The video is disturbing, the kind of footage that comes with a sensitive content warning. It shows the famous British trainer and equestrian Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse more than 20 times in a minute while training in a private stable. The video was recorded four years ago, but it has been enough to spark a huge debate about Dujardin herself and equestrianism’s role in the Olympic Games. PETA has spoken out to demand an end to horse trials, and Change has launched a petition that has already reached 30,000 signatures.

The debate is certainly not new, but it has gained strength in recent weeks: Should equestrian disciplines be removed from the Olympics?

“I was very embarrassed”Dujardin claims he felt that way after video emerged of him lashing a horse more than 20 times in a minute. He is not the first rider or trainer to face allegations of animal abuse, but his case has drawn particular attention because Dujardin was one of them before the controversy erupted.

With three gold, one silver and two Olympic bronze medals, as well as many medals at international championships, she has earned the nickname “golden girl” of dressage. Now, despite being the favourite, she has been left out of the Olympic Games. On the eve of the Paris competition, she announced that she was stepping down.

“Error of judgment”. At the end of July, after the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (GEI) launched an investigation following the leaked video, Dujardin himself announced that he would not be competing in Paris. Nor in the other tests. At least not “while the process is being carried out”.

Amazon admitted it made an “error of judgement” that “deeply embarrassed it”, that there was “no excuse” and that its behaviour was “out of character”. It also insists the video “does not reflect” how it trains its horses. The explanations have done it little good. Despite its apology, its image has been badly damaged. For example, the horse charity Brooke swiftly suspended it from its ambassadorship.

short time ago Guardian Citing the lawyer representing Dujardin’s complainant, he had published a history in which he claimed the British rider had whipped the horse “more than 24 times in one minute”. “He was like an elephant in a circus,” complained Dutch lawyer Stephan Wensing.

The million dollar questionThe British horsewoman is famous enough that her case has attracted press attention. If it is that high-profile, it has spread beyond specialist media to outlets such as the BBC. Telepra anyone New York Times That’s because it has brought dressage under public scrutiny and reignited a long-standing debate: the role of equestrian disciplines in the Olympics. This week’s headline was “Should equestrianism be removed from the Olympics?” Guardian an analysis of the subject.

There are those who say the answer is clearly yes. PETA has been quick to warn that Dujardin’s video reflects the prevalence of animal abuse. And it is calling on the IOC directly: “Your message must be clear: Equestrian events must be removed from the Olympic Games,” says Kathy Guillermo, the organization’s senior vice president in the United States.

What he says is important, but perhaps the context is more important. PETA has previously called for an end to equestrian events at the Olympic Games, but has taken advantage of this situation to make its call even stronger, considering that equestrian disciplines are not compatible with the Olympic values ​​of “respect and excellence.”

“Take horses out of the Olympics”. PETA is not the only one raising its voice. As a result of Dujardin’s video, a petition was activated on Change.org demanding exactly this, to eliminate the presence of horses in the Olympic Games and “end” the abuse of professional equestrians. The petition began on Wednesday, the 24th, and has 29,000 signatures. Both the campaign’s supporters and PETA are relying on a very specific context that goes beyond the Dujardin case.

In the past, Olympic event organisers have already reacted to controversies surrounding animal abuse and horses. Following the uproar over trainer Kim Raisner’s handling of a horse hitting her during a competition in Tokyo, the UIPM has decided to remove equestrianism from the modern pentathlon programme at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The campaign insists that there are more cases of horse abuse during sporting events than what happened to Dujardin or Raisner.

But… are there more cases? Horses (and the professionals who race them) have been involved in other high-profile controversies in the past. In Tokyo in 2021, a Swiss specimen was euthanized after his ligaments broke during testing. Another, ridden by an Irish man, began bleeding from his nostrils in a show jumping event. This edition of the Games has also been dogged by Dujardin’s case, as well as Austrian Max Kuhner’s claim in 2023 that he forced a knight to jump higher by hitting his legs.

Brazilian Carlos Parro also received a warning from the equestrian governing body for causing “unnecessary discomfort” to a horse. Trigger? Some photos of him allegedly twisting the animal’s neck in a move known as rollkur were banned because it severely restricted breathing. Blood was also seen on a horse’s leg in Paris and an Italian rider was removed from a race after his horse bled from its mouth.

“Be protective”Perhaps the best proof that the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has not shied away from discussions on horse disciplines is that it launched a campaign on horse care in July: “Be a Guardian”.

The plan is based on a report by the independent Horse Ethics and Welfare Commission and coincides with the introduction of a new figure at the Olympic Games: the horse welfare coordinator. “How we pose the problem determines how we solve it,” the statement reads. “By embracing the role of ‘guardian’ of horses, we are committed to this. […] Treat them with respect and care.”

The debate is being servedNot everyone views equestrian disciplines in the same way. Guardian A few days ago I was talking to Esther Fox, who has experience in the care and management of horses and does not share the cruelty of sports involving these animals. She argues that Dujardin’s methods may not be an “isolated incident” but that there are professionals who train horses “beautifully and intelligently”. The Dressage and Equestrian Federation insists that horses should be treated as athletes and that their welfare should be ensured.

The Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE) emphasizes to elDiario.es: “The first point that the regulations always establish is that the horse is the main element of the sport and that its protection is one of the objectives.” It goes even further in its defense of existence: “The horses are always treated perfectly.”

“Protection is a goal.” The group argues that animals are cared for, tested and inspected to ensure they are not abused. The Paris Olympic Games provided a clear example of this scrutiny: a horse was found to have blood in its mouth after a dressage test, automatically disqualifying its rider.

And as far as the FEI recalls, this decision does not mean that the horse was intentionally harmed. Simply put, the rule is implemented to “ensure the welfare of the horse”. There are even studies that show that in competitions beyond the Olympics, if the adequacy between rider and mount is taken into account, especially in terms of weight, animals do not need to show signs of stress.

“Horses don’t choose”. At the opposite end are those who insist that horses in their natural state do not perform the kind of exercises shown in the Olympic Games. PETA emphasizes, “These animals do not care about the gold medal, they are not choosing to participate… There is no reason for this.”

“Horses are herbivores with a nature that is extremely sensitive to any kind of stimulation,” equine veterinarian María Manglano tells elDiario.es. “When we put the animal in a stall and force it to do exercises that are not typical of its species, there is an absence of welfare.”

Images | Craig Maccubbin (Flickr) and Jarett Lopez (Unsplash)

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