Mercy for show jumping horse Estermann: ban on animal cruelty reduced from seven to four years

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The lengthy process and difficult issue must now finally be concluded. The Swiss Equestrian Association Court has ruled in the appeal proceedings and banned show jumping horse Paul Estermann (60) from participating in equestrian events for four years. Because the world federation takes over the ban, the Lucerne player can no longer compete nationally or internationally.

As a reminder, the Swiss Equestrian Sanctions Commission imposed a mega seven-year ban on Estermann in mid-April this year. This came after the 60-year-old’s conviction for multiple counts of intentional animal cruelty became final. It was a long-awaited signal from the association, whose new chairman Damian Müller represents an unequivocal zero-tolerance policy.

The fact that Estermann did not stop after that and filed a complaint left a bitter aftertaste. The former team rider has now achieved at least partial success with the suspension of the federal court.

“A moderate offense”

Its chairman Carl-Gustav Mez justifies the amount of the sanction as follows: “The Association Court bases its assessment on the judgment of the subdistrict court of Lucerne. In the criminal proceedings, it determined that the present case involved a moderately serious crime and determined the sentence accordingly. (…) Like the Sanctions Committee, the Association Chamber has also taken various mitigating aspects into account.”

This decision is final within the jurisdiction of the association. However, Estermann still has the option to submit the decision to the civil court within 30 days.

Source : Blick