Initial findings in the Munich-Riem animal welfare case
Attacks on ponies in Munich probably for “sporting” reasons
from Dominique Wehrmann 
According to this, the perpetrators are probably to be found in the vicinity of the participants. The press release states:
“According to the current state of the investigation, it has now been established that the animals were deliberately targeted in order to influence the placings of the starters at a youth tournament taking place at the Olympic riding facility during this period.”
The investigation has not yet been completed and is still ongoing.
Whether this means that the perpetrators wanted to manipulate the starting order of the participants or the ranking itself is not clear from the announcement. When we asked the police, we were told: “According to the current state of the investigation, the intention was to influence the final result.”
Background
On February 14, the Bavarian inspection for the Preis der Besten was to take place in Munich-Riem. But the night before, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., six ponies were the victims of animal abuse. The ponies’ manes and tails were cut off, one had its leg tied up in the blanket harness and another was bleeding from the mouth. Several had their tongues wrapped with rubber bands.
According to the vet who was called in, none of the ponies suffered any lasting damage. The tournament was canceled.
