I Never Realised The Olympics Is This Year, Sometime.

She was eliminated from another competition in 2019

British athlete Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle were eliminated from the Grand Prix competition today at the FEI Dressage European Championship Rotterdam.

Blood was found on the left flank of the horse in the post-competition check and, in accordance with Article 430.7.6.2 of the FEI Dressage Rules, this results in elimination.

Elimination under this rule does not imply there was any intent to injure the horse, but the rules are in place to protect the welfare of all competing horses

So possibly not deliberate but serious enough to eliminate

An olympian, to me, suggests soneone who is at the very top of their game.

That video suggests otherwise.

No wonder she was able to become an Olympian foxie with all that natural talent. I found her book engrossing and I’ve never ridden a horse in my life (even though two uncles were race horse trainers back in the day and one of their wives a jockey).

The video shows a use of the whip that I personally would find totally counter productive. TBH I couldn't tell by looking at the video if the whip was making contact or not but that's not the point that is not how anyone should use a whip and she should know that. tbh I think the horse was a pretty unreactive sort and was more likely to be very pissed off rather than harmed but I wouldn't let a trainer do that to any horse of mine! Interestingly, if the video was done four years ago I do know that CDJ was not an accredited trainer either with the BHS or with BD. She's not recognised as a good trainer in the circles that I move because she is one of those lucky people who ride by instinct and natural ability, training is a completely different skill set. I don't want to say too much but I know she was taking advice from my own trainer because she struggled to understand why the average rider found things that she did so easily, very difficult.

Reacting to the release of the video, former eventer and current ITV Racing presenter Alice Plunkett said: “It’s not a video that makes anybody feel comfortable watching, it is not appropriate and it is not something that I’ve ever seen in terms of the years that I’ve been working with horses. It’s not standard practice. That is not a standard way of training your horses for top-level dressage, she knows that and I just don’t understand how she got into that situation because she’s somebody who has made her life from horses.

“She’s made her life from horses because she manages them in a way that they work for her. Valegro would not have performed in the way that he did for her if she was treating him like that.

“She’s in a systematic training session, she’s training someone else’s horse in that video and she’s made the wrong decision in how to solve the problem. It is not acceptable.”

Yes. I heard that, too.

And equally shocking, someone is laughing while this is being filmed, so obviously they see it as acceptable as well.

I’m really shocked by that video, she isn’t using that lunging whip as it should be used, she’s using it to make contact and cause pain. I really thought she was better than this. I wonder what Carl Hester’s view is? I don’t suppose he can comment while an investigation is going on.

Yes they are complicit.
It's vile to see someone doing that to an animal.

MissAdventure if I witnessed that I would have intervened immediately, CJ used the lunging whip excessively and incorrectly.

The rider, the observers and whoever filmed this are complicit in the horse’s distress.

THE ABOVE COMES WITH A WARNING AS IT MAY DISTRESS VIEWERS.

youtu.be/3Y8_ROb0ZUk?si=XaNdQaat47C-IfqX

RosiesMaw2

Just out of interest I understand that many dressage moves were originally designed to make a horse more manoeuvrable on the battle field thus keeping both horse and cavalryman safe.

You're correct. All the early treatises on horse training (right back to the ancient Greeks) are focussed on training the horse for use in battle.

But please add that the moves are based on a horse's natural movements. A horse can't perform a movement that is physically impossible for it.

I have been caught by the end of a lunging whip whilst teaching my daughter how to free lunge a young horse.

I can honestly say that it hurt more when DH flicked me playfully with the end of a tea towel.

RosiesMaw2

Just out of interest I understand that many dressage moves were originally designed to make a horse more manoeuvrable on the battle field thus keeping both horse and cavalryman safe.

You are totally correct.

Some horses take to dressage like a duck to water, others it’s just not for them, and no amount of training will transform them into dressage superstars

Whips shouldn't be used on animals at all.

Just out of interest I understand that many dressage moves were originally designed to make a horse more manoeuvrable on the battle field thus keeping both horse and cavalryman safe.

I am not defending Charlotte DuJardin, and will wait for the decision of the enquiry by the FIE.

But, there is a huge difference between whipping a horse with the intention of causing pain and fear, to flicking it on its legs with the end of a lunging whip in training.

No, it isn't evidence of guilt.
I wonder then, what she herself was referring to which was an error of judgement?
I expect all will be revealed in due course.

The video clearly shows guilt and the accuser said there were other instances.

Tried to watch the video- prepared to give Dujardin the benefit of the doubt - but couldn’t . Am I getting soft in my old age? But horses are intelligent as well as noble creatures and this actually sickened me.

MissAdventure

They've certainly done Dujardin none.
She has been suspended for six months, and rightly so.

As I understand it she has been suspended while the incident is being investigated. The FEI will report their findings.

In the meantime the suspension isn't evidence of guilt.

These days everyone has to be a winner no matter who or what gets hurt/walked over to get them there. There are the allegations re Strictly as well. I'm not sure what has happened to people.

It was an accident though...
Merely an error of judgement.

Apparently she hits the horse’s legs 24 times in that clip. 😱