Equestrian athletes at the Paris Olympics have expressed shock and dismay following a recent video showing British three-time gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse during training. This incident has intensified the focus on animal welfare and abuse within the sport.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
Olympic Medal winner Charlotte Dujardin walks around casually whipping a horse for no reason.
When caught “Oh no! this was a mistake and only happened once.”
Sure…pic.twitter.com/9lNbg8nJgR
— BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) July 24, 2024
American rider Boyd Martin, participating in his fourth Olympics, described his reaction to the video as “horrified.” He emphasized the importance of horse welfare, stating, “Horse welfare is incredibly important; these wonderful animals mean so much. Your teammate is an animal in this sport, and what we saw was inexcusable.”
Martin’s comments came shortly after another equestrian, Carlos Parro, received a formal warning from the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) for potentially causing “unnecessary discomfort” to his horse Safira. Although this incident did not occur at the Paris Games, it further highlighted ongoing concerns about animal welfare. Photos provided by PETA showed Parro hyper-flexing Safira’s neck in a banned movement known as “Rollkur,” which restricts the horse’s breathing. PETA’s senior vice president, Kathy Guillermo, expressed relief that the FEI addressed the complaint but criticized the decision not to disqualify Parro.
Martin refrained from commenting on Parro’s case directly but stressed that coercing a horse through fear or punishment is unacceptable. “To get the best out of an animal, you’ve got to train in a way that it wants to please you,” he said. “It’s got to be positive and understanding.”
The British equestrian team has faced intense scrutiny since the video of Dujardin surfaced. In response, Dujardin has withdrawn from the Games and is provisionally suspended from all events pending an FEI investigation. British rider Tom McEwen stated, “We are here 110% behind horse welfare. It was a massive shock to the equestrian world, but this week, all of us here will show the sport to be the amazing sport that it is.”
David O’Connor, a former American star who won gold in individual eventing at the 2000 Games, currently serves as the chief of the FEI’s eventing committee and the chief of sport for the U.S. Equestrian Federation. He condemned Dujardin’s actions as “completely unacceptable” and welcomed the increased scrutiny on the sport. “I don’t mind public scrutiny at all because you really want to make sure that unacceptable behavior is exposed,” O’Connor said. He confirmed that any U.S. team rider found guilty of similar abuse would be immediately expelled from the team.
O’Connor expressed hope that the heightened scrutiny would lead to improved horse welfare. He emphasized the need to address unethical practices beyond just competition settings, stating, “It’s the only way that practices like that can be taken away.”
The Paris Olympics mark the first time an equine welfare coordinator is on-site, with the FEI’s veterinary director, Goran Akerstrom, underscoring the importance of recognizing both physical and emotional stress in horses.
In a related incident, Emiliano Portale and his horse Future were eliminated from dressage after blood was found in the horse’s mouth during post-competition checks. The FEI clarified that this was a precautionary measure in line with horse welfare protocols and did not imply any intent to harm the horse.
Rider welfare remains a critical issue as well. British rider Laura Collett, who nearly died in a fall in 2013, exemplifies the risks associated with the sport. Cross country, in particular, poses the highest risk of serious injury due to falls, with studies indicating more injuries compared to dressage and jumping.
As the Paris Olympics continue, the equestrian community remains under the spotlight, with both horse and rider welfare taking center stage.