Charlotte Dujardin ‘hit horse repeatedly on legs’ in video that sparked Olympics withdrawal
Charlotte Dujardin, Britain’s three-time Olympic champion, has been forced to pull out of Paris 2024 over a video showing her hitting a horse repeatedly on the legs during a slow-motion trot, Telegraph Sport understands.
The equestrian rider, who could have become Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, says there is “no excuse” and she is “deeply ashamed” of the “error of judgment” during a coaching session.
The film was taken four years ago and has been brought to light by a whistleblower, who has hired a Dutch lawyer to bring the case into the public domain. A media outlet in the Netherlands is believed to have obtained the video.
Dujardin posted on social media that she has pulled out of all competition while the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) investigates the incident. The announcement has sent shock waves through the Team GB camp, with senior officials caught unawares by the announcement.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse,” she said in a statement. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
The world of equestrian is understood to be on high alert over public perception around animal welfare at the Games. There is a special officer in Paris overseeing welfare, Telegraph Sport has been told.
It is understood that the matter has only recently come to light. A statement from Team GB is expected in due course.
Dujardin, 39, needed a medal of any colour to take her clear of Dame Laura Kenny, with whom she is currently tied on six medals in the British all-time medal table for women.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 56 | July 28, 2024 4:31 PM
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Find a husband and hit him like that if you dare, bitch.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 23, 2024 5:33 PM
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Idiocy.
Four years ago?
Who are these "whistleblowers" who sit with inventories of "evidence" just waiting to play mean-girl avatar of Divine Justice?
by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 23, 2024 5:38 PM
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As a former equestrian, the tales I could tell you ...
by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 23, 2024 5:39 PM
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[quote] As a former equestrian, the tales I could tell you ...
Same goes for dog handlers at dog shows.
I've seen some very mean dog handlers who claim to "love" dogs.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 23, 2024 5:46 PM
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She can go home and fap now to her heart’s content.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 23, 2024 5:51 PM
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Someone please post the video when it goes public. Meanwhile…
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 10 | July 23, 2024 5:56 PM
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[quote] Four years ago?
It wasn't a one-off, I assure you. Google horse abuse in dressage, if you want to ruin your day that is.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 23, 2024 5:56 PM
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She should be executed. Now.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | July 23, 2024 6:02 PM
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[quote]Who are these "whistleblowers" who sit with inventories of "evidence" just waiting to play mean-girl avatar of Divine Justice?
Competing Olympic Dressage teams.
duh
by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 23, 2024 7:33 PM
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Sarah Jessica Parker reported only bruises and was back on the track the next week.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | July 23, 2024 9:48 PM
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Camilla is filing her hooves in case she need to come out of retirement.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | July 23, 2024 9:51 PM
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Horse women are cray cray
by Anonymous | reply 17 | July 23, 2024 10:43 PM
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[quote] Horse women are cray cray
Women are cray cray.
Fixed it for you.
by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 23, 2024 10:48 PM
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I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment … by not getting caught.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | July 23, 2024 11:26 PM
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trust, this would only scratch the surface of shocking 'training' methods deployed throughout the equestrian disciplines
by Anonymous | reply 20 | July 23, 2024 11:37 PM
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This story strikes very close to home.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | July 23, 2024 11:40 PM
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Is this because British people are mean?
by Anonymous | reply 24 | July 24, 2024 3:00 AM
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[quote] Is this because British people are mean?
We're not mean.
We're just angry!
by Anonymous | reply 25 | July 24, 2024 3:02 AM
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R24, probably.
Plus she was probably pissed the horse was better looking than she is.
by Anonymous | reply 26 | July 24, 2024 3:18 AM
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Side note, but I think it’s weird that the 19 year-old lesson recipient was described as a “young girl.” She was an adult, not a girl, much less a young one.
by Anonymous | reply 27 | July 24, 2024 3:36 AM
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No abusing animals, EVER.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | July 24, 2024 4:22 AM
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I hate dressage. A horse foaming at the mouth and wringing its tail is not a pretty picture. And the riders bumping around on top looks uncomfortable.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | July 24, 2024 8:11 PM
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There are reports that she would have been made a Dame if she had won any medal at this Olympics, and that’s gone. That will sting as much as the whipping she gave that poor horse. Cunt.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | July 24, 2024 9:03 PM
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I’m with you, R29. The horses appear rabid at the end of a performance. It grosses me out.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | July 25, 2024 12:18 AM
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Here is the video. Glad she was busted but really disturbed by the laughter throughout.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 32 | July 25, 2024 12:25 AM
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That is worse than I thought. Totally cruel.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | July 25, 2024 1:38 AM
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Goddamn, that's awful R32.
That poor horse.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 37 | July 25, 2024 1:57 AM
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Someone needs to beat Charlotte Dujardin with a whip!
by Anonymous | reply 38 | July 25, 2024 4:11 AM
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I will not watch the video. Fuck that cunt. They should drag her out onto the field at the Olympics and whip her for sport.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | July 25, 2024 4:33 AM
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They ALL beat their horses. All competitors from the snootiest rich girl show jumper to the polo playing asshole from Argentina beat their horses.
When a horse is high strung and temperamental they can be inconsistent during competitions and sensitive to their rider’s moods. After a bad competition the trainer will tell a rider to take a stick and beat their horse as hard as they can. The goal is to break the horse. Usually the trainer will say, just do it once as hard as you can and you won’t have to do it again. Obviously, a lie.
Competitive sports involving animals includes abuse for the animals.
by Anonymous | reply 40 | July 25, 2024 5:03 AM
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We've banned circuses that use animals, hopefully in time we can do the same with competitive sports involving animals.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | July 25, 2024 6:20 AM
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Yeah, we just need to ban animal competitions. They are living, autonomous beings, not objects to be exploited however humans wish.
by Anonymous | reply 43 | July 25, 2024 2:16 PM
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[quote]And the riders bumping around on top looks uncomfortable.
You're right, R29, it is extremely uncomfortable to ride a horse doing dressage. When getting used to a new move you feel more like you might fall off than you do taking the average jump.
Of course, in this situation it was even more uncomfortable for the horse.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | July 25, 2024 4:23 PM
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The truth is, at the elite levels, r40 is telling the truth, they ALL do it in some form or another.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | July 25, 2024 5:13 PM
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Ann Romney used to own a dancing horse called Rafalca.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | July 25, 2024 6:00 PM
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[quote] Ann Romney used to own a dancing horse called Rafalca.
"They shoot horses, don't they?"
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 47 | July 25, 2024 6:08 PM
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She should be charged with animal abuse.
by Anonymous | reply 48 | July 25, 2024 6:24 PM
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It's interesting to me that supposed animal lovers engage in far more animal cruelty than I, an animal not-lover.
I dont care for horses at all and would never whip one.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | July 25, 2024 7:18 PM
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This guy knows how to treat a horse!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 50 | July 25, 2024 9:10 PM
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Farriers are often extra hot, I remember being always making sure I was there when the horses were getting shod.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | July 25, 2024 9:51 PM
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Poor animal. Perhaps she became angry believing mistakenly that the horse was attempting to impersonate her.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | July 26, 2024 2:38 AM
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I’d have bucked that bitch clear across the barn.
by Anonymous | reply 54 | July 26, 2024 4:32 AM
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R4, they're pretty awesome to release it just before what would have likely been her last Olympics.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | July 26, 2024 1:04 PM
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She’s an asshole for beating that horse and dressage is stupid. I’m glad she got caught. R40 is right though, all horses get beaten. Polo players are especially brutal to their ponies/horses.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | July 28, 2024 4:31 PM
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