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.

I know, but given recent events, and the incidences of blue tongue etc linked down thread, the investigation part didn’t work very well … .

Maybe we need to ask for tightening up of current rules?

What wording would you suggest please?

Grateful for any alternative suggestions as I am actually with my horses atm.

There are a few down thread that say they've emailed already, perhaps they could put a copy here?

I'm just not sure what you want as an outcome? Horse welfare, obviously, but surely the UK government will pass it to the FEI, and they only have jurisdiction here in the UK where we already have stringent animal welfare rules and laws.

Horse welfare standards are high in the UK.

@XelaM is a poster living in London whose daughter has a pony. In a post in the last couple of days she vividly described the maltreatment of horses at a high profile riding school in London.
It would seem horse welfare standards in the UK are bottom of the barrel level.

Its evident though that the "ban" has no teeth.

That's really sad.

Is that mentioned in the email? I'm just asking about the wording.

I will try and draft something tonight

I was trying to write something that encompasses the wide variety of views represented on this thread

But maybe we should be more specific?
Any pointers welcome

Glad to see Italian rider already eliminated from Olympic dressage this morning for blood on bit. If you think about it, it is outrageous that this could even be a possibility for a competitor of Olympic standards (ie world class) never mind a reality. It’s disgusting and indicative of something very wrong at the heart of the sport.

Just to be clear: I am a supporter of dressage in general but I strongly dislike the direction the sport of dressage is going currently

And yes please, anyone who has written already, please show us your emails!

I don't think the blood was due to harsh hands, he only had a snaffle. I'd imagine the horse bit his tongue. But absolutely 💯 right to eliminate him and they did very quickly.

Domyou think you can't be harsh with a snaffle?

It's pretty difficult. His test didn't look rough or harsh in any way. It is really unlikely that the bit caused it. But the rule is there for good reason.

I hesitate to comment Collexifon
because I have only competed at local village show level

but in 40 years of riding horses I can honestly say I have never once had any blood in my horse’s mouth

(with the exception of dental work carried out by a vet and that was only a tiny amount)

It seems a bit of a coincidence that it happens in the ring?

No me neither. But I think if horses get tense while competing and chew the bit then biting the tongue is quite likely? Obviously I don't 100% know how it happened in this instance.

puts on tin hat I have an idea how to deal with the horse abuse internationally. It won't stop it but it will, I think add pressure.... Yes there is stuff that could be done at the events with more policing of warm up, and maybe banning of some gadgets but...... I think it would help to say that if anything verifiable comes out about a national team member for any event, then the whole team must be pulled from the event. Yes I can hear the screaming now but think about it. It will put pressure on the selection process to ensure that the people they choose are squeaky clean. It will put pressure on "those who knew" not to keep quiet. It will mean that people who might be tempted will know what the consequences will be...and pretty well instantly it will eliminate the ones who "everyone knows about" but who achieve too much to be ignored. I'd maybe give a year for the national structures to get their houses in order. At a local (in country level) I'd also bring in unnanounced yard visits. Someone else suggested this and I think its a blooming good idea. Going along with the social licence idea, I think it would make the world in general believe that equine sports are committed to actually taking action.

I think a body with teeth who will grade yards and equine welfare is a good idea actually.

I don't agree with pulling the whole team.

why not? If the selectors do a proper job, no team will ever be pulled.

I don't think they do that for any sport, do they?

I think for sports that do not involve equines, the difference is choice. The fact that equine sports use live beings that have no choice really ups the stakes for me. Secondly, I am not sure why that's an argument against it? Actually thirdly, it might be a way of addressing irregularities in other sports. Currently the national team organisation receives very little in the way of consequence if they select rule breakers.

This. Animal circuses have been banned so this should be too.

I don't want equestrian sports banned. I know some do.

well that's kind of true. Horse 'acts" are still legal in the Uk. There is a touring company from the Spanish Riding School and various other trained horse acts appear

As someone who knows nothing about the horse world, is there a difference in welfare between 'solo' dressage and 'eventing' dressage?

do you mean 3 day eventing where there the horse also has to do show jumping and a cross country course course? The horses have to be more all rounders. I don't know if the welfare issues are as bad...an easy way to look is to google 3 day eventing cruelty and see what pops up. I don't think any equine activity at competitive level is anywhere approaching squeaky clean. Google racehorse death watch for a start.

Eventing dressage doesn't require the very complicated movements of pure dressage. No piaffe for example, which is what CJD was attempting to get the horse in the video to do.

an easy way to look is to google 3 day eventing cruelty and see what pops up

An easy way to confirm your bias you mean.

two things to say to that. You can make your own mind up about what you see and read and seek out factual confirmation.....also if there is no abuse, there will be no verifiable information!