Charlotte Dujardin

[choux]

Somewhat suspicious motive of the anonymous complainant who has taken over 2 years to report this occasion, imo. Nothing to do with Danish riders who cannot now compete in the Olympics?

Dujardin can now wave goodbye to her damehood, Olympic challenge and possibly career. An "error of judgement" is an understatement.

 Charlotte Dujardin: Whipping video released to 'save dressage' - whistleblower - BBC Sport
 

[bhg481]

I'm not an animal rights fanatic (I don't disapprove of horse racing and greyhound racing but I do disapprove of hare coursing etc) but, to my mind, there is no difference between training horses for dressage and training elephants for the circus ring (which I do disapprove of). I get the feeling that, rather than the events being disclosed for maximum harm for the Olympics, they have been hushed up for several years to avoid bringing the sport into disrepute. This disclosure is not before time and , if it finishes her career, that's justice.

[Tilly2]

I saw a video of this incident ages ago. It's not just come to light.

[-SharonA-]

I wonder how Ms Dujardin would have liked being whipped as she was made to run around a track???

[Vagus]

I'm glad you explained all about this, aunty poll, as I have to say I was wondering what all the fuss was about having seen the video. It looked to me (know nothing about horses, never been on one, never touched one) that it was just a sort of flick rather than whipping the horse.

I was expecting a sustained,  nasty, severe whip of the horse with a short whip, and knowing whips are used sometimes with horses I did wonder what all the fuss was about.

I have been educated, thanks.

[davebro3]

I would like to bet that a majority of these "performing" horses undergo some sort of painful correction.

[ToraToraTora]

I cannot abide animal cruelty. End of.

[jourdain2]

Well, no one will listen to me of course - but she quite rightly admitted to an aberration. I agree that she went far too far and it will do immense damage to a skill of long duration. 

Dressage uses a horse's natural movements in a particular pattern.  Nothing unnatural about it. My niece teaches dressage and is a BHS dressage judge. There is NO cruelty involved. I've seen training many times and am as horrified as anyone by what Dujardin did.  WELL out of line. Dressage is NOT cruel.

Lunge whips are used to touch a horse's legs from a distance (you can't get near enough) to provide a gentle reminder of where the placement of the leg shoud be. That's all there is to it.  Rather like a tug on the bridle to place the head or a nudge of the knees to turn the body. It is the purest form of horsemanship, balance and movement working together.

There must be an underhand motive to release this video now - why not 2 years ago when the incident happened?

 

[ToraToraTora]

This has an interesting parallel to the come dancing scandal.

[Cloverjo]

The reason it's come out now is to ensure Dujardin can't compete in the Olympics, giving competitors a better chance of winning. 
 

What she did was wrong, and I can't bear to watch the footage, but the person who had the evidence and kept quiet for two years doesn't cover themself in glory.