Wendy Schaeffer-Macdonald stands down from Equestrian SA

The Olympic gold medallist at the head of Equestrian SA says she is standing down to “vigorously defend” claims she used excessive force against her horse at a public event.

Olympic gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer-Macdonald has stood down as head of SA equestrian sport, pending an investigation that’s believed to be related to claims she used excessive force against her horse at a public event.

Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald, chairwoman of Equestrian South Australia, told members in a statement it had been a “difficult time” and that she was taking a “leave of absence” from the board to “vigorously defend” a “field of play incident”.

A field of play incident means one that occurs at a sanctioned equestrian event.

The Advertiser understands a complaint over using excessive force on her mount was made against Schaeffer-Macdonald, a hero of Australia’s gold medal winning three-day event team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, to ESA in early December.

The meeting of the Naracoorte Horse Trials was held at Hallmark Farm at Lobethal, the property of Olympic silver medallist Megan Jones in late November.

Witnesses have told The Advertiser the alleged incident during a cross-country event would, under international equestrian rules, have required a mandatory report from attending jumps judge Judith Newton and technical delegate Wayne Copping.

In her statement, the 47-year-old, who has a training base at Echunga named Sunburst Equestrian after her 1996 Olympic mount, revealed she is under investigation by Equestrian Australia, the national body for the sport.

Equestrian Wendy Schaeffer with her horse Koyuna Sun Storm and the Adelaide Cup.

Last week, EA appointed Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald to a prestigious national steering committee.

EA chief executive Darren Gocher confirmed his organisation had received a complaint about Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald but he would not confirm the details.

“In the circumstances we’ll probably look for an independent tribunal to have a look at it,” he said.

“We have just signed up with Sport Integrity Australia and we have a bunch of new processes and this might well go directly to them.”

The Advertiser is aware a further complaint against Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald, who had several months away from competitive riding last year after a fall, was made to ESA about her conduct at a meeting at Reynella in October.

Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald was disciplined over an animal cruelty claim in NSW in 2000 but successfully appealed the decision to suspend her from riding.

She received a reprimand from Equestrian Australia and agreed to undergo counselling.

She was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2002 for her considerable contribution to equestrian.

Ms Schaeffer-Macdonald did not respond to inquiries from The Advertiser.

Originally published as Wendy Schaeffer-Macdonald stands down from Equestrian SA