FEI Issues Yellow Card for Horse Abuse After PETA Complaint; PETA Statement

For Immediate Release:
July 27, 2024

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement from PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo regarding the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) issuance of a yellow card to Brazilian event rider Carlos Parro for the abuse of the horse Safira:

The FEI is looking over its shoulder now and that can only be good for horses but it needs to do more than warn riders and coaches that they are violating rules of which they are fully aware. We’re relieved the FEI addressed our complaint and took action, we remain deeply concerned about the horse, Safira. The unnatural bend of the neck can be achieved only through physical abuse and for that the rider should have been disqualified by the safety team before anyone had to send photos to PETA. A warning is humiliating for the Brazilian team but we need action to protect the horses.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.