Statement from Equestrian Victoria

In July 2024, Equestrian Victoria (EV) temporarily suspended Ms Bianca Veneziano from her positions as a committee member of the Dressage Victoria Committee and Young Rider Committee, pending resolution of two complaints made against her.

In October 2024, Ms Veneziano commenced proceedings against EV in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria alleging, amongst other things, that her suspension was invalid, void and of no effect and that she had been oppressed by EV’s handling of the complaints. In May 2025, Ms Veneziano amended her claim to add further allegations, including that EV singled out and discriminated against her at the EV Interschool Championships in April 2025. EV denied the allegations made against it. 

In December 2024, EV referred the complaints to Equestrian Australia for investigation and determination. Equestrian Australia’s integrity officer dismissed one of the complaints against Ms Veneziano and found that EV's handling of that complaint was procedurally unfair and substantively unjust and that EV imposed an unreasonable and disproportionate penalty without sufficient basis. EV disputes this characterisation.

Equestrian Australia’s integrity officer also found that the alleged second complaint was not a complaint at all, but rather a report of a personal grievance in respect of which no action needed to be taken. EV disputes this finding and requested that Equestrian Australia conduct an investigation of the alleged second complaint. EA considers that the matter has already been determined and that no further investigation is required. 

Equestrian Australia reinstated Ms Veneziano to her position as a member of the Dressage Victoria Committee.

On 18 March 2025, EV issued an apology in different terms to Ms Veneziano, and that apology was subsequently republished. The release of that apology led to inaccurate speculation about the basis for Ms Veneziano’s suspension, including that one of the complaints concerned the abuse of a minor. EV wishes to confirm that such speculation is categorically false and that neither complaint was connected to Ms Veneziano’s role as a professional coach or a competitor.

EV unreservedly apologises to Ms Veneziano for the hurt and inconvenience caused by EV’s handling of the complaints made against her and is pleased to report that Ms Veneziano’s proceeding has now been resolved on confidential terms. EV has committed to an imminent review of its complaint procedures and rules, including its Constitution. Members will be informed of the proposed changes and given an opportunity to provide feedback.