Charlotte Dujardin, Three-time Olympic champion from Great Britainhas been forced to withdraw from Paris 2024 because of a video showing her repeatedly hitting a horse’s legs during a slow-motion trot, Telegraph Sport understands.
The rider, who could have become Britain’s most decorated Olympian, says there is “no excuse” and is “deeply ashamed” of the “error of judgement” during a training session.
The film was made four years ago and came to light by a whistleblower, who 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Dujardin posted on social media that he has withdrawn from all competitions while the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) investigates the incident. The announcement sent shockwaves through the Team GB camp, with senior officials caught off guard by the announcement.
“What happened was completely strange and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my students,” she said in a statement. “However, there is no excuse. I am deeply embarrassed and should have set a better example at that time.”
It is understood that the equestrian world is on high alert regarding public perception surrounding animal welfare at the Games. There is a special officer in Paris overseeing welfare, Telegraph Sport has been told.
Sources claim the video was taken during an “educational day” Dujardin was involved in at a UK venue owned by an established figure in the equestrian world.
‘Someone waited until a key moment to leak’
“She is repeatedly hitting her legs with a hose as they try to get her to do a better ‘piaffe’ – the slow-motion trot,” the source said. “Someone is riding the horse.
“The FEI is on high alert about public perception, with its new mantra of making riders guardians of their horses and the unprecedented appointment, announced two days ago, of a special officer in Paris to ensure that the rules of good -being of the horses are met.
“It seems – as so often happens – that a music video has been around for a while, but someone waited until a key moment like this to leak it.”
The FEI’s provisions on horse abuse are addressed in article 142 of its regulations and allow the rider to be disciplined even when the incident occurred out of competition.
Rumors that a damning video existed were spreading among equestrian experts before the announcement. Susan Wachowich of Dressage Hub posted a video on Facebook claiming authorities were called.
A leading US dressage rider, Cesar Parra, is currently provisionally suspended by the FEI due to horse welfare concerns.
Sir Mark Todd was also involved in a controversy two years ago because of a video of him hitting a horse 10 times with a branch.
A statement on Dujardin from Team GB is expected in due course.
Dujardin, 39, needed a medal of any color to get rid of Dame Laura Kenny, with whom she is currently tied on six medals in the all-time British women’s medal table.
“A video has surfaced from four years ago that shows me making an error in judgment during a coaching session,” she said in a statement.
“Understandably, the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have taken the decision to withdraw from all competitions – including the Paris Olympic Games – whilst this process takes place.
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and am devastated to have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors. I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations and will make no further comment until the process is complete.”
Dujardin won team and individual gold medals at the 2012 London Games on the horse Valegro and the pair won individual gold and team silver four years later in Rio. On a different horse, Gio, she won two bronzes at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games.
Dujardin was selected to compete in the individual dressage and team event alongside Carl Hester and world champion Lottie Fry, on the new horse Imhotep.
