Olympic Scandal: Dujardin Whips Horse During Training

Riders at the Olympic Games in Paris are shocked by a video showing three-time gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain repeatedly whipping a horse during training — a scandal that has thrust the issue of animal welfare and abuse into the spotlight.

American rider Boyd Martin, competing in the Olympic Games for the fourth time, said he was “horrified” by the video.

“The welfare of the horses is incredibly important, these magnificent animals mean so much,” Martin said after the first day of the eventing competition. “Your teammate is an animal in this sport, and what we saw was inexcusable.”

Martin spoke just hours after another rider, Carlos Parro, was formally reprimanded by the equestrian sport governing body (FEI) for potentially causing his horse Safira “unnecessary discomfort.” The incident did not take place at the Paris Games, but it cast yet another spotlight on the question of animal welfare.

The FEI reviewed photos sent to it by animal welfare organization PETA showing Parro overbending Safira’s neck in a prohibited movement known as “rollkur,” which restricts the horse’s breathing.

“While we are relieved that the FEI has responded to our complaint and taken action, we remain deeply concerned about the horse,” said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo in an email. “The rider should have been disqualified by the stewarding team.”

Martin did not comment on the decision and said he had not yet seen the photos at the time of his statement, but he said it was wrong to put pressure on a horse through punishment or fear.

“To get the best out of an animal, you have to train it so that it wants to please you,” said Martin. “It must be positive and understanding.”

The British team has, however, been under scrutiny since a video emerged showing Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse while training another rider. Dujardin withdrew from the Games and has been provisionally suspended from all events pending an FEI investigation.

“We are 110 % behind the welfare of the horses here,” said 33-year-old rider Tom McEwen. “I agree it was a huge shock to the equestrian world. But I believe that all of us here this week will show that the sport is the amazing sport that it is.”

Former American star David O’Connor, who won gold in individual eventing at the 2000 Games, is chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and sits on its board. He is also the sport director of the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

He described Dujardin’s behavior as “unacceptable in every respect,” but said that the increased spotlight on the sport was entirely justified.

“I have absolutely no objection to the public stepping up, because you really want to make sure that unacceptable behavior is exposed,” said O’Connor on Saturday. “We are doing everything we can to identify unethical behavior and to speak out wherever it occurs.”

When asked whether a U.S. team rider would be removed from the team if a similar video of mistreatment were to surface, O’Connor was unequivocal.

“Yes,” he said. “There is no statute of limitations.”

He does not believe that cruelty towards horses is endemic and hopes that broader scrutiny will improve the protection of horses.

“One of the big changes now is to go beyond competition. In the past it was always only within competition,” said O’Connor. “That is the only way to put a stop to such practices.”

Equestrian sport is also represented in the modern pentathlon, though for the last time at these Games. Show jumping will no longer be featured at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. It was removed after a German trainer was sent home from Tokyo 2020 for hitting a horse when it refused to jump.

The day after the Dujardin video became public, the FEI announced a series of reforms, including more ethical training methods and clearer guidelines for the handling and riding of horses.

For the first time at the Olympic Games, there is an on-site horse welfare coordinator. FEI Veterinary Director Goran Akerstrom said it was of the utmost importance to recognize physical and emotional stress in horses.

Also on Saturday, Emiliano Portale and his horse Future were eliminated from the dressage after blood was found in the horse's mouth during a follow-up inspection. “This was in accordance with the horse welfare protocol and did not mean that there was any intention to hurt or harm the horse,” the FEI stated.

The welfare of the riders is also important.

British rider Laura Collett narrowly escaped death in a fall in 2013. She had to be resuscitated five times and suffered a broken shoulder, two broken ribs, a punctured lung, a torn liver, and kidney damage.

The highest risk of serious injury occurs in falls during the cross-country discipline. Studies show that there are more injuries compared to dressage and show jumping.