I don’t understand the Charlotte Dujardin furore….

[VivaLaSpag]

For transparency, I know absolutely nothing about horses but have seen this all blow up so am trying to understand the context and concern. In no way am I saying what she has done is right.

My question is, aren’t horses whipped to the finish line in horse races? If this is a routine practice then why is there such concern about what Dujardin has done?

‘Error of judgement’ my arse. The video doesn’t look like she’s lost her cool or anything like that. (Which wouldn’t be any better). No way do you calmly suddenly change your teaching technique like that as a one off.

I adore horses, and rode and owned many over 25 years from childhood to about 10 years ago. Sadly this won't be an isolated incident, and clearly the person who videoed it has questionable morals themselves because they didn't expose it immediately when it happened. Racing is also a vile industry, which is exploitative and in no way good for horses. For every 100 horses bred for racing you may get 1 or 2 who win any prize money. It's so sad. The horses are broken and raced far too young, and if they survive at all they often end up being neglected or sent to slaughter. I am shocked and appalled actually that someone who has been held in such high regard as charlotte dujardin has been shown to behave like this. Showjumping is also often nasty and attracts people who are cruel. Ultimately, all equestrian sport at a professional level is about prize money, regardless of what anyone says. And breeding and riding horses is never in the interests of the horses or ponies. Hence I no longer ride or support any forms of equestrianism. Horses themselves are beautiful, trusting and sensitive creatures who have been treated so badly by people

I don't have time for this sabotage line.

Do you think the whipping is acceptable or not?

My question is, aren’t horses whipped to the finish line in horse races
Horse racing is abhorrent, whipping a horse is fucking abhorrent. Anyone who thinks it's OK should be whipped so they go faster 😡

The person who witnessed it is 19 now and so was only 15 at the time. So it is understandable they may have been reluctant to come forward sooner?

I think I've seen somewhere that the video was taken by a 14yo. If true that would line up with them being able to seek their own legal advice now at 18 yo (presuming adults around them weren't supportive of whistleblowing at the time).

Details here explain a little why the young person did not come forward before now.

www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/23/deeply-ashamed-gb-dressage-star-charlotte-dujardin-pulls-out-of-olympics-over-coaching-video

Re the timing - it's tough - she's essentially cheating, using banned methods to train a horse. To me it's the same as using banned drugs in a human. Don't cheat if you don't want banning. Re the abuse - I agree she is not losing her temper and suspect she has done this many times before. I also find the rider culpable. A rider being trained by CJD is likely highly skilled and knowledgeable and is responsible for the welfare of their horse at all times.

I've seen the video and it seems she had lost control. She wasn't trying to correct any behaviour but was just laying into the horse. It seems a strange way to act when giving a lesson, I can't imagine paying someone for this.

We got a gold postbox because of her at the London Olympics, so I'm a bit disappointed in her. I have no.interest in equestrianism apart from that.

Thank you for sharing this. It is never easy to be a whistleblower, and the person who witnessed this may have had many sleepless nights about it.

I'm doubting it is an isolated incident.

@politicalintrigue

you ok Hun?

Dressage in a nutshell.

She didn't lose control, she clearly sees this as an every day training method, it's abhorrent.

@billycat321

doesnt matter about the timing. She did what she did. It’s on camera. No more Olympics for her!

FEI are complicit in cruelty. They repeatedly refuse to uphold horse welfare/prosecute perpetrators of abuse. They should all be sacked.

I completely agree it's abhorrent. But what is to be gained from it? I don't really understand how it's a training method. That's why I can only assume she lost control, it seems more like a violent outburst.

This 💯
and
Greyhound racing
Hare coursing
Fox hunting
Badger baiting
Etc

Well their chances should be sabotaged because clearly they are abusing their animals.

i think it’s reasonable to ask why everyone is outraged at this particular moment when I think we all agree this probably happens a lot in the industry and has been ignored. I’m glad it’s being cracked down on, but I think it’s interesting to speculate on the timing, the media should have spotlighted it years ago.

Thanks to those who have provided informative responses-I’ve learnt a lot but obviously appreciate this is a sensitive topic aswell so if I’ve upset anyone by asking the questions then this was not my intention at all.

If the person filming really really honestly cared about these terrible "training methods" - no matter their age - they should have sought advice about the release of it sooner.

How many more horses have been abused (and incidentally, these practices being passed on to her pupils....) in the intervening years?

And CDJ deserves everything that is coming to her. And more.
The horses were the stars anyway (to me).

How odd that you are bothered enough to type the words on here with no way to know if anyone will answer yet can't be bothered to type the same words into Google

I guess you aren't bothered about looking a bit stupid either

This is a curious case of timing and I won't be surprised if there is more to come in this regard

I think it is right that she is banned and dressage just isn't a natural thing for a horse to do. If she is willing to whip a horse like that in front of a pupil then what is she like when nobody is looking? However, far worse goes on in the world of horse racing (would we accept dressage if a few of the horses were guaranteed to die during the competition?) and no-one will dare ban that because so much money is involved.

I worked in the industry for many years across various disciplines. This is certainly more common place than people think, from grass roots to the top levels.

A lot of heavy handed practice because people want results and want them quickly. Add in a dose of impatience and big egos and there you have it.

It's an unpleasant industry hence I don't work in it any more. There are so many vile people doing vile things.