Charlotte Dujardin

I’m disgusted by the response from the British Olympic horse people! Saying it’s a deliberate sabotage to the UK team? Really? Is this really acceptable?
I think it is time to ban this and any sport that does such cruelty!
I’m shocked.
I totally agree with everyone. She should return her medals
No longer train or be allowed to keep horses or any animals!
Disgraceful

Cruelty to animals makes my blood boil. She should never be allowed to train another horse or be allowed to compete in dressage competitions ever again.
That video was takes two and a half years ago. How many other horses has she abused in that time ? And before that time ? It looked like very practiced behaviour to me She had definitely done it before .
If this is what goes on to train dressage horses then the whole sport should be stopped .
I once saw a famous show jumper whipping his horses back legs , whilst the groom was in the saddle , in the practice arena. I immediately told the vet at that horse show . The vet dealt with it very well. Inspected the horses legs very thoroughly in front of everybody behind the show jumping arena!

Another £error of judgement" and "out of character". How many times are we subjected to such crap when someone is found out? It's even worse than the Tory GE date betting scandal

MaizieD the poor horse in the video winced and bucked. He'd plainly been hurt. I've not led a perfect life but I've never knowingly hurt any animal or person. I'm not famous and prize winning nor do I have sponsors or celebrity status to lose - but I still haven't done that.

lizzypopbottle

A letter in the DT today asked how come it's bad to whip a horse in dressage training but OK to whip racehorses? I don't know the answer to that specific question, although 'sport of kings' (our own King for example) and mega bucks might come into it but any animal cruelty is wrong.

Whipping horses in racing isn't allowed either, hasn't been for several years, and the crops used are short, padded 'bats' which are used to help keep the horse straight - along with the bit, of course. These bats really don't hurt, but make a bit of a thwack sound.
In other equestrian disciplines, the use of the whip is very carefully monitored, the whips again are the spongy, padded 'bats', and any mistreatment is taken very seriously.
There are things about horse racing that are not great, but the care of the horses and their welfare is generally very good. The biggest problem with racing is gambling, as that means that all jockeys have to try to win at times, so if the horse isn't going well and feels tired, you are still expected to push it to try to win, rather than giving the horse a nice, easy race. Any other equestrian sport, you can pull up, retire of take it easy at any point that you feel that's in the horse's best interests.

Strange that just before the Olympics it was re-released by the Netherlands team who have always been strong contenders for medals in dressage and always been thwarted by . . . yes, Charlotte. Mmmm!!

Dirty tricks. Win at all costs it seems. I have no doubt that members of that team use or have used similar training methods.

It’s all wrong of course and they haven’t released that video out of concern for the horse. Shame on them.

I agree that this was a grave error on Charlotte’s part and I think she has admitted that and genuinely apologised. However, it is interesting to note that it happened about 4 years ago and the video was publicised then and nothing happened. Strange that just before the Olympics it was re-released by the Netherlands team who have always been strong contenders for medals in dressage and always been thwarted by . . . yes, Charlotte. Mmmm!!

A letter in the DT today asked how come it's bad to whip a horse in dressage training but OK to whip racehorses? I don't know the answer to that specific question, although 'sport of kings' (our own King for example) and mega bucks might come into it but any animal cruelty is wrong.

Some dogs quite like being trained to do tricks especially if they get a reward and praise afterwards. Most trainers of dog love their dogs and don't do anything cruel at all. I think the same goes for the ordinary everyday horse trainers.

Aveline

She has behaved very badly and hurt animals. However, she has now lost everything she has worked for and will forever be tarnished by this. Punishment enough.

There is no evidence that she has 'hurt animals'. One video of one animal and everyone is jumping to extreme conclusions.

Of course, I suppose that all those vehemently condemning her have led utterly virtuous and exemplary lives and have never done anything which they deeply regret. Well done all of you..

But sadly, not everyone manages to achieve your level of perfection.

It is also customary for evidence to be properly scrutinised and interrogated before guilt is pronounced.

I'm not in any way defending what was done (do I have to keep repeating this?) but the sight of the mob howling for retribution isn't very edifying.

MaizieD

vegansrock

People are extrapolating all sorts of nonsense on here. Just because someone objects to horses being included in competitions such as the Olympics, where the very nature of the high stakes involved means that extreme lengths may be taken to ensure the animals perform, doesn’t mean they object to all “pets”. (though I personally would draw the line at keeping anything in a cage)

I was merely responding to the statement I pasted at the top of my post of 22.24.

It takes it to its logical conclusion.

I couldn't help thinking about all the starving half wild cats and dogs one encounters on holidays abroad and wondering if a 'natural life' for animals is all it's cracked up to be.

Nature red in tooth and claw is a pretty realistic assessment of life in the wild.

Humans don't get a life of freedom, few would choose to work in Tesco's or whatever given the choice.

I was horrified by that video, I've done lots of dressage & always earned the horse's co-operation by 'explaining' what I want him to do without words but gentle moving.

I'm glad Dj has been dropped by so many sponsors, it should be for life, I thought she was a great role model but was obviously mistaken

Kate1949

As I posted on the other thread, another video has emerged from 2016 in which she is heard calling a horse a b***h.

I’ve seen it as well and the horse is acting up to the point where she’s struggling to control it.

Some people are being over sensitive here. She won’t be the only one who uses a few choice words in those circumstances.

vegansrock

People are extrapolating all sorts of nonsense on here. Just because someone objects to horses being included in competitions such as the Olympics, where the very nature of the high stakes involved means that extreme lengths may be taken to ensure the animals perform, doesn’t mean they object to all “pets”. (though I personally would draw the line at keeping anything in a cage)

I was merely responding to the statement I pasted at the top of my post of 22.24.

It takes it to its logical conclusion.

I couldn't help thinking about all the starving half wild cats and dogs one encounters on holidays abroad and wondering if a 'natural life' for animals is all it's cracked up to be.

Nature red in tooth and claw is a pretty realistic assessment of life in the wild.

As I posted on the other thread, another video has emerged from 2016 in which she is heard calling a horse a b***h.

She has behaved very badly and hurt animals. However, she has now lost everything she has worked for and will forever be tarnished by this. Punishment enough.

I’ve joined the discussion and condemnation here, inevitable that this will be the subject of much discussion, as here about the rights and worries about dressage to pet ownership. I hope she has support from friends and family, she must be devastated .
This doesn’t mean I agree with her behaviour of course

Dujardin has rightly been condemned for her behaviour, she has apologised and withdrew herself from the Olympics. Her sponsors have dropped her, her long time mentor with whom she shares a yard has condemned her, I have no doubt those who train with her will move to other trainers and fb and the media is full of people expressing their disgust for her with lots of uninformed and completely unsubstantiated allegations about how she has achieved the success that she has had on different horses. Her career is ruined and I don't think she'll be able to put it back together. At what point has she been punished enough? We've already seen people take their lives in these situations, I sincerely hope she doesn't get added to the list.

Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen Maybee

MissInterpreted

Callistemon213

No-one is trying to defend this.

Exactly. And as for not keeping things in cages, I can think of more than a few humans I'd happily lock in one (and throw away the key ).

😃

Callistemon213

No-one is trying to defend this.

Not in any way.

BlueBelle

Some nonsense posts trying to defend this action and blaming others
There is a huge difference between a dog or any animal naturally doing these entertaining things, to an animal being trained and over trained to entertain. The difference on a very simple level, if an intelligent dog sees that if it sits down quietly it will get a treat it will do it again, however if the owner is spending hours making it do things for their entertainment, that’s abuse
I believe NO animal should be on tv or theatres doing ‘tricks’ and I don’t believe they love it and if they do that opens the door to those that don’t enjoy it to be strictly over trained, the noise of the audience screaming, the heat, the lights are all alien to the animal We got past pulling rabbits out of hats or making doves appear in hankies We got past animals in circuses for the most part these other things need to go too
The same goes for all ‘entertainment’ , horse racing …they can die for goodness sake, jumping over higher and higher obstacles, yes dressage, dog racing, bull fighting, bear baiting , dog fighting. We as a country are quick to criticise other countries for their animal cruelty but we are absolutely NO better.
And don’t get me on tail docking, claw removal, ear cutting fox hunting…. there is massive animal cruelty in this country

The woman needs putting in the ring and ‘flicked’ to jump and dance for half an hour, of course it doesn’t hurt she ll love it

Tail and ear docking is illegal in the UK.

Callistemon213

No-one is trying to defend this.

Exactly. And as for not keeping things in cages, I can think of more than a few humans I'd happily lock in one (and throw away the key ).

No-one is trying to defend this.

If it wasn't for the Olympics then would this training 'method' ever have come to light? Or would she still be working in this way, away from the public eye. And is she the only one?

Some nonsense posts trying to defend this action and blaming others
There is a huge difference between a dog or any animal naturally doing these entertaining things, to an animal being trained and over trained to entertain. The difference on a very simple level, if an intelligent dog sees that if it sits down quietly it will get a treat it will do it again, however if the owner is spending hours making it do things for their entertainment, that’s abuse
I believe NO animal should be on tv or theatres doing ‘tricks’ and I don’t believe they love it and if they do that opens the door to those that don’t enjoy it to be strictly over trained, the noise of the audience screaming, the heat, the lights are all alien to the animal We got past pulling rabbits out of hats or making doves appear in hankies We got past animals in circuses for the most part these other things need to go too
The same goes for all ‘entertainment’ , horse racing …they can die for goodness sake, jumping over higher and higher obstacles, yes dressage, dog racing, bull fighting, bear baiting , dog fighting. We as a country are quick to criticise other countries for their animal cruelty but we are absolutely NO better.
And don’t get me on tail docking, claw removal, ear cutting fox hunting…. there is massive animal cruelty in this country

The woman needs putting in the ring and ‘flicked’ to jump and dance for half an hour, of course it doesn’t hurt she ll love it