Charlotte Dujardin’s Whip Incident Video Aired Live on Good Morning Britain

A video of Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse aired live on Good Morning Britain, leading to the Team GB star’s suspension ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Dujardin, a three-time Olympic champion, withdrew from competitions on Monday after the video surfaced, and the International Federation for Equestrian Sport (FEI) provisionally suspended her for six months effective immediately.

The footage shows the Olympian using a long whip repeatedly on the horse, which reacts by bucking slightly and lifting its rear legs in apparent discomfort. The rider’s face is hidden in the video.

“It’s not a video that makes anyone feel comfortable watching it,” said Alice Plunkett, a former eventer and ITV Racing presenter, on Good Morning Britain. “That is not a standard way of training horses for top-level dressage. She knows that, and I just don’t understand how she got into that situation because she’s someone who has made her life from horses.”

Plunkett added, “In systematic training sessions, she’s training another person’s horse in that video. She made the wrong decision in how to solve a problem, and it’s not acceptable what you’re seeing here.”

Stephan Wensing, the lawyer for the 19-year-old who filed the complaint, said the incident occurred when Dujardin instructed the student to lift the horse’s legs.

“The video was made a little over two years ago,” Wensing told Good Morning Britain. “My client wasn’t initially shocked because she was training with the best rider in the world and thought everything she did was okay.”

Wensing further alleged, despite Dujardin’s statement, that: “The most important thing is that this was not an isolated incident. My client has worked with Dujardin multiple times and has witnessed this behavior frequently. This is a standard way of training horses at Dujardin’s stables.”

In a statement, the FEI said Dujardin fully cooperated with their investigation, admitting she was the individual in the video and acknowledging her inappropriate conduct before withdrawing from the Olympics.

Dujardin, who aimed to become Britain’s most decorated female Olympian at this summer’s Games in Paris, expressed remorse. In a statement, she said she is “deeply ashamed” and that the incident “was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils.”

The 39-year-old withdrew from all competition while the FEI investigated the footage. The organization has now decided to suspend her for six months while it continues its investigation.

FEI president Ingmar De Vos stated, “We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.

“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare and the integrity of our sport.”

The Olympics opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, while the dressage competition at Paris 2024 is set to begin on 30 July at the Chateau de Versailles.

Source: The Independent, Good Morning Britain