He rode a horse in a ‘mankini’ for a laugh. It nearly cost him his Olympics hopes

As It Happens5:35He rode a horse in a 'mankini' for a laugh. It nearly cost him his Olympics hopes

Shane Rose swears he didn't mean to make international headlines and jeopardize his Olympic dreams when he rode on horseback in nothing but boots, a helmet and a bright orange G-string.

The 50-year-old equestrian, who hopes to represent Australia at this year's Paris Olympics, was briefly barred from competition while the sport's national governing body investigated his risqué ensemble.

"My intention was literally to give a few people a laugh," the Australian equestrian, who has since been cleared of wrongdoing, told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann.

"[It's] quite mind-boggling that it would go as far as it did."

'Not a comfortable thing to wear'

It all began on Feb. 10, when Rose decided to get a little silly at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza, an unofficial fancy dress show-jumping south of Sydney, in which participants don elaborate costumes.

He sported three costumes during the event: Mr. Duff from The Simpsons, a gorilla in a bright orange Borat-style "mankini," and, finally, just the mankini.

"A mankini's not a comfortable thing to wear when you're standing up. And then when you get on a horse, it's less so," he said with a laugh.

It was all in good fun, he says. But not everyone, it seems, appreciated his sense of humour.

A few days later, Equestrian Australia informed him that it had received complaints about his outfit, and told him to stand down from competition pending an investigation into whether he violated the organization's code of conduct.

"I don't think it has anywhere in the code of conduct what you can and can't wear in a fancy dress costume," Rose said. "I guess [it was about] whether I was bringing the sport into disrepute or something like that. But my intention was always to keep it fairly light hearted."

Ultimately, Equestrian Australia found Rose did not break any rules.

"Equestrian Australia has an obligation to look into any concerns of this nature that comes from the community," Equestrian Australian CEO Darren Gocher said in a press release on Monday.

"With the matter now resolved, Shane and his teammates are now looking forward to continuing to focus their attention on qualifying for Paris."

But it was touch and go while he awaited the ruling, Rose says.

"If I were to be sort of suspended or held out for just a short period of time, it could have really impacted my program [to qualify for Paris]," he said. "That was probably the most nerve-wracking thing."

Solidarity from Australians

While he waited to learn his fate, Australians, by and large, stood by his side.

Some horseback riders posted pictures of themselves sporting mankinis in solidarity. An online petition objecting to the investigation garnered more than 17,000 signatures.

Australian showjumper Matt Williams wrote on Facebook: "Shane's mankini was a great example of someone willing to do what it takes to entertain and strum up publicity in what is otherwise a very boring industry to the outside world. Australia should be embarrassed by the way they are treating one of our greatest ambassadors."

Bowral Kubota, an agriculture equipment dealership that sponsored the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza, vowed to donate mankinis to all spectators next year, and to donate $100 to a men's health organization "for each spectator who has a sense of humour and tries to outdo Shane."

Rose called the outpouring of support "really quite warming."

The two-time Olympic medallist says he's ready to put the whole thing behind him.

"I can really focus, you know, solely on my job of getting prepared and selected for Paris," he said, "and if I'm lucky enough to do that, hopefully represent Australia well again."

The next issue of Radio One newsletter will soon be in your inbox.



Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre.