Dujardin whistleblower feared 'victim blaming', says student's lawyer

The lawyer representing the former student that filmed and submitted a complaint about Charlotte Dujardin says the Olympic champion used a whip in order "to lift up the legs of the horse."

Stephan Wensing, from the European Equine Lawyers, says the video was recorded two-and-a-half years ago while his client watched a lesson.

The whistleblower didn't report it until now because she was intimidated by Dujardin's prestige, Mr Wensing said.

#dujardin #olympics #equestrian

[sandralee]

Absolutely shocking, she should be banned from owning any animal; I would like to see the banning of whips period.

[heidecarroll]

No one should feel sorry for Dujardin; they should feel sorry for all the horses she's beaten.

[gino]

By the way she was whipping the horse, it’s clear that that was NOT the first time. Unbelievable, poor animal

[Struieboy]

She claimed it was “an isolated incident which doesn’t reflect who I am”
I think she should have said “that’s the first time I’ve been filmed whipping a horse”

[steveexon]

If anybody thinks this is an isolated incident then they are wrong- whipping and other extreme measures are regularly used in training - just look at horses when they gingerly trip trop around the ring - not in the slightest a natural movement for a horse

[equusasinus]

I am a keeper of equines - I have four donkeys - and I have a profound respect for their sensitivity and intelligence. If I treated them as appallingly as this "professional" horsewoman, I would expect to be prosecuted and have my animals removed. She should not be allowed to keep equines again until she has undergone some sort of RSPCA education course about animal suffering. After watching this video - which is utterly sickening - I wouldn't trust this woman to keep a hamster.

[HereIam-rgvy]

This won’t have been the first time she’s acted with such cruelty, it’s the first time she’s been caught doing it

[davidpearson]

Well, those gold medals are now utterly worthless

[damienslade]

"Victim blaming?" The horse is the victim.

[LGBT-Dan]

She should NOT get away with that! So disgusting- cruel and evil

[nigelcarren]

"In order to judge a man... we must judge how he treats his animals!"

[TheOptimod]

She's sorry she got caught and shown up for what she really is, not sorry she did it in the first place. Evil, spoilt excuse for a human.

[jo-penford]

Absolutely Disgusting...Dujardin is way too comfortable whipping that horse. Easy to see it her " method " of having a horse lift up his legs. I hope others come forward... they may not out of fear of reprisal. Kudos to this women who did !!

[adriandavis]

If I saw a horse or any animal being ill treated I would not wait two and a half years to report it I would report it straight away.

[davy]

whipping a horse to dance for her and expect gold medals for it is shocking. sadly, many entitled people behave in this manner.

[keliusher-holmes]

She should be BANNED from keeping any animals for applying such cruel and brutal abuse.

[mazdamaniac]

It would take a pretty sick individual to take a whip to someone else in order to 'teach' them, but whipping an animal as big and powerful as a horse is sheer lunacy.
It's not only the amount of cruelty and distress that she is causing to the horse, but she is also endangering that rider if that horse decides that enough is enough and kicks off.
You'd be surprised how much damage an enraged horse can do to a person, people underestimate them, but they can and will kill a human if pushed beyond their limits.
Charlotte Dujardin should be looking at a lot more than being charged with cruelty to an animal, she should be staring at a criminal charge for willfully endangering that rider's life.

[confusedgerbil]

My Sister in Law was a top eventer before retiring with injury, she worked always with the horses in cooperation and teamwork, this treatment of horses is entirely unnecessary and cruel.

[macksmith]

I worked at Mount St John, were she rode for, I don't no her. I didn't see any animal cruelty but I witnessed alot of abuse to staff and I mean chronic bullying, its why I happily quite my job, this does not surprise me at all, or why people don't speak out these people run this hole industry... v sad was difficult time for me trying to work with these people they are shity people

[Cycle.every.day.]

I hope being posh doesn't get her off the hook.