Charlotte Dujardin’s mentor and Team GB team-mate Carl Hester has condemned her for her actions which led to her missing the Paris Olympics.
Dujardin had been bidding to become the most successful British female Olympian outright in Paris. But she announced at the start of the week that she was pulling out of the event after a video emerged of her repeatedly whipping a horse, which then led to a six-month suspension by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
A statement from the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) was signed by its 10 board members, including Hester, to “universally condemn” her actions. It read: “The board members are resolute that equine welfare must always be placed uppermost and at all times.
“They promote only ethical training methods and practices, and strive to encourage all their members to abide by the FEI code of conduct for the welfare of the horse, together with all FEI regulations which support and protect equine welfare standards both in and out of competition.
“The board supports the actions taken by the FEI, the British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage to provisionally suspend Ms Dujardin. It notes that Ms Dujardin has stated she has no excuse for her actions and has also expressed her shame and regret. Due to the investigations, the board will not make any further official announcements on this matter until the investigations are concluded.”
Hester and Dujardin have been team-mates since London 2012, where they won team dressage gold. They reunited for silver in Rio four years later and again for a bronze at Tokyo.
