Industry urges positive action and support for Team GB in Paris.
A mother hears her small, pony-mad daughter playing in her bedroom. She gently opens the door hoping for an endearing scene… only to find her offspring standing over her rocking horse wielding a large lunge whip.
The scene is a figment of Daily Telegraph cartoonist Matt’s imagination. But it underlines the far-reaching impact the much-viewed Charlotte Dujardin video could have on public opinion of horse sport.
Britain’s most successful dressage rider, who appears to be whipping a horse in the video, has been provisionally suspended from competition by horse sports’ governing bodies while allegations of animal welfare misconduct are investigated.
Animal rights groups are using the episode to call even more loudly for a ban on horse sports at the Olympics. Meanwhile the industry is acting to limit the damage
The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has appealed for its manufacturer, retailer and service provider members to “get behind Team GB” and “flood social media with pictures of [our own] happy horses.”
Sponsors pull out
Several of Charlotte Dujardin’s sponsors including NAF, Charles Owen, KBIS and Fairfax Saddles have pulled out and made public their reasons why.
The Brooke international equine charity said it was “deeply disturbed” by the video and that Charlotte Dujardin was no longer its ambassador.
The 39-year-old, six-time Olympic medallist has also lost her funding from UK Sport and the chance of becoming a Dame if, as anticipated, she’d become Britain’s most decorated female Olympian.
She’s apologised and said she was “ashamed” and that her behaviour in the video was “an error of judgement.”
“Watershed for equestrian”
Industry insiders and businesses should do their upmost to restore the public’s faith in how horses are managed and trained, says BETA.
“This could be a real watershed for equestrianism, both specifically for dressage but also for horses in sport and leisure as a whole,” said the trade association’s Claire Williams.
“As members of the wider equestrian industry, many of whom interact with horses, we all recognise that their welfare has to be the top priority.
“Decisive action in recognition of the severity of the situation has been taken. We must have faith in the processes outlined in the rules which safeguard our horses and have confidence there will be a fair, full and detailed investigation.”
Wave the flag!
Let’s not let this incident overshadow a brilliant opportunity for equestrian sport at its best to shine on the world stage… That’s the message from BETA as it urged the trade to support Team GB in Paris.
“Let’s get behind those competing and celebrate their success,” says Claire Williams.
“As a team, their best course of action is to win medals and deliver exceptional performance on the field of play, supporting one another across all disciplines and demonstrating to the world how our sport unites us and our horses.”
