Charlotte Dujardin Banned From Equestrian Sports for One Year After Whipping Video

Charlotte Dujardin dropped out of the 2024 Paris Olympics after a video of her beating a horse was leaked to the public. The three-time gold medalist has since apologized for her actions, but it doesn't seem like the mea culpa is enough to sway public opinion or that of her peers.

Now, it has been announced that Dujardin has also been banned from equestrian sports for a year. Keep reading to learn more about the incident that led to her ban — plus, a look into whether dressage is cruel to horses.

On Dec. 5, 2024, the BBC reported that the Fédération Equestre Internationale, or FEI, has banned Dujardin from international equestrian sports for one year. She has also been fined 10,000 Swiss Francs, roughly $11,350 USD. The ban has been backdated to the date of her provisional suspension on July 23, 2024, and she will be eligible to compete again in July 2025.

In a statement, Dujardin said, "As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better."

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibanez added, "These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences."

Animal lovers and casual fans alike were horrified after a video from several years ago was released by a whistleblower, who captured Dujardin's heinous acts on her camera. In the clip, Dujardin can be seen using a long whip to beat the horse that was being ridden by one of her students in an attempt to get the animal to raise their hoofs more during a canter.

The horse was hit more than 24 times in a single minute, according to the attorney representing the whistleblower, Stephan Wensing.

Per The Guardian, Wensing said that his unnamed 19-year-old client decided that it was time to release the old footage after seeing how many other trainers were being suspended over claims of abuse. For instance, there's the infamous case of Cesar Parra, who was suspended from dressage as a result of a viral video that surfaced in February 2024.

Dujardin released a statement after the video dropped, saying that the incident was completely out of character for her, adding that it “does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment."

Watch the video of Dujardin whipping the horse below — but be warned, some viewers may find it upsetting.

Per the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF), dressage is "a series of movements that must be performed by the horse and rider." The term "dressage" comes from the French word for "training."

According to Vice, this style of training was developed back when horses were ridden into physical battle to teach them to go against their instincts and gallop into harm's way. In order to achieve that degree of training, horses have to be taught how to submit to their trainers.

Allegations of animal cruelty have plagued the sport of dressage, including claims against other trainers and riders which have made headlines even outside the world of equestrian sports, raising concerns about the future of dressage.

This article, originally published on July 25, 2024, has been updated to reflect the new ruling.