The drama about the horse Saint Boy is getting bigger and bigger. Schleu
After the pentathlon on Friday, the focus is on Annika Schleu. The harrowing images of the horse Saint Boy are currently going around the world.
“Get it right,” said trainer Kim Raisner loudly and clearly. Annika Schleu did as she was told and hit the horse and whipped it. Over five million viewers on ARD witnessed how the animal had no desire to compete and repeatedly refused to jump. More than that, the horse looked completely stressed and confused.
After the athlete was under fire immediately afterwards and meanwhile also deleted her Insta account because of insults, the ARD is now under criticism. There is great excitement online that Schleu was portrayed as a victim. Moderators and commentators emphasized several times that the horse “does not work”.
At the same time, the term “animal cruelty” was trending on Twitter. In the comments it says: “Why does none of the journalists / reporters present from Sportschau and ZDF sportstudio address the national coaching team from the # Modernen5Kampf about the actively demanded cruelty to animals? Why is that not done? Your hair stands on end”. One question is addressed directly to the broadcaster: “Do you also classify the cruelty to animals or do you just interview the disappointed trainer who would have liked to go even further?”
The ARD and the Sportschau were initially very neutral about the incident: “The modern pentathlon is part of the Olympic program and show jumping is part of it. We cannot foresee how a competition will develop. We will take up the topic again later in the program . “
A short time later, a reporter actually picked up on the events and emphasized: “That just can't be. It's not good for the sport, the athletes and, above all, the horse”. He also added that the rules should have been ignored in order to prevent such images from occurring. Background: Schleu was not allowed to trade her horse.
