Charlotte Dujardin

I’ve often wondered how horses are trained to hop about in dressage and now we know.She won’t be the only trainer who uses the whip.

Dressage is awful - why force a horse to 'dance' and behave in a completely unnatural manner? This Olympic sport is no better than watching dancing bears, or elephants dressed stupidly, balancing on tiny stools.

Charleygirl5

I cannot watch horse racing because I cannot stand seeing the poor animals whipped.

I am the same.
I can't stand seeing animals being "trained" to do any "tricks" or "unusual behaviour" at all.

Astitchintime

How many more instances of cruelty have there been since that weren't caught on video?
Despicable woman, she should not be allowed near a horse let alone train one.

Or before that particular instance.

How many more instances of cruelty have there been since that weren't caught on video?
Despicable woman, she should not be allowed near a horse let alone train one.

nanna8

I was thinking what a cow she is but then cows are gentle,trusting creatures on the whole. A pity she wasn’t exposed when it actually happened , someone hung on to that video didn’t they ?

Yep....they've had it years....biding their time to release it for maximum effect

Charleygirl5

Unbelievable- suspended for 6 months, I would suspend her for life and not allow her to own any animal.

So would I.

I was thinking what a cow she is but then cows are gentle,trusting creatures on the whole. A pity she wasn’t exposed when it actually happened , someone hung on to that video didn’t they ?

Shame on her. How many more are guilty of the same practice? Animals shouldn’t be used for sport.

She should be stripped if every medal she's won.

I can't stand animal cruelty. It's truly dreadful to treat any animal this way.
Horses are beautiful intelligent and sensitive creatures. She should never be allowed near one again.

I cannot stand horse racing, dog racing or any of the dreadful regimes that are around animals and sport
I m not horse mad, never been near one to be honest, never been near a bull but can’t abide the thought of bullfighting either, I m not dog mad but can’t stand seeing them made to stand on their hind legs or ‘ dance’ it’s not entertainment it’s cruelty

I saw these clips and I would love to slice that whip round her legs and see if she dances. I m glad she s been brought to task as for her saying that wasn’t her normal behaviour looked like she was very used to doing it the way she handled that whip I wish the horse had kicked her back

LovesBach She has a whip because it's a standard piece of equipment, but not normally used to actually whip the horse.
This is so disappointing. Charlotte has been such a great role model for other riders. I was ready to give her the benefit of the doubt, but then I watched the video ................

I cannot watch horse racing because I cannot stand seeing the poor animals whipped.

She has insisted this is not her normal behaviour. If this is the case, why does she own a whip, and why was it taken into the training arena? I recall a circus owner filmed inflicting cruelty on a chimpanzee- strangely this wasn't something she had ever done previously.

I've been following this and whilst I think Dujardin was wrong to whip the horse I do have concerns about the person who filmed the incident. If indeed their concern was for the horses why did they not report it at the time.

This is just one more example of the abuse that is present in elite sports.

I agree charleygirl, despicable person treating such a beautiful animal that way and shame on the onlookers who didn't intervene, I would ban them also from owning animals.

Unbelievable- suspended for 6 months, I would suspend her for life and not allow her to own any animal.

Thanks , Kate didn't see it !

Esmay People are discussing this on the 'Olympics' thread on the Sport forum which you may find interesting.