Thomas and Lisa Muller
PETA criticizes handling of breeding stallion
Lisa Müller, Thomas Müller and horse
© imago/Stefan Lafrentz
Thomas and Lisa Müller wanted to prepare their favorite horse for the breeding season – and it got injured. Now there’s criticism from PETA.
Criticism for Thomas Müller (32) and his wife Lisa (32): The animal protection organization PETA accuses the two of exposing their animal to unnecessary dangers and cruel practices.
The soccer player and the rider run a stud farm together near Munich and reported on Monday that their stable favorite D’avie would not be available for fresh semen shipments until further notice.
Dramatic fall
As they announced on Facebook, D’avie is said to have slipped and fallen dramatically on his side during a test attempt in preparation for the breeding season. He suffered an injury in the hoof area, “which requires a break and complete healing over the next few weeks and months”. Now the couple is offering frozen semen from their stallion for 200 euros a portion.
PETA calls this practice breeding abuse. It says in a statement among other things: “It is cruel that so-called horse lovers force the animals in their care to have unnatural sex in order to make as much profit as possible from them. The injuries that D’avie suffered under the supervision of Lisa and Thomas Müller were avoidable and unnecessary.”
For PETA, the reason for breeding is clearly of a financial nature: “Because he is considered a two-time ‘dressage world champion’, D’avie is in demand in the industry as a ‘stallion’ and his semen is expensive.” PETA is urging the couple to “immediately stop breeding horses and especially to refrain from such unnatural ‘reproduction’ procedures.”