I Never Realised The Olympics Is This Year, Sometime.

Yes. I heard that, too.

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.”

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.

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).

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

That video suggests otherwise.

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

foxie; I’ve just watched the video. Surely, if the whip was making contact with the horses legs the whole time it would have caused bleeding? Or even damaged the tendons? I did read that Charlotte was going through a difficult time in her personal life 4 years ago. Maybe she was forced to do teaching, something that didn’t come naturally to her? She obviously has an instinctive affinity with horses that no one can learn. I tried to lunge my daughter’s pony once: as a complete novice I had no idea what I was doing. After a while Rosie just stopped, walked over to me and bit me. We both agreed that I was a complete numpty and should pack it in; I should go and have a cup of tea and she could resume grazing and we’d never attempt to do this lunging stuff ever again. Having been pondering on all this since yesterday my gut feeling is that the disclosure of this video has been done out of spite, revenge or jealousy of some kind and I’d love to know who did it and their true motive. I don’t think it’s all about equine welfare. I’m not excusing what she did but something doesn’t make sense about all this.

Poor horse. Nasty woman beating a horse to achieve glory. Natural talent? Hardly.

I'm not that sporty , but one event that I normally enjoy is Dressage .
I'm a big fan of Charlotte Dujardin .
I'm shocked and disappointed to watch the clip of her losing her temper with her horse .
I had thought better of her .

This isn’t the only video of her mistreating a horse. There is one showing her kicking and slapping another horse.

There is also questions about the whole area of horse events, throughout the equestrian world.

I shall not support or watch it.

According to BBC news today the person released the video, which was filmed quite a while ago, as they had recently heard that 2 (I think Swedish) contestants had recently been disqualified from entering the Olympics for similar behaviour. This urged them on to go public with the footage.

I never witnessed it when I used to ride .
I've certainly heard about horses being ill treated in training .
And I find it so upsetting and unnecessary .
Shame on you Charlotte Dujardin .

I’m done with watching any competitive horse sport. Burghley 2 years ago finished me with eventing, modern dressage is a travesty, and show jumping has its own cruelty. It seems to me that when you introduce competition into anything involving animals the human ego takes over and the horse is just a means to an end. I actually believed that Charlotte Dujardin loved horses. More fool me.

More fool many of us nightowl for being taken in by what many people on TV would have us believe.

www.google.com/gasearch?q=dujardin%20kicking%20horse&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6fb88e05,vid:Dwcj-wKuqQo,st:0

This further video says much about how she really treats her horses.

I'm not trying to deflect attention from this, honestly, but amid all the (rightful) condemnation of Charlotte Dujardin (not just here, in the media in general), I just wish there was the same outcry over Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde. How can it be acceptable for a convicted child rapist to be competing at the Olympics?
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Absolutely.
Is there no honour left in sport?

hello Kate1949; i'd been wondering about you, hadn't seen you 'on the boards' recently. hope you're ok.
and i agree with your comment, as so often re animals.

MissInterpreted

I'm not trying to deflect attention from this, honestly, but amid all the (rightful) condemnation of Charlotte Dujardin (not just here, in the media in general), I just wish there was the same outcry over Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde. How can it be acceptable for a convicted child rapist to be competing at the Olympics?
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Totally agree.

He should never have the privilege of representing his country.

Hello welbeck. I'm still here (just about!). I hope you are well.

i always value your contributions, Kate1949.
keep a stout heart.

What a lovely thing to say. Thank you. You too.

RosiesMaw2

www.google.com/gasearch?q=dujardin%20kicking%20horse&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6fb88e05,vid:Dwcj-wKuqQo,st:0

This further video says much about how she really treats her horses.

It's not showing me anything at all enlightening, just a split screen and random bits of the horse working in an arena.

What is it supposed to be showing?

(perhaps the fact that your link hasn't posted properly doesn't help. It's not all blued)

The video of CDJ that has just been posted, I don't think that's her in the video. I might be wrong of course, but I'm pretty sure I've seen that video before with someone else accused of cruelty.

RosiesMaw2

www.google.com/gasearch?q=dujardin%20kicking%20horse&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6fb88e05,vid:Dwcj-wKuqQo,st:0

This further video says much about how she really treats her horses.

I’m confused now. Isn’t that the video that was doing the rounds a few years ago and was footage of a woman connected with a hunt/pony club who lost her temper after her horse escaped during loading and attempted to wander off? I’m sure I would have remembered if Charlotte Dujardin had been mentioned.

I could be wrong of course but I don’t think it’s her.