Charlotte Dujardin, the once-celebrated Team GB Olympian, finds herself back in hot water as a shocking video from an Amsterdam event surfaces online. Filmed in the warm-up area of last month’s World Cup, the clip shows her riding the mare Alive And Kicking, and it’s triggered quite the stir among horse welfare advocates and equestrians alike.
Having only returned to the competitive scene six months ago following a year-long ban for welfare violations, Dujardin’s riding has come under fire once again. Critics, including prominent horse welfare experts, are alarmed by her use of spurs and what they describe as an overly tight rein. Mette Uldahl, a former president of the European federation of equine vets, compared it to “asking your car to drive while braking.” The concern is about the undue pressure creating “behavioural conflict” in the horse.
World Horse Welfare chief Roly Owers also weighed in, noting the mare’s apparent tension and conflicted behaviour. This has caused many to question the conduct of one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians. The video, shared widely by welfare group Collectif Pour Les Chevaux, has garnered over 100,000 views, reigniting debate about ethical riding practices.
Dujardin hasn’t commented, leaving the British Equestrian Federation to respond. They pointed out the difficulty in assessing a situation from a short video but reaffirmed their commitment to horse wellbeing.
Filming the clip was equine vet Eva van Avermaet, who expressed surprise over Dujardin’s actions, given her past suspension for a similar incident involving a horse. It raises the question: should a top-tier equestrian be setting a better example? Whether this video leads to further consequences for Dujardin remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—it’s a hard video to watch for horse lovers everywhere.