Several leading dressage riders, including Charlotte Dujardin’s long-time Team GB colleague Carl Hester, have criticized her behaviour after videos emerged of her excessively whipping a horse. The three-time Olympic gold medallist pulled out of Paris 2024 following the revelations. She has since been suspended by the FEI (equestrian’s governing body). In a statement, the board members of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) condemned Dujardin’s actions and demanded that equine welfare be the top priority.
The IDRC Board also supports the suspension of Ms Dujardin by the British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage pending the conclusion of the FEI inquiry. Hester was one of 10 IDRC board members who signed the statement. The two had won a gold medal in team dressage at London 2012 and a silver medal together at Rio 2016 and a bronze one at Tokyo 2020. Dujardin had been expected to compete in both individual dressage and team events in Paris 2024 alongside her teammates Hester and Lottie Fry on horse Imhotep.
Both British Equestrian (BEF) and British Dressage (BD) have imposed a provisional suspension on Dujardin pending the outcome of the FEI investigation. Dujardin has also lost her UK Sport funding while being dropped as an ambassador for Brooke, a horse welfare charity. She has also lost her sponsorship deals with equestrian insurance firm KBIS and Danish equestrian equipment company Equine LTS. Team GB’s chef de mission, Mark England, expressed his concern and sympathy for Dujardin’s situation but emphasized the importance of animal welfare and welfare considerations for other members of the team.
Meanwhile, FEI President Ingmar de Vos has expressed his shock and disappointment at the videos of Dujardin whipping a horse. Although he believes that equestrian events will continue to be part of the Olympic program, animal rights group Peta has called for the removal of such events, including eventing, dressage, and show jumping. While the President acknowledged that equestrian athletes and their entourage should be educated on modern acceptable animal welfare practices, he believed they still had a place in future Olympic programs
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