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A former groom shared this photo with Paul Estermann Blick. It is said to show the underbelly of his mare, Castlefield Eclipse.
Nicole VandenbrouckIce hockey reporter
For years, the legal back and forth about the animal cruelty allegations against the show jumper Paul Estermann (59) cast a shadow over equestrian sport, now the inglorious case is about to be concluded. After the guilty verdict by the cantonal court in December, the former Olympic rider from Lucerne let the appeal period expire, according to the Swiss Equestrian Federation.
The association, under the new leadership of President Damian Müller, reacted and immediately applied to the internal sanctions commission for a temporary ban. A first strong sign of the SVPS. A decision on a temporary ban is expected in the next few weeks. Especially since the association insists on urgent processing. It could take until spring before the procedure is completed with a sanction. Then it should be a multi-year ban for Estermann.
It would be the culmination of a nearly six-year development that began with Blick’s exposure of the case in March 2017.
Chronicle of the Paul Estermann case:
Blick reveals that investigations are underway against the show jumper. A former groom at his stables backs the suspicion that Paul Estermann beats his horses with photos he says are of the underbelly of the mare Castlefield Eclipse. He is also accused of beating gelding Lord Pepsi.
Despite ongoing investigations, Estermann was selected by the SVPS for the Nations Cup team. The Lucerne rider will be riding other prestigious Nations Cups for Switzerland this summer.
The SVPS actually selected Estermann for the European Championships in Gothenburg (Sd). One justifies this questionable decision with the presumption of innocence.
The public prosecutor initiates a criminal investigation against the show jumper on suspicion of violating the Animal Welfare Act.
Estermann withdraws (voluntarily) from the EM team – for the good of the team. This then wins team bronze.
Estermann is selected again. This time for the World Championship team, which will start at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon (USA). Firstly, because his strong sporting achievements at that time justify it. And secondly, because the presumption of innocence still applies.
Estermann will not start at the World Championships because his top horse Lord Pepsi is injured. At this time, the questioning of the show jumper by the Lucerne cantonal police is still pending.
The mare Castlefield Eclipse is injured on the pasture in Belgium and has to be put down.
The man from Lucerne is allowed to play at the European Championships in Rotterdam. The ongoing procedure is simply hidden. The Swiss team is sixth, in the individual Estermann finishes in 58th place. After that, he disappeared from the international scene for a few months.
The Sursee public prosecutor has proven that Estermann beat his mare Castlefield Eclipse. But the show jumper continues to deny it. That’s why he has to go to court. He does not accept the judgment of the public prosecutor’s office, which has punished him for multiple animal cruelty with a conditional fine of 90 daily rates of 160 francs each and a fine of 3,600 francs.
The court date at the District Court of Willisau LU. Estermann, who previously remained silent for more than two years, denies all allegations and trivializes his use of the whip.
The Willisau district court finds Estermann guilty of multiple intentional animal cruelty! His defense attorney has filed an appeal.
Estermann is withdrawing from the elite squad of Swiss show jumpers. From now on he can no longer represent Switzerland at championships.
The owners of Estermann’s top horses react and take them away from him. In total he loses nine top horses in one fell swoop.
Estermann also denies the allegations before the Lucerne Cantonal Court.
Estermann has been convicted as an animal abuser in the second instance. The Lucerne cantonal court judged his lashes in two cases as unnecessarily harsh. The accused is moving the case forward.
The federal court overturns the judgment in connection with the gelding Lord Pepsi. However, Estermann’s complaints in the case of the mare Castlefield Eclipse are dismissed. It remanded the case to the district court.
In its reassessment, the cantonal court found Estermann guilty of multiple willful animal cruelty for the incidents involving the mare Castlefield Eclipse and fined him 70 daily rates.
The association reports that “the appeal period for the judgment has expired and the conviction becomes final”. The SVPS board has therefore applied to the internal sanctions commission for a temporary ban.