The German broadcaster RTL ran an article on January 11th which appears to depict German show jumping star Ludger Beerbaum engaging in the illegal and cruel training method known as “rapping”, where the horse is struck in the lower legs over fences to encourage better jumping form.
Investigative journalist Günter Wallraff conducted almost two years of research into unauthorized training methods in equestrian sports and violations of the Animal Welfare Act. RTL-Extra reporter Sina Meyer went undercover at Beerbaum’s Riesenbeck facility, posing as an intern. In addition to polygonal wooden poles traditionally used for ‘rapping’, she also discovered poles embedded with sharp points.
“The pain inflicted on the animal by parallel bars is unbearable,” she commented. “The players in show jumping sometimes earn millions with these horses. I hope that our research increases the pressure on those responsible and that the animals are better protected in the future.”