Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in dressage, has received a one-year suspension and a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for “excessively” using a whip on a horse.
The incident, captured on video in July, showed the 39-year-old striking a horse’s legs with a long whip during training, just days before the Paris 2024 Olympics. Following an investigation, the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body for equestrian sports, imposed the penalty. Dujardin’s ban is retroactive to her provisional suspension and will end in July 2025.
The suspension has been upheld by both British Equestrian and British Dressage, effectively barring Dujardin from national competitions and training events during the same period.
Dujardin is one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians, with six medals: three gold, one silver, and two bronze, a tally matched only by former track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny. She accepted the sanction, which stems from conduct deemed harmful to horse welfare. The provisional suspension was initially issued on July 23, a day after the FEI received the video of the training session at a private stable.
The FEI noted that while the video did not indicate additional rule violations, it underscored the importance of equine welfare. No further complaints about Dujardin’s conduct have surfaced since the footage emerged.
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FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibanez emphasized the importance of the decision, stating, “This case highlights that no one is above the rules when it comes to safeguarding the welfare of horses. These sanctions reaffirm our commitment to equine care and our responsibility as guardians of these animals.”
Although the case drew negative attention to equestrian sports in the lead-up to the Paris Games, Ibanez praised the swift response, including the initiation of disciplinary action and the provisional suspension.
Dujardin voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics after confirming she was the individual in the video. The FEI’s disciplinary proceedings addressed three charges: horse abuse, conduct damaging to the FEI and equestrian sport’s reputation, and breaching the FEI code of conduct on horse welfare.
Jim Eyre, Chief Executive of British Equestrian, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to horse welfare, stating, “Ensuring the ethical treatment of horses remains our top priority. We are committed to upholding integrity through enforcement and education.”
British Dressage echoed this sentiment, with CEO Jason Brautigam reiterating the organization’s zero-tolerance stance on mistreatment. “We remain steadfast in prioritizing the health and wellbeing of horses and demonstrating that equestrian sport is conducted ethically and responsibly,” he said.
