Three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Britain was forced to withdraw from the Paris Games after footage emerged showing her “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” according to the sport’s governing body.
Charlotte Dujardin of Britain released a statement earlier this week stating that the video “shows me making an error of judgment during a coaching session” four years ago. It wasn’t clear what video Dujardin referred to or what specifically the video shows.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils; however, there is no excuse,” Dujardin said in a statement on Instagram. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”
British Dressage chiefs declared the video of Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse 24 times ‘like a circus elephant’ was released ‘to cause maximum damage’ to the star’s Olympic quest.
In a letter, British Dressage boss Jason Brautigam stated that Dujardin’s actions were ‘completely unacceptable’ but added that dirty tricks were in play to release this video some 72 hours before the start of the Paris games.
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Charlotte Dujardin withdrew from the competitions on Monday and was subsequently provisionally suspended by the International Federation for Equestrian Sport (FEI) for six months.
Dressage Trainer Speaks Out After Receiving Major Backlash Over Video of Charlotte Dujardin Whipping Horse
In the aftermath of the released video, Alicia Dickinson, a dressage trainer who admitted to being present in the barn when British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin repeatedly whipped a horse, clarified she was not the one who released the video that led to Dujardin withdrawing from the 2024 Olympics.
Dickinson, who is an Australian trainer based in London, stated, “This week’s media revelations regarding Charlotte Dujardin have been difficult to process,” Dickinson wrote Thursday on her Instagram account. “I would like to make clear:
She made it clear that she was not the whistleblower.
“I am not the whistleblower. I did not film the footage. Any online speculation is unfounded. Our business relationship ended after the lesson shown in the video.
“I await the outcome of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) investigation and will not be commenting further at this moment.”
The Sun reported Dickinson became the center of the controversy after she was identified by a “leading stud and dressage training yard” from the Netherlands.
The outlet further cited a source who claimed the voice heard in the background of the video was her, and they were “100 percent sure.”
Dickinson told friends she had been “thrown under the bus” by Charlotte Dujardin.
“Charlotte has many enemies,” Dickinson told the paper. “It could have been anyone, but I got the backlash.”
