DNC backs off dressage attack ads

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said Thursday that it would refrain from using the Romney's dressage horse, Rafalca, in future advertisements after suggestions the ad could be offensive to the Republican challenger's wife, Ann.

The horse, which will be competing later this month in London's Summer Olympics, is one of a number of animals that Ann Romney owns and rides as part of her treatment for multiple sclerosis.

In a series of Web ads, the DNC used the horse to knock Romney for refusing to release his tax records — joking he was "dancing around the issue." Dressage, a highly technical — and expensive — equestrian sport, is sometimes referred to as "horse ballet."

But on Wednesday, the DNC apologized for offending Ann Romney, who has cited horse riding as a crucial part of her MS treatment.

"Our use of the Romneys’ dressage horse was not meant to offend Mrs. Romney in any way, and we regret it if it did,” DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse told ABC News. “We were simply making a point about Gov. Romney’s failure to give straight answers on a variety of issues in this race. We have no plans to invoke the horse any further, to avoid misinterpretation.”

In an interview with "Good Morning America" on Thursday, Romney said she thought the ads were inappropriate but made her laugh.

"It's like 'Really?' You know, there's so many people out of work right now, and there's this guy right here that has the answers for fixing the economy, and all these attacks are going to be — they're going to try everything," Romney said. "They're going to throw spaghetti at the wall."

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