'Sabotage': British dressage chief questions motive behind Dujardin video leak
The video of Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse 24 times "like a circus elephant" was released "to cause maximum damage" to the star's Olympic campaign, British dressage chiefs say.
As the fallout continues over Dujardin's actions amid a loss of sponsorship and her chance to become Britain's most decorated female Olympian, British Dressage chief, Jason Brautigam, said in a letter to members that Dujardin's actions were "completely unacceptable" but went on to cast doubt over the complainant's motives behind the leak.
Brautigam questioned the accuser's claim of attempting to "save dressage", labelling the comments "somewhat disingenuous".
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That notion was also supported by Madeline Hall, a former dressage correspondent at Horse & Hound magazine, who told The Daily Mail:
"The timing of this video days before the Olympics smells of sabotage. To me it is suspect."
The complainant's lawyer, Stephan Wensing, is from the Netherlands, which has always been a strong rival of Great Britain in equestrian sports.
Wensing has refused to speak about his client's identity and it's unknown if she's from the Netherlands.
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The Dutch equestrian team shut down any suggestion the leak of Dujardin had come from them, insisting that they "only just saw the video after it was published."
Dujardin defeated the Dutch team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and they were due to clash again next week at the Palace of Versailles.
Charlotte Dujardin poses during a Team GB Paris 2024 Olympic Games equestrian team announcement. Getty
A spokesperson for the Netherlands team said they "regret the expulsion of our fellow athlete' but 'also condemn the training method used by Dujardin in the video".
"This has no place in our equestrian sports where the welfare of the horse comes first.
"We are aware the video was released by a Dutch lawyer but would like to emphasise that the origin and the release has got no relation whatsoever to the Dutch Olympic team. We only just saw the video after it was published."
In the email to members, Brautigam said the the vision of Dujardin was indefensible but also urged people to be "kind" to the Olympian.
"Charlotte Dujardin has done the right thing by accepting responsibility and expressing remorse,' he said.
Video of the decorated British dressage star Charlotte Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse. Supplied
"While we do not condone her behaviour, we must remember that there is also a human element to this – and, regardless of what has happened, she still deserves our understanding.
"Please be kind and bear in mind that we have a duty of care in our interactions with one another."
He added: "I do find claims that this was done to 'save dressage' somewhat disingenuous, given that it was timed to cause maximum damage to our sport.
"However, what will save dressage is how we all respond to this crisis by demonstrating our love and care for horses."
Dujardin was viewed as a certainty for damehood if she won a medal in Paris, which was all she needed to become Britain's most successful female Olympian ever.
