What Happened to Saint Boy? Where is Saint Boy Horse now?
by Jency | Updated Aug 18, 2023
Saint Boy Horse
In the pentathlon event, a horse named Saint Boy, ridden by German athlete Annika Schleu, declined to jump over several obstacles. This led to a highly visible moment of distress for Schleu, and her coach, Kim Raisner from Germany, faced disqualification when she was captured on camera striking the horse. The incident garnered significant global interest, even prompting actress and equestrian enthusiast Kaley Cuoco to express interest in purchasing Saint Boy.
On that particular day in Tokyo, Saint Boy, who typically resides and participates in activities at the Minakuchi Riding Club in Japan, certainly didn't hold back in expressing his strong feelings.
The Minakuchi Riding Club, who owns Saint Boy, responded to inquiries from Tokyo 2020 officials and graciously offered an update on the horse's well-being. According to them, Saint Boy is currently in a satisfactory state of health; however, he is experiencing some fatigue due to his recent participation in the competition. This information provides reassurance about Saint Boy's condition following the event.
What Happened to Saint Boy?
Towards the end of the Olympics, there was a situation that made fans worried about a horse named Saint Boy. People were curious about what happened to Saint Boy.
In the part of the Olympics where athletes do horseback riding as part of a pentathlon, there's a rule that makes it tough. Athletes have to ride a horse they don't know well, and they need to jump over obstacles without making mistakes or taking too long. In regular horse riding, riders and horses practice together for a long time. But in the pentathlon, athletes only meet their horses 20 minutes before the competition.
This rule caused a problem for a German athlete named Annika Schleu. She was doing really well in the pentathlon, but the horse she got, Saint Boy, was not cooperating. Saint Boy was not following her commands and was even refusing to do some of the things he was supposed to do, like trotting and jumping over obstacles. This made things very hard for Annika, and it affected her chances of winning.
During the equestrian portion of pentathlon, the Olympics page states, "Athletes must ride an unfamiliar horse over a show jumping course without incurring penalties and within the allotted time. In the standalone sport of equestrian, riders and horses train together for years; in modern pentathlon, competitors are paired with their horses in a draw just 20 minutes before they compete."
Where is Saint Boy Horse now?
As of the latest available information, there is no comprehensive update regarding the current location or circumstances of Saint Boy, the horse. However, some sources have indicated that the horse is still alive. Unfortunately, detailed information about Saint Boy's current whereabouts is limited.
Regrettably, there is a lack of specific and detailed information available about Saint Boy's current location or circumstances. This limited information underscores the challenge in obtaining a clear understanding of the horse's present status.
What Happened to Annika Schleu?
During the Olympic pentathlon, a pentathlete named Annika Schleu from Germany was leading the competition after the first two events: fencing and swimming. She had three more events to go: show jumping and the combined shooting and running event called the laser run.
But things took a sudden turn for the worse during the show jumping event. Annika was riding a horse named Saint Boy, who refused to jump over the obstacles. This caused Annika to get zero points, and she had to walk her horse around the course without completing the jumps. She ended up in tears and had a very tough time.
After the remaining events, Annika finished in the 31st position out of 36 participants. In this pentathlon, athletes don't bring their own horses for show jumping. They are given random horses to ride. Saint Boy was also ridden by another athlete from Russia, Gulnaz Gubaydullina, who also faced difficulties with the horse not jumping.
Annika Schleu had a tough journey to the 2021 Olympics. She narrowly missed winning a medal in the 2016 Olympics, coming in fourth place. The governing body of the pentathlon, UIPM, praised her as a standout performer on the first day of the 2021 event.
In the end, Annika Schleu's chances of winning the gold medal slipped away as her horse Saint Boy refused to jump, and she was visibly upset during the show jumping event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This unfortunate performance caused her to drop from first place to 31st place overall.
Who is Annika Schleu?
Born on April 3, 1990, in Berlin, Germany, Annika Schleu is a skilled modern pentathlete from Germany. She has achieved significant success, clinching gold medals in the relay event at both the 2012 and 2017 World Championships. Annika has also participated in three Olympic Games, securing the 26th spot in 2012 and narrowly missing a medal with a 4th-place finish in 2016.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Annika Schleu participated in the modern pentathlon alongside her horse, Saint Boy. However, during the event, Schleu faced visible frustration as the horse didn't cooperate as needed for a successful performance.
Her coach, Kim Raisner, took an extreme approach, urging Schleu to use a whip and physically encouraging the horse in hopes of improving its performance. In an unfortunate turn of events, Raisner leaned over the railing and even punched the horse during this intense moment. The competition concluded with Schleu finishing in 31st place. As a consequence of her actions, the UIPM (the governing body) disqualified Raisner from the Olympic Games.
what happened to saint boy-FAQs
Saint Boy, the horse, gained attention during the equestrian portion of a modern pentathlon event in the Olympics. It was ridden by German athlete Annika Schleu, and the horse's performance caused controversy and concern.
During the pentathlon competition, Saint Boy refused to gallop, jump, and follow commands, affecting Annika Schleu's performance and leaving her visibly upset.
Yes, Saint Boy's behavior was unexpected and had a negative impact on Annika Schleu's performance, ultimately influencing her overall ranking in the competition.
Kim Raisner's actions, which included leaning over the railing and even punching the horse, raised ethical concerns and led to debates about the treatment of animals in sports.
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) disqualified Kim Raisner from the Olympic Games due to her behavior during the event.