Additional Coverage:
- PETA urges Olympic Games to remove equestrian events (newsbreak.com)
July 24 (UPI) — A resurfaced video, showing English equestrian Charlotte Dujardin mistreating a horse during a training session four years ago, has led to a significant outcry from animal rights groups, including a call from PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo for the Olympics to discontinue equestrian sports.
In the footage, Dujardin, a renowned Olympic medalist, can be seen whipping a horse’s legs as another person rides the animal. This incident has sparked widespread condemnation and led to her withdrawal from the upcoming Paris Olympics. Dujardin publicly acknowledged her actions, stating they were out of character and expressing deep remorse.
Reacting to the incident, Guillermo issued a statement online, asserting that such abuses showcased the unnatural and inhumane demands placed on these animals in the pursuit of Olympic glory. She emphasized that “horses don’t volunteer—they can only submit,” urging the International Olympic Committee to consider the modern ethical implications of including equestrian events.
Following the public backlash, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports has suspended Dujardin from competing for six months and is likely further investigating the matter.
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- PETA urges Olympic Games to remove equestrian events (newsbreak.com)