The Paul Estermann case caused dismay in equestrian sports and among many animal lovers in 2016: a former employee had reported the Swiss show jumper because he is said to have severely abused his horse. Estermann is said to have abused the mare “Castlefield Eclipse” so severely with a dressage whip during training that she had bloody wounds on her flanks and lower abdomen. Apparently he wanted to push her to do better.
In 2019, Estermann was first found guilty of animal cruelty by the Willisau district court and sentenced to a fine, but he appealed against the verdict. Now, after years of litigation, the judgment of the Lucerne Cantonal Court is final, according to which the equestrian must pay a fine of 70 daily rates of CHF 160 each. Estermann allowed the objection period to expire.
Since the rider has now been legally convicted, the Swiss Equestrian Federation is also taking action. The association’s sanctions commission (Sako) banned him for seven years. In addition, Estermann has to bear the costs of the proceedings. His behavior was “absolutely unacceptable,” the commission made clear in its statement: “He intentionally injured a horse moderately and caused him severe pain.”
Sako President Thomas Räber emphasized in the “Luzerner Zeitung”: “The horse is not a tool, but a comrade. That’s why we have to sanction heavily”. The association has a “zero tolerance” for animal cruelty. Estermann himself refrained from defending himself in the hearing before Sako. The 59-year-old won team bronze at the European Championships in 2015 on “Castlefield Eclipse”, the horse he abused. In 2012 he took part in the Olympic Games and finished fourth with the team.
After the allegations against him became known, Estermann left the Swiss squad and only competed in national tournaments. It is considered unlikely that he will continue his career as a show jumper after the suspension ends.
Sources: Swiss Equestrian Federation / “Luzerner Zeitung”
