The anonymous whistleblower who several years ago published a shocking video of British dressage star Charlotte Dujardin whipping her horse said she “couldn’t just stand by and watch” as Dujardin tried to become England’s most decorated female Olympian.
Dutch lawyer Stefan Wensing Uma.nl According to Google Translate, his client “hesitated for a long time” before releasing the video from his private vault.
Dujardin has won six Olympic medals, including three gold, making her the joint-highest medal-winning female player on the England national team.
“It is unacceptable that dressage involves animal cruelty. If top-level sport can only be carried out in such a way that the welfare of the horses is compromised, then top-level sport should be abolished,” Wensing told the outlet (translated by Google).
“Everyone involved with horses has a responsibility in this regard, including bystanders who notice excesses. Equestrian sport must police itself and ensure that horse welfare in sport is never again debated. This is a crucial task for judges who, for too long, have lost sight of the sport’s core values and overvalued the horse’s spasmodic movements.”
“It is extremely unfortunate that one of the world’s most successful jockeys must pay the price, but he does not accept any responsibility and cannot go unpunished. Federations, and in particular the FEI (International Equestrian Federation), can be expected to take further appropriate measures against animal cruelty in order to ensure the survival of equestrian sport.”
Dujardin suddenly withdrew from competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics after a video was released showing him whipping a horse during training.
The horse did not tolerate the repeated lashes well, at one point moving away from Dujardin and then rearing up on its front legs after being whipped again.
Wensing He told Sky News The Sun said his client, who was 19 at the time and a former student of Dujardin’s, had contacted him a few weeks ago to lodge a complaint.
Dujardin said his client thought nothing of it at first because he was a highly respected figure, but then became concerned that it might be animal cruelty.
Wensing said his client maintains this is not an isolated incident.
“My client has been to Charlotte Dujardin’s stables on a number of occasions and has seen the same thing happening on a number of occasions,” he told Good Morning Britain. Transcribed by The Sun.
Publishing a video An investigation has been launched Dujardin was fined by the FEI on Tuesday and has been provisionally suspended by the FEI, British Equestrian and British Dressage, banning him from national and international competitions.
Dujardin acknowledged his actions in an Instagram post and announced his withdrawal.
She says the video is four years old, but Wensing claims it’s two and a half years old.
“A four-year-old video has been released which shows I made an error of judgement during a coaching session,” Dujardin said in a statement.
“While what happened is completely out of character for me and does not reflect the way I train horses or mentor my students, there are no excuses. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example at that moment.”
“I truly regret my actions and am devastated to have let everyone down – the British team, our fans and sponsors.
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian and British Dressage in their investigation and will refrain from making any further comment until these have been completed.”
British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam called the complaint a “historic allegation.”
“We do not tolerate any behaviour that goes against our guidelines and have zero tolerance for any behaviour that breaches our horse welfare policies.” Brautigam said in a statement on Tuesday from the British Equestrian Society and the British Dressage Association.“These historic allegations are deeply distressing to everyone involved in our sport, but we fully support the FEI’s investigation and will take appropriate disciplinary action once this process is complete.”
The 39-year-old Dujardin is one medal away from breaking the record held by cyclist Laura Kenny for the most Olympic medals won by a British female athlete.
She won gold medals in team and individual dressage in London in 2012, and added another gold medal in individual dressage in 2016.
Dujardin also won two bronze medals at the 2021 Olympics and one silver medal in 2016.
