Animal abuse is the reason for Charlotte Dujardin’s discharge

Three-time Olympic medalist Charlotte Dujardin of the United Kingdom repeatedly hit a horse with a whip while training another rider, according to a video posted by several media outlets yesterday.

The video is part of an official complaint filed against Dujardin with the International Federation of Equestrian Sports. The footage shows Dujardin whipping the horse, approaching it and hitting it again.

Dujardin was due to compete in the Paris Olympics but withdrew after news of the video emerged. She said in a statement on Tuesday that the video was four years old and “shows me making an error in judgment during a training session.” She added that “it is far from who I really am” and that she also feels “extremely sorry.”

Stephan Wensing, the Dutch equine lawyer representing the complaint before the Federation, told Sky News that the video was taken two and a half years ago at a private stable in the UK. Wensing said his client was watching the lesson and took the video.

Dujardin has been provisionally suspended from all events under the jurisdiction of the Federation pending the outcome of the investigation. The FEI said Dujardin confirmed she is the person depicted in the video and requested her own provisional suspension.

Dujardin, 39, won gold at the 2012 London Olympics in the team and individual dressage events and won individual gold at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She took bronze in the team and individual events at Tokyo 2020 and silver in the team event in Rio. Her medals are tied for the most by a British female athlete. —AP

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