Charlotte Dujardin has been seen in new footage calling her horse a “b****”. The 39-year-old withdrew from the Olympics 2024 Equestrian dressage after she appeared in a leaked video that showed her repeatedly whipping a horse during a training session.
Dujardin is one of Great Britain’s most decorated Olympians, having won six dressage medals on the biggest stage throughout her illustrious career.
But days before the latest edition of the Games was due to get underway, she was forced to pull out after footage showed her hitting a horse around its legs with a long whip.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by equestrian’s governing body the FEI and released a statement claiming she had made “an error of judgement”.
But new footage shows the veteran shouting out the words “you b****” to her horse as she pulls its head down with her reins. The horse had seemingly annoyed her after it had jerked its head up.
The incident took place at Stoneleigh showground in Warwickshire in September 2016 and was recorded by a steward. The steward is said to have been shocked by the incident after previously looking up to the equestrian star before her outburst.
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Dujardin made her name at London 2012 when she won gold in the individual and team dressage on Valegro.
Four years later at Rio 2016, they won individual gold and team silver, with Dujardin going on to land double bronze on Gio in Tokyo three years ago.
But after withdrawing from Paris 2024, Dujardin said in an Instagram statement: “A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session.
“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. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.
“I will co-operate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.”
Meanwhile, British Equestrian chief executive Jim Eyre said: “As the guardians of equestrian sport, we must uphold the highest standards of equine welfare – the horse’s wellbeing is paramount. The allegations made are serious and the consequences far reaching.”
Equestrian events at the Olympics 2024 began on Saturday and will run until Tuesday, August 6. Dujardin’s place at the Games has been taken by reservist Becky Moody.
