Is it true about Charlotte Dujardin withdrawing from the Olympics?

[Freakwave897]

Or is it fake news?

It’s so disappointing if true…

I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe what I am hearing.

Oh I have read the error of judgement excuse used before along with momentary lapse and moment in time taken out of context.

Just watched the video. What a fucking bastard she is. She deserves to lose everything.

Sorry to hear you and your horse had that experience Gradgirl and well done for speaking up. Totally agree about the element of shock
And you can imagine a young pupil being daunted by the prospect of doing that when taught by an Olympic gold winner.

This! Hopefully this stupid naff 'sport' is buried now, and consigned to the history books. Anyone who continues to do 'dressage' with horses, (especially after seeing what has happened with Charlottle!) needs locking up quite frankly! It's a horrible thing to do to these beautiful animals. Dressing them up for so-called sport needs banning! Hopefully it will be now!

I know right. 'Error of judgement' my arse!

I assume she is trying to drive him forwards and up to piaffe while the rider holds him back. Which is why she gets the rider to circle her and backs the horse into the corner so he picks up his legs but can't go anywhere. Whatever her "method" is, it's clearly confusing not only the horse, but the rider as well. There is NO need to teach piaffe like that.

On the bright side, the sponsors page on her website is down, and her name no longer appears on various previous sponsor pages. I imagine she is haemorrhaging money, even if she hasn't got the grace to feel shame.

I've just watched the video .

She doesn't seem in a temper or angry so I'm assuming this is her usual training method .

I hope her whole career implodes

Yes just what I was thinking. His silence is deafening and he will have to make a formal statement soon. As a member of the chosen current Olympic British dressage team along with Charlotte Fry and Becky and because of his longstanding relationship with CD, he needs to clear the air.

I hope her whole career implodes!

I think it already has!

My Whippet piaffes in the shower when the warm water first tickles her feet- she can’t GO anywhere so prances on the spot.
But in all seriousness,what is the point? Animals who piaffe naturally are usually frustrated somehow and cannot move forwards freely for whatever reason.

Another Whippet piaffed by back door waiting for his mate to arrive so she could exit first.

Thank you ToxicChristmas

I certainly have never seen the piaffe taught that way.

Good riddance.

I was taught years ago that the piaffe mimics the natural steps of a stallion walking on the spot as it comes to halt in front of mares.

I am sure there are others on here who have more expert information though.

No, it's horrendous. I assume that's what she is trying to achieve anyway...it's so awful it's unclear to be honest. She clearly isn't angry and the horse isn't "misbehaving" so she must feel that's an acceptable normal shortcut to getting the horse to do what she wants. It would be interesting to see the rest of the lesson prior to that to listen to what she says. There are no excuses for that. Not one. Ever.

I get a chance to watch the New Forest ponies frequently and, especially when the stallions are out, you do see a lot of the dressage movements performed. Not of course with such precision collection and control but enough to recognise that the dressage movements have their origin in natural movements.

It looked to me like a group of bored “nasty girls” tormenting and pisstaking with an animal as victim.
Sadly not unusual in yards.

Horses often attract bullies- Human bullying humans on yards, and humans bullying horses.

They do, and my sister and I have had this conversation multiple times to try and understand it -why DOES the horse community attract bullies? Anyone who has been on yards will know it. I'm not saying it's every yard, but a lot have a real bully culture. Doesn't seem to be an age thing or even an experience thing.

Also, if Charlotte is guilty, how “clean” are her competitors here and abroad? How clean is the person accusing her? Why did they wait four years to accuse her? Who else knew in the team hierarchy? Dressage is a small world. Did the judges know? Did her team mates know
Would you say that about someone found to be hitting children?
Disgusting especially to put blame on the person that released the video - better now than never, regardless of motives.

100 percent agree!!!
Rich or poor, Shabby or beautiful- bullying exists.

I have tried to understand why- some say it’s because women are naturally “ bitchy “ but they aren’t-

Yards definitely get “ Cliques”
A retired farmer I know said he rents his buildings to men ( workshops) as horses bring far too much trouble with bullying and infighting.

He rents his fields for cattle. Would be ideal for horses!

@oakleaffy @ToxicChristmas I think it's because any sentient person is at least wary/careful around such large and unpredictable animals and some people, even experienced yard people, are deep down scared. They feel they shouldn't be or are ashamed to be so they try to take control of themselves by bullying others instead. The best riders and horse people are always clear but never dominate for the sake of it.

@ToxicChristmas I think it starts at primary school/secondary school level - quite often a sort of pony girl 'clique' forms within those who can afford to have riding lessons. Inevitably wealth forms a part of this - as some girls will be able to have their own ponies and then within that set, there are the ones that can afford thoroughbred or part Arab ponies - so a hierarchy can easily start to form.

I saw this many many years ago. I was able to have lessons but never a horse and so was on the outskirts of it all. But the yards were full of young girls, who owned ponies and cliques formed with the associated bullying behaviour.

I have a feeling that this is going to be a challenge. Anybody who uses 'training' methods like these ( and you have to wonder where CD learned them) will have to be very very careful what they say, or they will end up with egg on their face.
They all use those methods to a degree at that competitive level.

I just watched the video and feel sick. You can see the horse trying to get away from her. It is so awful. I have never been anti horse sports, but if this is what it takes, it should be banned.

A lovely Police Sargent ( Mounted) used to say people bully horses when they are afraid.
That was his theory.
He could well be right.
We are lucky that horses generally are happy to allow us to handle them without much issue.