Video evidence allegedly shows Austrian showjumper Alessandra Reich repeatedly striking her horse with a whip during competitions, prompting PETA to file a criminal complaint for alleged animal cruelty.
The animal rights organization says footage from the Sunshine Tour in Spain in January and February 2025, as well as a September event in Munich, captures the 29-year-old using excessive force on her horse’s flank. PETA filed a formal complaint with the Munich II Public Prosecutor’s Office on March 9 regarding the incident in Bavaria, though German authorities lack jurisdiction over alleged violations in Spain.
Reich, who won team bronze at the 2023 European Championships, operates a horse stable in Buxheim, Bavaria. PETA has also notified the Unterallgäu district veterinary office, pushing for an investigation into her training methods and calling for a potential ban on her keeping or caring for animals.
PETA expert Peter Höffken questioned what Reich might do away from public view, stating: “If Alessandra Reich repeatedly strikes a horse with a whip in the middle of a competition arena, what will she do when no one is watching?” He added that such treatment is not isolated in show jumping and urged authorities to ensure she never harms horses again.
The case echoes recent controversies in the sport. Before the 2024 Olympics, triple Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin was suspended after a video showed her striking her horse 24 times within a minute. In 1990, German show jumping legend Paul Schockemöhle faced backlash when images emerged of him hitting horses’ legs with a wooden pole.
What specific actions is PETA calling for in response to the allegations?
PETA is demanding that the veterinary office, FEI, and FN investigate Reich’s training methods and ensure she never again mistreats horses, while also pushing for a possible animal keeping and care ban due to her stable in Buxheim.
Why can German authorities only pursue part of the alleged misconduct?
German authorities can only investigate the incident that occurred in Munich because alleged violations during the Sunshine Tour in Spain fall outside their jurisdiction, requiring Spanish authorities to act if they choose to pursue the case.
