- Video shows Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse 24 times
- The six-time Olympic equestrian medallist was later dropped from the British team.
- UK Sport has cut funding for Dujardin and has been dropped by a horse welfare charity
Charlotte Dujardin has been condemned by her mentor and teammate Carl Hester for abusing a horse which led to her being banned from the Olympics.
In a significant development, the 57-year-old is a co-signatory of a strongly worded statement from the board members of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC).
They say they “universally condemn” Dujardin’s actions after a disturbing video of her whipping a horse’s legs 24 times “like an elephant in the circus” led to her being banned from Paris 2024.
The decision may come as a surprise to some, given the relationship between the two and Hester’s standing within the sport.
Dujardin, 39, enjoyed impressive success with Valegro, now retired, and was co-owned by Hester, who oversaw his progress.
WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES
Charlotte Dujardin was forced to withdraw from the Paris Olympics when a controversial video emerged showing the six-time Olympic medallist repeatedly whipping a horse’s legs.
Carl Hester (left) was a former teammate and mentor of Dujardin.
Dujardin was reportedly teaching the horse to do the ‘piaffe’, a slow-motion trotting technique traditionally associated with dressage.
The couple’s relationship dates back to 2007, when Dujardin began working at Hester’s yard, which is based in Paris to compete for the British team.
“IDRC Board members universally condemn the actions of Charlotte Dujardin as seen in the video that was made public,” the statement said.
‘The Board members are determined that equine welfare must always be the priority at all times. They promote only ethical training methods and practices and strive to encourage all their members to uphold the ‘International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse’ along with all FEI regulations that support and protect equine welfare standards both in and out of competition.’
Dujardin, who needed one more medal to become Britain’s top Olympian, voluntarily withdrew from the Games after the video was sent to the FEI, which launched an investigation. The video was sent by Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of a client. Wensing said it showed Dujardin treating the horse “like an elephant in the circus”.
He apologized and admitted to having “made an error in judgment” that was “totally out of character.”
The video prompted Dujardin to apologize and admit to having “made an error of judgment” that is “completely out of character.”
The FEI subsequently issued a provisional suspension, while the investigation continues. “The IDRC Board supports the actions taken by the FEI, the British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage to provisionally suspend Ms Dujardin,” the statement added.
‘It is noted that Ms Dujardin has stated that she has no excuses for her actions and has also expressed her shame and regret. Because investigations are ongoing, the Board will not make any further official announcements on this matter until the investigations are concluded.’
