Animal welfare incident at the Preis der Besten in Munich-Riem

Mr. Herkommer, please describe what happened on Saturday night.

Wilfried Herkommer: During the night, there was an incident in the stable in which six ponies had their manes, tails and, in some cases, tails cut off. One had a front leg hooked in the blanket strap and another was bleeding from the mouth. Several had their tongues tightly wrapped with rubber bands. The shock was great for everyone. The children were deeply disturbed. No one wanted to ride under these circumstances. Everyone just wanted to go home.

How are the ponies?

The vet was on the scene immediately and examined the ponies. None of them were permanently injured. He took blood samples, which are being examined to determine whether the ponies may have been sedated.

Is there any suspicion as to who might have committed such an act?

It is assumed that it was someone who is familiar with horses, because a non-horse person does not actually just reach into the mouth of a horse or pony. But this was necessary in order to be able to wrap the rubber bands around the tongues. There may have been several perpetrators so that one could hold on. Some of the children and parents spent the night in the truck, but nobody noticed anything.

And there is said to have been a similar incident in Kreuth recently?

Yes, ponies were let out of the stables at night at a tournament in Kreuth. One was tied to a tree in the forest.

What are the police doing now?

The police were called in and searched for evidence. They are our immediate neighbors and some of them have horses at the facility themselves. So there is also a great deal of self-interest in clearing up the incidents. Especially as there have already been arson attacks on the dog and rider squadron. Investigations are being carried out at full speed.

The interview was conducted by Dominique Wehrmann