Horse riding will be removed from modern pentathlon's program at the Olympics starting with the Los Angeles Games in 2028, the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) announced on Thursday, adding that a consultation process to find a suitable replacement will start soon.
The decision comes after Germany's modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner hit a horse at the Tokyo Games this year when it refused to jump a fence. The incident led to widespread criticism of the sport.
Annika Schleu of Team Germany cries following her run in the riding show jumping of the women's modern pentathlon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2021. /CFP
"It's not very long since we made a commitment to review and protect the riding discipline in the wake of the rescheduled Tokyo Games. But life within the Olympic movement changes fast," UIPM said in a statement.
Animal advocacy group PETA's senior vice-president Kathy Guillermo welcomed the decision but called for change to be effected as soon as the next Summer Olympics in Paris.
"We urge the governing board to implement the change in 2024 rather than 2028 – the horses who are whipped and spurred can suffer just as much in three years as in seven," she said. "Horses don't choose to compete and should not be punished because humans do."
Zhang Mingyu of China rides Beauty during the riding show jumping of women's modern pentathlon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2021. /CFP
Meanwhile, UIPM president Klaus Schormann said in a statement that "on behalf of the UIPM executive board, I ask our global community to embrace change and grasp the momentous opportunity before us."
"A new discipline will provide fresh impetus to our sport and strengthen the position of modern pentathlon within the Olympic movement."
UIPM said that the timeline for the selection of a new discipline – which must allow for global accessibility and be attractive and relevant for global youth among other conditions – would be communicated in the coming weeks.
Raisner's actions in Tokyo prompted the UIPM to disqualify her from the men's event, while PETA called on the International Olympic Committee to eliminate equestrian events from the Games citing cruelty in Tokyo.
Modern pentathlon has been an Olympic sport since 1912 and features five events: fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running.
(With input from Reuters)