A video of British equestrian Charlotte Dujardin riding at a World Cup event in Amsterdam has sparked criticism from welfare groups and experts. The footage shows her using spurs on a tight rein, raising concerns about horse welfare just six months after her return from a one-year ban. Dujardin, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, has declined to comment on the matter.
Triple Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin is at the center of renewed scrutiny following the emergence of a video from last month's World Cup event in Amsterdam. The footage, captured in the warm-up area, depicts Dujardin riding the mare Alive And Kicking and has been shared widely by the welfare organization Collectif Pour Les Chevaux, garnering over 100,000 views online.
This incident comes six months after Dujardin returned to competition in July 2025, following a one-year suspension by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) for conduct contrary to horse welfare principles. The ban stemmed from a prior video showing her repeatedly striking a horse during a coaching session before the Paris 2024 Olympics, which prompted her withdrawal from the Games.
Critics have focused on Dujardin's use of spurs while maintaining a tight rein, which they say could induce behavioral conflict in the horse. Mette Uldahl, former president of the European federation of equine vets, described it to The Times as "like asking your car to drive while braking," adding, "It’s way too much and the rider is conscious of riding the horse this way. It is subtle to most people on the outside but it is a very high degree of pressure and very unfair."
Professor Paul McGreevy, a horse welfare authority, stated, "When we apply ethical principles, signals for different responses must never be applied concurrently. Riding the horse forward with spurs into bit pressure can easily send the horse into behavioural conflict."
World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers called the video "a hard watch," noting the mare showed "clear signs of tension and conflict behaviour."
The video was filmed by equine vet Eva van Avermaet, who told the Daily Mail she was surprised by Dujardin's approach, saying, "After the whipping incident and the one-year suspension surely she, more than anyone, would be careful about how they handle their horse, especially in public." Van Avermaet said she alerted a steward but observed no change in the riding.
Dujardin, aged 40 and one of Britain's most decorated Olympians, referred questions to the British Equestrian Federation (BEF). The BEF responded that it could not accurately assess a shortened clip of a 45-minute warm-up but emphasized, "We will not compromise and will never stop in the pursuit of the wellbeing of the horse."
Dujardin has since competed at events like the Dressage World Cup in London, where she described the fan reception as "very emotional."
