PETA - should we discuss with animal rights activists who want to ban equestrian sports?

PETA sees itself as an organization that cares about the welfare of animals. According to its own name, the association is concerned with the ethical treatment of animals. What PETA doesn’t think much of: equestrian sports. The organization, which originally comes from the USA, has repeatedly called for it to be banned. With reference to excessive strain on the health of horses, questionable training methods – sharp bits, spurs, roller training, whips in racing or breaking in young horses too early – or inappropriate husbandry. In individual cases, PETA certainly has its points.

Clear PETA position: ban Olympic equestrian sport

Above all, the fact that dressage, show jumping and eventing are part of the Olympic canon is always a loud point of criticism from activists. Equestrian sport provides enough arguments, be it the dead eventing horse at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo or the beating video of Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), which was published shortly before the Paris 2024 Games. The Olympics guarantee publicity, which PETA needs because the association is financed by donations. According to its annual report, PETA Deutschland e.V. collected almost 15 million euros in donations and spent 17.7 million in 2024. This was spent on information and education campaigns, protests, legal action against animal cruelty, undercover research and publications, political campaigns, media and public relations work. This can be seen from the online presence. It is striking that there are no concrete measures to protect animals in practice.

Persuader

PETA is usually unyielding in discussions. It would also contradict the animal rights activists’ fundamental convictions if they were to distance themselves from their maximum demands. After all, they are the best sellers. Pure conviction.

How useful is a discussion with PETA?

How to deal with PETA now? FN President Martin Richenhagen would like to discuss the matter with PETA representatives this week. (red. Note: The discussion took place on Tuesday, May 12, after publication of the newsletter in which this text was first published. Click here for the report ). He has also invited veterinarian Dr. Kirsten Tönnies to the podium as a discussion partner. She is also a long-standing critic of equestrian sport and has recently attracted attention for her high-profile appearances surrounding the rescue, or supposed rescue, of the whale Timmy(which brought Don Hitmeyer onto the scene …).

Controversial personality

What you need to know: Tönnies was on the board of the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare. After verbal attacks against its chairman, Dr. Andreas Franzky, she was expelled from the association. She later published hate comments against Franzky on her Facebook page. There were 35 reactions under this post, in which Franzky was wished dead, among other things. A video is currently circulating on social media, the authenticity of which we cannot verify, in which the vet puts a horse apple in her mouth – this guarantees clicks.

The FN’s invitation to these animal rights activists, whose cancellation was demanded by an anonymous group of “riders, trainers, instructors, owners, service providers, clubs and event organizers”, has raised the question in our editorial team as to how this should be handled. In short: Is it right to seek public discussion with an association that is calling for the end of equestrian sport? “Never attend events where horses are abused for competitive purposes,” writes PETA. Or are people who are prone to self-promotion just being offered unnecessary publicity here?

Without wanting to put too much emphasis on the panel discussion, it sounds a bit like the firewall discussion surrounding the AfD in politics.

When are boundaries crossed?

In principle, any exchange is to be welcomed. However, I believe that there are limits. In my opinion, the actions of the (small) veterinarian Tönnies have disqualified her. I find people who stir up hate comments, who add the adjective “moronic” to the necessary reference to data protection on their website, problematic. Not because they disagree, but because they obviously only accept their own agenda.

Only speaking people can be helped

I don’t think the exchange with PETA is necessarily expedient either. But, “only speaking people can be helped”, as a former colleague always emphasized. The question is whether speaking has to take place on an open stage. There is a danger that this is about the effect and not primarily about the cause. Be that as it may, my colleague Dominique Wehrmann will be there to report (see above).

Keyword FN: Warendorf emphasizes that it has indeed reacted to the letter from the German Judges’ Association (DRV) with its concerns about the new federal championship ideas. Just not in writing. Dr. Carsten Munk, Chairman of the DRV, stands by his statement, we asked him about it.

This week, Ascension Day, there are two major events on the show calendar: the German Show Jumping and Dressage Derby in Hamburg and Pferd International in Munich. We will report back. Eventing has been enjoying a sensation since last Sunday: Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo, “Walter”, have won for the third time in Badminton. No horse has ever achieved this before. And it shows what a well-trained horse is capable of.

Even if PETA would certainly disagree.

With this in mind, best regards and see you next Monday!

Jan Tönjes
jan.toenjes@equi-pages.de

This text was first published on May 11, 2026. Every Monday, Jan Tönjes comments on the events of the previous week in our newsletter on EQUI PAGES.

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