Whistleblower Who Released Shocking Video of Olympian Whipping Horse Speaks Out
Many have seen on social media the disturbing video of British Olympia Charlotte Dujardin repeatedly whipping her horse’s legs during training while laughing. The video has led to her provisional suspension by the International Equestrian Federation while they investigate and the withdrawal of support from two of her sponsors.
The whistleblower who shared the video is represented by her spokesperson attorney Stephan Wensing. He revealed that the whistleblower’s intention was not to become a hero, but to address what is believed to be widespread abuse within the sport. The whistleblower was actually quite afraid to report and feared retaliation, “victim-blaming” and a general “fear culture” in dressage. Ultimately, she feared Dujardin being rewarded for the misbehavior and medaling at the Olympics if she did nothing.
Wensing conveyed his client’s sentiments to BBC Sport, emphasizing the difficulty of her decision to share the video. “It’s not fun to ruin a career. She’s not celebrating; she doesn’t feel like a hero,” Wensing explained. “But she told me this morning this had to be done because she wants to save dressage.”
What is Dressage?
Dressage is an equestrian discipline where horse and rider perform a series of predetermined movements from memory. The term “dressage” originates from the French word for “training.”
Who is Charlotte Dujardin?
Charlotte Dujardin, 39, is one of Britain’s most decorated dressage riders, with six Olympic medals, including three golds. Along with cyclist Laura Kenny, she holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any British female athlete.
Dujardin, a prominent figure in the Dressage community, expressed her regret in a statement about the incident. Dujardin claims the video was four years old and was an “error of judgment” that did not reflect her usual training methods. Wensing rebuts this on behalf of his client, stating the video dates back just two and a half years and is not an isolated incident. In fact, his client visited Dujardin’s stable multiple times and had seen this happen before.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris Games amid backlash, acknowledging there is no excuse for her actions.
As the equestrian community is left reeling, the actions of one whistleblower serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining animal welfare, integrity and transparency within the sport. Larger questions linger for some as to whether the sport should be allowed to continue if it cannot address these animal welfare issues immediately.
The 2024 Olympics opened on Friday night in Paris without Dujardin.