Charlotte Dujardin Withdraws From Paris 2024 Olympics in Dressage Competition

Six-time Olympic dressage medalist Charlotte Dujardin voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a video emerged of Dujardin “making an error of judgment” during a coaching session years ago.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) initiated an investigation after receiving the video from a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and will not participate in any competitions until the investigation concludes.

Charlotte Dujardin was a medal favourite for Paris, and her withdrawal could significantly impact the outcome of the dressage competition at the Summer Games. Here’s everything you need to know about her withdrawal, the FEI investigation, and implications for dressage at Paris 2024.

Charlotte Dujardin at the 2024 Olympics

Charlotte Dujardin was initially named to the British Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024 on Imhotep, a Dutch Warmblood gelding with whom she earned team gold and individual bronze at the 2023 European Dressage Championships.

On July 23, 2024, Dujardin announced her withdrawal from the British team for Paris and released the following statement on her Instagram page:

Statement from Charlotte Dujardin – 23 July 2024

“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.”

FEI Statement

The FEI confirmed they received a video and announced the rider’s provisional suspension on the same day. The regulatory body released a statement with the following information regarding the allegations and investigation:

“On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.

Upon receiving the video, the FEI promptly initiated an investigation. As part of this investigation, Ms. Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage were informed of the allegations. Ms. Dujardin was given a deadline of 17:00 Swiss time on 23 July to respond to the allegations. Subsequently, Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.

On 23 July 2024, Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.”

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FEI Investigation

The FEI statement acknowledged Charlotte Dujardin, British Dressage, and British Equestrian’s cooperation and shared comments from FEI President Ingmar De Vos regarding the investigation.

“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised,” De Vos said.

“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognize and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”

Video Allegations

Equine welfare is central to the FEI’s mission. The organization condemns any conduct that compromises horse welfare and has robust rules to maintain its equine welfare and sportsmanship standards. ^[1]

A complaint filed with the FEI alleges the video displayed a breach of the FEI General Regulations. ^[2] A video released to the press shows Dujardin using a long whip 24 times from the ground during a coaching session.

Provisional Suspension

A provisional suspension during the investigation makes Dujardin ineligible to participate in any events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or a National Federation, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

British Dressage and British Equestrian also imposed provisional suspensions on Charlotte Dujardin pending the FEI investigation.

Investigation Outcome

The investigation into the allegations made against Charlotte Dujardin is ongoing, and the FEI will not comment on the matter until the investigation process is complete. However, the FEI shared intentions to proceed with the investigation as swiftly as possible.

Who Is Charlotte Dujardin?

Charlotte Dujardin is one of the most successful dressage riders in the sport’s history. She has competed at three Olympic Games, won six Olympic medals, and currently holds world records for the highest scores in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Valegro

Dujardin is best known for her partnership with Valegro, the famous Dutch Warmblood gelding that transformed dressage. Their journey took them from young horse classes to winning team and individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The combination would go on to break every world record and become dressage icons. Valegro retired from competition after winning team silver and individual gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Dujardin shared insights into her journey with Valegro in her book, The Girl on the Dancing Horse, which became a Sunday Times Bestseller.

Olympic Record

Charlotte Dujardin earned team and individual bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with Gio, a small chestnut gelding who defied expectations to bring his rider back to the Olympic podium.

Dujardin’s sixth Olympic medal tied her with retired cyclist Laura Kenny for the most Olympic medals won by any female British athlete. Her success helped dressage gain widespread popularity and recognition in Great Britain.

Training

Unlike some riders, Charlotte Dujardin trains most of her top horses up the levels herself, from young horses to Grand Prix. She is well-known for advocating for turnout and varied training for dressage horses.

While some top-performance horses spend most of their lives in stalls, Dujardin incorporates turnout into every horse’s daily routine. Even some of her top horses, including Imhotep, live outside when the weather allows.

Dujardin also emphasizes the importance of varying weekly routines and training sessions, especially for young horses. The horses in her program only school in the arena three to four times a week, with lots of hacking and rest days in between.

Implications for Dressage at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Paris 2024 presented Charlotte Dujardin with the chance to break her tie with Laura Kenny and become Britain’s most decorated female Olympian.

As a medal favourite, her sudden withdrawal less than a week before the dressage competition begins will likely change who stands on the podium in Paris.

British Olympic Dressage Team at Paris 2024

In spite of this media frenzy, Great Britain is still sending a dressage team to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. As is standard practice, the British Olympic dressage team includes a travelling reserve pair to replace a team rider if necessary.

The original riders named to the British dressage team for Paris included:

• Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep
• Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale
• Carl Hester and Fame
• Becky Moody and Jagerbomb as travelling reserve

British Dressage confirmed travelling reserve Becky Moody will replace Charlotte Dujardin on the Paris 2024 British dressage team following her withdrawal in a press release.

Paris 2024 Dressage Team Medals

Only a handful of dressage combinations have ever scored over 80% at the Olympic Games. The original British team for Paris included two horse-and-rider pairs with a history of scoring over 80% in the Grand Prix. One of those pairs was Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep. ^[6]

Great Britain, anchored by Dujardin and reigning World Champion Charlotte Fry, had a strong chance of winning the team gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Those chances drop significantly without Dujardin.

Media Attention

Charlotte Dujardin’s status as a British sporting icon brought heightened attention to equestrian sports from mainstream media organizations. Her withdrawal from the Games propelled dressage back into the spotlight immediately ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

With increased scrutiny also comes new opportunities. Equestrian athletes in Paris now have the chance to share the partnership that makes the sport unique with a larger audience by showcasing their love for their horses and maintaining high standards of equine welfare.

Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports

Public emphasis on equine welfare after the 2020 Olympics, held in 2021 in Tokyo, increased momentum for initiatives focusing on equine well-being in international equestrian sport.

Equestrian sport is centered around the unique relationship between humans and horses, which has shaped human civilization for millennia. The Olympics provide a global stage to celebrate that relationship during a modern era when most of the world no longer relies on horses as working animals.

Accountability, education, and high welfare standards are vital for retaining the privilege of sharing horses with the world and improving equestrian sport for the future.

FEI Welfare Initiatives

The FEI established the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission in 2022 to create a blueprint for the future of equestrian sports and provide independent advice to the FEI to ensure equine welfare is safeguarded through ethical, evidence-based policy and practices.

The EEWC presented their final report, A Good Life For Horses: A vision for the future involvement of horses in sport, at the FEI General Assembly in November 2023. ^[3]

The report found that equestrian sport can positively impact both humans and horses if equestrianism maintains an ethics-based, proactive, progressive, and holistic approach to protecting equine welfare. ^[3]

In the report, the EEWC outlined 30 recommendations for the FEI, including a future-focused vision that prioritizes a good life for horses, a strategic approach to social license to operate, and creating an equestrian charter to engage industry participants in committing to ongoing welfare education. ^[3]

Recently approved by the FEI, the FEI Equestrian Charter requires all involved in horse sport to adhere to the FEI Code of Conduct and pledge the following: ^[4]

1. I understand that it is a privilege to involve horses in sport and this comes with responsibilities to the horse.
2. I commit to respecting the horse as a sentient creature capable of feeling both positive and negative emotions, and to ensuring its welfare is always my priority.
3. I undertake to continually develop my understanding of horse behaviour and welfare needs, and to proactively use this knowledge to provide a good life for horses with which I am involved.

A good life for horses was also the 2024 FEI Sports Forum theme. The forum emphasized the importance of maintaining those standards heading into the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. ^[5]

Protecting Equine Welfare

Social license is a significant consideration for welfare initiatives and the future of equestrian sport. This term refers to the implicit agreement between society and an industry that allows the industry to operate on a self-regulatory basis because the activities have widespread approval.

A lack of public understanding and practices that compromise equine welfare can threaten equestrian sport’s social license to operate. Sports organizations are responsible for holding participants accountable for their behavior and advancing the knowledge of equine welfare to help preserve this license.

Social license was a key concept covered at the 2024 International Society for Equitation Science meeting attended by Mad Barn’s Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD and Dr. Priska Darani, PhD.

Dr. Mortensen detailed his takeaways from the meeting in the Mad About Horses podcast episode, Are Equestrian Sports Under Threat?

Social License

The responsibility to safeguard our horses, protect equine welfare, and preserve equestrian sport doesn’t stop at the top. Every horse owner and sport participant is responsible for giving their horses the best lives they can in return for everything these amazing animals make possible.

Efforts to improve the sport should emphasize constructive progress, not headlines. While top riders face the most pressure from increased scrutiny, research suggests increasing education at the grassroots of the sport can have the most profound impact on improving equine welfare. ^[3]

Behavioral studies cited in the EEWC’s final report confirm horses can form close bonds with their humans, and a positive relationship between horses and humans is necessary to ensure both species’ safety and welfare. ^[3]

A good life that meets your horse’s physical and behavioural needs is essential for allowing horses to perform their best at every level, from the backyard riding arena to the Olympic stadium.

To learn more about ensuring your horse’s care meets those needs and read research-based articles about equine welfare, check out Mad Barn Academy.