Showjumper Michael Morrissey suspended after video shows show ring abuse

U.S. showjumper Michael Morrissey has been suspended and fined for excessively whipping his horse when he refused a jump at a Wellington show.

Fortunately, the incident was caught on tape and posted on the Internet, as the show officials did nothing to stop Morrissey at the time.

Michael Morrissey video:

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Siler on June 27, 2010 at 10:09am

After watching the video one must wonder, why did the horse refuse such an easy jump? Rider error perhaps? Was that why Mr. Morrissey took out his frustration on the horse?

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Permalink Reply by Jack Enright on July 17, 2010 at 9:10pm

The internet really is proving one of the most effective tools ever for enabling little people to hold 'big' people to account, isn't it? And not just individuals, lke Morrissey, but organisations, too - like the one which suspended and fined him. It also does a power of good in sending a sharp warning to the others, and to commercial sponsors, too - they won't want their brands being tarnished with accusations of encouraging the abuse of horses.
Whoever posted the video clip - good work!

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Permalink Reply by Marlene Thoms on July 26, 2010 at 11:18pm

Okay, I'm not some elite jumper guy, but why not just give the horse another runat it without all the dramatics. If he takes the jump,which i bet he would, unless the rider has been screwing him up, he's learned something. If he doesn't, call it a day and do your training off the field. If it's a good safe jump how does whipping the horse convince him the rider is confident? A horse is always learning, but not necessarily learning what we think he is. This performance make it appear that the horse only went over because the rider whipped him. If he had done it without, it would have appeared that the horse did it because they both got their act together at the same moment and both win. It takes two to tango, I've never seen a tango work well if one dancer has to whip the other to get them to perform.
I don't agree with suspending the rider though. Instead of suspending the rider, why not whack him with a whip 17 times, just as he's about to go over the jump, and see if he goes over the jump nicer next time.

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Permalink Reply by Tasha States on July 27, 2010 at 11:22am

Why didn't the judges kick him out the competition? Can they do that, what is their role in something like this? If they could have had him kicked out, then the lot of them should be sacked, the spineless bunch!

Maybe ban whips, in all competitions, if you have a good relationship with your horse and riding at this level, why would you need one.. other than to vent your frustration at your own inability and embarassment that your horse just refused to jump over a puddle!

He's nothing but a bully. If someone did this to a child or even a dog.. something would have been done instantly, why does it always seem acceptable to beat a horse in public.. and given that he behaves like this infront of several thousand witnesses.. makes me wonder what he's like at home when no one can see.

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Permalink Reply by Nicola Barnes on July 27, 2010 at 12:03pm

DAMN HIM! He can rot 4 all I care! :( He rode the poor horse skew at the jump! It makes me mad to see sum1 hit an animal like that! :( It is cruelty!
Poor horse did NOTHING! ]:(