Equestrian at the Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024

[mpjmcevoy 362]

9 minutes ago, dodge said:

And didn’t release it before Tokyo 3 years ago…

Apparently it has come to light from the Dutch. So that suggests a fairly obvious motivation.

[dcro 10,210]

So much for Dujardin...

 

https://eurodressage.com/2024/07/23/charlotte-dujardin-withdraws-2024-olympics-following-allegations-horse-abuse

Edited July 23 by dcro

[dcro 10,210]

44 minutes ago, mpjmcevoy said:

Apparently it has come to light from the Dutch. So that suggests a fairly obvious motivation.

To be fair it's not exactly shocking following what happened at the 2019 Europeans.

[mpjmcevoy 362]

1 hour ago, dcro said:

To be fair it's not exactly shocking following what happened at the 2019 Europeans.

No, its not. Dressage is a bit like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars - a big glittery smile covering a lot of unpleasant behaviour - even here, the whistleblower appears to be doing it and timing it for the most personal gain (obviously seems to be coming from the dutch dressage community). There are no good guys here.

[NearPup 3,044]

3 hours ago, mpjmcevoy said:

Apparently it has come to light from the Dutch. So that suggests a fairly obvious motivation.

Interesting how the Dutch have such a problem with an animal abuser taking part in the Olympics. I wonder what that says about how much they value children.

[Josh 10,489]

4 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Interesting how the Dutch have such a problem with an animal abuser taking part in the Olympics. I wonder what that says about how much they value children.

Animal abuser? 

[NearPup 3,044]

1 minute ago, Josh said:

Animal abuser? 

Charlote Dujardin is out of the Olympics after the Dutch team (or at least someone from the Dutch dressage community, not 100% clear who it was) unearthed a video of her abusing a horse four years ago.

Edited July 23 by NearPup

[Josh 10,489]

Just now, NearPup said:

Charlote Dujardin is out of the Olympics after the Dutch team unearthed a video of her abusing a horse four years ago.

Oh wait I misread your reply, ignore me 

[BMOlympics 8]

"The complaint was filed with both the FEI and the British Equestrian Federation at 9am last Monday by Dutch lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of a client who wishes to remain anonymous. Wensing filed a complaint on behalf of the client for animal abuse, which is proven by a video that was made about 2.5 years ago, according to the complaint. The video shows Charlotte Dujardin hitting a student's horse with a whip multiple times."

 

"The timing of the complaint, just days before the Olympics, is devastating for Dujardin. Wensing explains that his client had long hesitated and could not bring himself to allow Charlotte Dujardin to win medals at the Olympics, while the client knew about this video. Dujardin was on her way to becoming Britain's most successful female athlete if she added a seventh Olympic medal to her list of achievements."

 

Source: https://www.horses.nl/dressuur/dressuur-internationaal/charlotte-dujardin-trekt-zich-terug-voor-de-olympische-spelen-na-opduiken-video-van-training/

Edited July 23 by BMOlympics

[RussB 189]

Funny that this long agonising decision was only reached one week before the games. If in the mind of the witness the video was clear proof of animal abuse, and well being standards not being observed, there is a moral obligation to report this to authorities with no delay. Let alone waiting multiple years. It is not within the remit of the witness to try and determine how best to maximise the punishment on any alleged impropriety.

 

Unfortunately nobody comes out of this positively, mainly Charlotte of course and wider the team GB dressage community, but I suspect there could well be severe damage to the sport as a whole if the video eventually leaks +/or is supplemented by other evidence involving other nations and riders being released. Dressage training is by its nature less visible than other forms of equestrian; pulling back the curtain may have a significant impact a la modern pentathlon in Tokyo.