate at the moment. She obviously didn’t know how to behave, probably felt immense pressure and in a few seconds saw everything she had worked for years and lost. An Olympic medal. The disappointment and despair are understandable to me – even if they don’t justify their behavior.
Statements that could be found problematic
I find it problematic how she later said about her own ride. I particularly noticed two statements in interviews. She told the “Stern” on August 7th, one day after the ride: “I treated the horse to the best of my knowledge. It was already clear that one had to be a little more consistent, but I was never rude.”
A few days later she said to “Die Zeit”: “I was in a conflict. Does it really make no sense now? Or does it still need that little push? That was damn difficult to weigh up. We professional athletes train never to give up. But there was something else. I used to be my coaches criticized for my reluctance to deal with the horses. (…) In the situation I thought that if I say hello now, then I would confirm the impression that I was too inconsistent. So I tried again and again. “
After the second quote, one could benevolently assume that she herself thought about giving up, but then wanted to do everything right and acted as the trainers taught her. Anyone who finds the first quote more important wonders how one can have so little horse understanding that after such an incident one can still say that one acted to the best of one’s knowledge and belief. I don’t know how Annika Schleu looks at her behavior today.
An occasion to deal with the horse’s wellbeing
I think there is one other point that is much more important. And that is also the positive thing that Annika Schleu initiated: a debate about what is actually right for horses. In pentathlon, in top-class sport, in popular sport.
Because we can only treat horses properly if we understand their behavior. When we know how to learn, how to gain trust. “Hit it right”, that is not a saying that only Annika Schleu has heard. “Hit it right”, that is not a saying that would have ever advanced horse and rider.