‘Very emotional’ Charlotte Dujardin breaks her silence as disgraced Olympian returns to high-level competition after serving her one-year ban for excessively whipping her horse
Charlotte Dujardin admitted to being ‘very emotional’ following a warm reception from the crowd as the triple Olympic dressage champion competed in her highest profile event since returning to the sport after being banned over a horse-whipping scandal.
Dujardin had been applauded by the crowd when competing in the first part of a two-day Dressage World Cup, which formed part of the London International Horse Show at the Excel Centre.
The British star waved to the crowd after completing the Grand Prix test, riding on ‘Alive and Kicking’, and ended the opening day of competition in second place.
Dujardin reflected afterwards that the support of the crowd had left her feeling ‘very emotional’ and it had been a ‘real buzz’ to be back competing at the highest level.
‘Just going back in that arena, there is something so special about riding here, it is incredibly special,’ Dujardin said.
‘Going around the edge and having so many people shout “go on Charlotte”, it was very emotional.
Charlotte Dujardin admitted to being ‘very emotional’ after receiving a warm reception from the crowd as she competed at her biggest competition since her ban expired earlier this year
Footage had emerged ahead of last year’s Olympics of Dujardin ‘excessively whipping a horse’, leading to her issuing an apology and pulling out of the Games
Dujardin had received a one-year ban from the sport, which came to an end in July
‘It was so good, it gave me a real buzz to be back.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed it and in the test I could not have done anymore with her. She did her best, there is still so much more to come but on the whole I can’t ask for more.’
Dujardin has been free to compete since July having served a one-year ban from the sport.
The bad had been imposed by the International Equestrian Federation for ‘engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare’ after a video emerged of her ‘excessively whipping a horse’ during a coaching session four years prior.
The FEI had been sent a video of Dujardin repeatedly hitting a student’s horse by Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of an unnamed client.
Dujardin admitted to an ‘error of judgement’ after the video footage surfaced just days before the Olympics in Paris, which led to her pulling out of the Games.
In the wake of the scandal, Britain’s joint most decorated female Olympian was ditched by sponsors and was dropped as an ambassador by global horse welfare charity Brooke.
After being provisionally suspended by the FEI the same month, Dujardin was hit by a one-year ban in December – backdated to the start of her original sanction.
Dujardin had been warmly received by the crowd when performing on ‘Alive and Kicking’ at the the first day of the Dressage World Cup in London
Dujardin had made an instant return to competition in July when her ban came to an end, competing in Cirencester. She has since featured in international events, winning in Le Mans in October and finishing as the runner-up at a competition in Kronenberg.
The competitions had helped Dujardin qualify for the World Cup in London, her biggest event since returning from the ban.
Dujardin competed on Alive and Kicking, which she co-owns with fellow British rider Carl Hester and Austrian horse investor Ulrike Bachinger.
She was the second of the 15 riders to enter the arena for the Grand Prix, the first part of the competition, with freestyle following on Friday. Dujardin’s early appearance in the event came due to her position in the rankings following her period on the sidelines.
Any concerns over the reception Dujardin could receive were allayed after being introduced to the crowd, following an extensive run down of her list of achievements in the sport.
Dujardin was applauded at the start of the performance, leading to the commentator on the governing body’s live stream stating she had received a ‘huge ovation and warm welcome’ from the crowd.
The British rider demonstrated the she remains one of the sport’s top performers, receiving a score of 76.544 to lead in the early stages of the event.
‘Great to see her back and setting the standard,’ the commentator offered, as Dujardin received her score to warm applause from inside the arena.
Dujardin said she had a ‘real buzz’ after competing and claimed there will be ‘so much more to come’ from Alive and Kicking following the performance
Dujardin waved to the crowd as she led Alive and Kicking – nicknamed Audrey – out of the ring, where she was greeted by her two young children.
Dujardin’s score was only beaten by her compatriot Charlotte Fry, who won last year’s World Cup event in London, with the Britain scoring 80.783 on Glamourdale.
‘I am absolutely overwhelmed, going in there today Audrey has done one show this year in Le Mans, she has never been in an atmosphere this big, there is so much going on,’ Dujardin added.
‘She is a very inexperienced Grand Prix horse prior to this, it was a really big ask coming here.’
A statement from Dujardin last year accepting the ban and issuing a further apology has been one of few public comments she has made since the scandal emerged.
The statement included news of her pregnancy, with Dujardin and her husband Chris welcoming their second child earlier this year.
‘As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again,’ Dujardin had said last December.
‘I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.
‘This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time.
‘To those of you who have sent messages, emails and tried to reach me to check in on how I am – thank you. Every kind word truly has made a difference, more than you’ll ever know.’
Dujardin’s only other post on Instagram since the ban came earlier this month, as she reacted to news that Valegro had been put down at the age of 23.
Dujardin had risen to public consciousness when she rode Valegro to individual and team dressage gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
Dujardin had issued another apology after accepting her ban from the sport last December
Dujardin earlier this month paid tribute to Valegro, who was put down at the age of 23, whom she had ridden to three Olympic gold medals
She retained the individual title on Valegro in Rio four years later.
Dujardin had shared a tribute to Valegro – affectionately known as Blueberry – earlier this month.
‘I love you. I knew of course this day would come, but I don’t think I could ever be ready for it,’ Dujardin wrote.
‘You have been my constant, my rock. Through the highest highs and the lowest lows, your gentle presence, your steady heartbeat, the silent moments we shared together have been my everything, the place I could always go to.
‘In those quiet moments we had so many conversations without words; you loved me completely, as I am. You saw my heart and I yours.
‘A partnership that everyone talks about, but you can’t really know until you’ve experienced it. And we danced Blueberry, didn’t we dance…’
