The “British Queen of dressage,” Charlotte Dujardin was suspended from the Olympics, after a video went viral, revealing her abusive remedy of a horse.
Lower than 72 hours earlier than the Opening Ceremony, a video of the Olympic contestant, Charlotte Dujardin precipitated a wave of criticism, exhibiting the equestrian whipping a horse “like a circus elephant” 24 instances.
The footage
The video was launched by the Dutch lawyer, Stephan Wensing, on behalf of an nameless consumer, a “scholar” of Charlotte Dujardin. The video was filmed a number of years in the past however was launched simply in time for the Olympics.
Though the scholar´s nationality is withheld, some have linked such a well timed launch to the rivalry between Workforce GB and Workforce NL within the competitors. Madeleine Hill, former dressage correspondent at Horse & Hound journal commented; “The timing of this video days earlier than the Olympics smells of sabotage. To me it’s suspect.”
Workforce NL said; “We’re conscious the video was launched by a Dutch lawyer however want to emphasise that the origin and the discharge has bought no relation in any respect to the Dutch Olympic staff.” The lawyer additionally emphasised; “It´s not enjoyable to smash a profession. (My consumer) just isn’t celebrating however she instructed me this needed to be achieved as she desires to save lots of dressage.”
Save dressage
The pinnacle of the UK´s organisation for dressage, Jason Brautigam said in his letter to members; “I do discover claims that this was achieved to “save dressage” considerably disingenuous, on condition that it was timed to trigger most harm to our sport.” He added; “Nevertheless, what is going to save dressage is how all of us reply to the disaster by demonstrating our love and take care of horses.”
He referred to Dujardin´s actions as “fully unacceptable,” and famous; “We’ve all been shocked and appalled by this indefensible conduct.” Following the launch of the video, Dujardin was given a six-month provisional ban, was reduce off by a number of sponsors and is to be stripped of her CBE award.
This was not the primary case of animal cruelty for the equestrian medallist; Dujardin was equally banned from the European Championship in 2019, as “blood was discovered on the flank of the horse,” in accordance with the official assertion.
Confronted with the startling accusations, Dujardin made a public apology, expressing that she feels “deeply ashamed” of her actions, and stating it was an “error of judgement”. Regardless of the merciless remedy seen within the video showing as a inconsiderate behavior, she said; “What occurred was fully out of character and doesn’t mirror how I prepare my horses.”
The character of dressage
“Horses don´t volunteer – they’ll solely undergo violence and coercion. It´s time for the Olympics to maneuver into the fashionable period,” commented Kathy Guillermo, the US senior vp of the animal rights group Peta.
The alarming incident precipitated animal rights teams internationally to reprise their calls to ban equestrian sports activities from the Olympics. Guillermo famous the terrifying casualty of celebrating the breaking of a horse´s spirit; “But once more, an Olympic rider has been caught on video abusing a horse to pressure the animal to behave in a completely unnatural method, merely for her personal glory.”
Whereas for the informal viewer, it could be tough to attract the road between self-discipline and abuse, the Spanish dressage coach, Patricia Sanchez defined; “The road that shouldn’t be crossed is whenever you cease respecting the animal, when it’s used as a machine and never as a accomplice that it’s best to love and defend above your priorities.”
One other horse welfare activist and creator, Julie Taylor urged society to re-evaluate equestrian sports activities in competitions; “In elite equestrian sport horses are roughly always uncovered to painful stimuli in an effort to carry out. It occurs proper in entrance of the judges and is televised and admired by tens of millions of people that are unable to recognise the indicators of ache and concern displayed by the horses.”
