Exclusive: Horse riding discipline set to be axed by UIPM from modern pentathlon programme

Horse riding is set to be dropped from the modern pentathlon programme following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a source with knowledge of the situation has told insidethegames.

The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Executive Board held a meeting this week in which a vote to remove riding from the programme was passed, insidethegames has been told.

When contacted with this information, the UIPM did not deny the reports and said it would issue a statement on Thursday (November 4).

It offered an exclusive interview for insidethegames to not run the story.

It is believed that the UIPM could replace horse riding with cycling.

The decision, which was made at a secret meeting in which not every Executive Board member was present, comes following a controversial riding session at the rearranged Olympic Games in Tokyo earlier this year.

Several horses refused to jump, including Saint-Boy, ridden by Germany’s Annika Schleu, who was leading the competition entering the riding event.

German coach Kim Raisner was sent home following video footage showing her punching Saint-Boy, while Schleu was criticised for repeatedly whipping the distressed horse.

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Article written By Andrew Dowdeswell