Britain's three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin has been forced to withdraw from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games over a video showing her repeatedly kicking a horse in the legs while trotting at a slow pace, Telegraph Sport understands.
The rider, who could have become Britain's most decorated female Olympic athlete, says there is “no excuse” and she is “deeply ashamed” of the “error of judgement” during a coaching session.
The film was made four years ago and was brought to light by a whistleblower, who hired a Dutch lawyer to make the case public. A media outlet in the Netherlands is said to have obtained the video.
Dujardin posted on social media that she has withdrawn from all competitions while the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) investigates the incident. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the Team GB camp, with senior officials caught by surprise by the announcement.
“What happened was completely out of character for me and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my students,” she said in a statement. “But there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example at the time.”
The equestrian world is reportedly on edge over public perceptions surrounding animal welfare at the Games, with a special officer in Paris monitoring 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 equestrian institution.
'Someone waited until a key moment to leak it'
“She repeatedly hits the horse's legs with a hose while trying to get the horse to do a better 'piaffe' – the slow-motion trot,” the insider said. “Someone else is riding the horse.
“The FEI is very attentive to public opinion, with its new mantra of making riders protectors of their horses and the unprecedented appointment, announced two days ago, of a special official in Paris to ensure that horse welfare rules are followed.
“It seems – as so often happens – that a video clip has been around for a while, but someone waited until a big moment like this to leak it.”
The FEI's provisions on horse abuse are set out in Article 142 of the FEI Rules and allow for the rider to be penalised even if the incident occurred outside of competition.
Rumors that a damning video existed spread among equestrian insiders before the announcement. Susan Wachowich of Dressage Hub posted a video on Facebook claiming that authorities had been called.
A top US dressage rider, Cesar Parra, is currently provisionally suspended by the FEI due to horse welfare issues.
Two years ago, Sir Mark Todd also came under fire for a video showing him hitting a horse ten times with a branch.
A statement from Team GB regarding Dujardin is expected shortly.
The 39-year-old Dujardin needed a medal of any colour to beat Dame Laura Kenny, with whom she currently has six medals to her name in the British women's all-time rankings.
“A video from four years ago has surfaced that shows me making an error in judgment during a coaching session,” the woman said in a statement.
“It is understandable that the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) is conducting an investigation and I have decided to withdraw from all competitions – including the Paris Olympics – while this process is underway.
“I sincerely regret my actions and am devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors. I will fully cooperate with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations and will not comment further until the process has been completed.”
Dujardin won team and individual gold medals at the 2012 London Games with the horse Valegro, and the pair won individual gold and team silver in Rio four years later. On another horse, Gio, she won two bronze medals at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Dujardin was scheduled to compete in the individual dressage and team competition, together with Carl Hester and world champion Lottie Fry, on the new horse Imhotep.
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