Will Gold Medalist Dujardin Overcome Animal Whipping Video?
Charlotte Dujardin has a tough road ahead. Will she ever return to glory?
Certain communication — including videos — are damning evidence and painful reminders of whom we have been, maybe still are and beliefs about us to overcome.
Charlotte Dujardin is intensely finding that out.
Her name and reputation have taken a public beating and the former Olympic gold medalist has withdrawn from the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Additionally, Dujardin has been suspended because of an alarming video of her whipping a horse, reports Chris Bumbaca at USA Today.
Dujardin won individual and team gold medals in the 2012 in London and won as an individual four years later in Rio.
Dujardin had the four-year-old video come to light and it led to an investigation and a six-month suspension from The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), Bumbaca writes.
The video reveals “depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” FEI states.
That’s a pretty mild analysis and statement: “Conduct contrary to principles” and “welfare.” The FEI uses such sterile language to show that it isn’t deeply bothered by what it learned. Unimpressive. The suspension might be more for impression management and public relations than corrective and punitive for Dujardin.
“A lawyer representing the unidentified 19-year old complainant sent the video to the FEI and told The Guardian that the incident took place several years ago during a training session at a private facility,” Bumbaca writes.
“Charlotte Dujardin was in the middle of the arena,” the attorney, Stephan Wensing, says. “She said to the student: ‘Your horse must lift up the legs more in the canter.’ She took the long whip and she was beating the horse more than 24 times in one minute. It was like an elephant in the circus."
Again, 24 times in one minute. You can view it here.
Dujardin technically withdrew from the Olympics before the FEI could impose its penalty, Bumbaca reports.
Dujardin issued a statement on her Instagram account page.
A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session. Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition – including the Paris Olympics – while this process takes place.
What happened was completely out of character and 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.
I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.
I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.
Charlotte Dujardin, 23rd July 2024
It’s up for debate whether those words show understanding of the behavior towards a helpless animal and whether Dujardin feels badly outside of the damage to her name, reputation, career, financial security and mental health.
The communication doesn’t speak directly to the harm to the animal who experienced the whipping or to those people who might be deeply disturbed by viewing it. It doesn’t hear or see Dujardin wanting to have a greater understanding of what she’s done, the impact of it and what she’s going to do to make things much better.
Dujardin’s communication seems forced and low grade.
As of the publishing of this article however, she has received 42,748 “likes” on Instagram for publishing her statement of regret and apology.
It may be important to note that in August of 2019, Dujardin was “eliminated from the European Championships after blood was found on her horse,” per Sky Sports.
She spoke then of the consequences.
“The health and welfare of my horses is always my number one priority, but of course I accept the decision,” Dujardin said.
“Equestrian sport’s world governing body the Federation Equestre Internatonale said: ‘Blood was found on the left flank of the horse in the post-competition check. In accordance with article 430.7.6.2 of the FEI dressage rules, this results in elimination.
“Elimination under this rule does not imply there was any intent to injure the horse, but the rules are in place to protect the welfare of all competing horses,’” Sky Sports reported.
The video reported to be from 2020 is definitive. The 2019 incident may have been a warning of what was to come or had happened before behind the scenes, undetected.
Looking at the video that led to Dujardin’s crisis of reputation shows her at ease whipping an animal, as an accepted practice in her work.
It may inspire the question for many: Is she being factual and truthful then when she communicates that what was seen on video and experienced by a student and animal, was indeed, as she asserts, “completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils.”
Communicating in that manner could make it easy for observers undecided on how they feel, as well as critics, to doubt Dujardin’s self awareness, sincerity and credibility.
This moment in time likely already has been and will remain to be a miserable experience for her moving forward.
It can however be mitigated by more transparency, honesty, humility, compassion and behavior that unquestionably shows that Dujardin will not only never engage in the whipping of animals again but also become an advocate for humane practices in the sport and business that she loves and in which she participates. This will require evidence, humility and perseverance.
She could very well be experiencing her own trauma now, although not similar to that of the horse in the video, yet Dujardin knows it was driven largely by her own impulses and actions.
How she chooses to process her emotions psychologically, logically and character-wise in response will determine just how severe and painful — and how long — the negative repercussions last and how badly Dujardin suffers.
Michael Toebe is a specialist for trust, risk, relationship, communications and reputation at Reputation Intelligence - Reputation Quality. He serves individuals and organizations by helping them further build, protect, restore and reconstruct reputation.
Follow Reputation Intelligence on Twitter/ “X”
Follow Reputation Intelligence on the Medium platform for more stories/insights