The speaker discusses the case of Charlotte Dujardin, a massage rider who was caught on video hitting a horse with a whip. The speaker expresses their concern as a horse rescue advocate and believes that such behavior leads to long-term trauma for horses. They criticize Charlotte's apology, stating that it lacks remorse for the harm caused to the horse. The speaker mentions that Charlotte has been suspended and dropped from her ambassador role. They also mention a new program aimed at promoting equine welfare in equestrian sports. The speaker concludes by expressing disappointment in Charlotte's actions and the lack of faith it instills in the equestrian community.
Good afternoon I think everyone. I was actually going to do a different video to this one but the case of the massage rider, Charlotte Dujardin, I don't know, I'm not quite sure how to pronounce it, came up on my news feed, well not on social media just generally, I think it was the BBC. So I sort of wanted to address that a little bit because on behalf of a horse rescue or from a horse rescue's perception, I don't know whether you've all watched the video, I have and this is the sort of video that creates the horses that we see at our rescue all the time.
As far as I can tell there's no reason for anyone to be hitting a horse with one of those long whips, any whip actually, around the legs and the butt and I'm not sure what they were hoping to achieve. Now bearing in mind I am not a massage rider, I mean I have done some massage lessons but that does not make me an expert. But I think anyone even if you've not seen a massage can take a look at that and say without a shadow of a doubt that that is abuse.
And as I said in our experience with rescuing horses, horses that have been subjected to that abuse suffer from long term, I almost want to call it PTSD, but it becomes a traumatic event and it shapes the rest of their lives. Now I read the statements, well I watched a video of it, I read some of the news articles and some of the, and also the statements made by Charlotte and what struck me was that, you know she says, I'm going to read it, I'm sorry, what happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils.
However, there is no excuse, well to me that's an excuse already, I mean she's, that it's out of character, no, no, it's not out of character, you've done this so many times before you've just never been caught, okay. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment. That moment lasted quite a long time, so it was a very long moment and I think you should realise what you were doing way before that video ended and also I believe I heard somebody laughing.
I don't think it was her, it was somebody probably watching, but I don't even. So it's it and then it goes on to say, I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, everyone down, including Team GB fans and sponsors. Now, there's something missing from that statement. And I think the only, she doesn't have to be sincerely sorry for her actions and letting Team GB fans and sponsors down. She needs to be sincerely sorry that her actions caused injury, was abusive towards a living being, a horse.
But nowhere in this does it say anything about the horse. So is there any remorse? I don't know. And is this how, or anybody else's, for that matter, just how a child is always trained? I don't know. So, so obviously, she's been suspended, she won't be going to, she will not be going to the Olympics that are starting up, I think, today, actually. But, you know, I read a few news articles as well. And I don't want to be bashing anybody.
I mean, but I don't think, we've all done things with horses that we've regretted. Every one of us. People say they haven't. No, they have. They're lying. They have. I mean, there were things that I would have done, say 10 years ago, that I would never ever do now. And I did them based on the fact that that's what someone was telling me to do. And I didn't question it. Silly me. Having said that, over the years, I've matured, don't make any comments about that.
I realised that what people were telling me, I didn't quite believe. And I wanted to seek out a better way, or a kinder way, should I say. Okay. So, so, again, interestingly enough, you know, one of the newspapers, I can't remember which one it was, it was a statement, I think, from the, one of the, it was either the FEI or the International Body for Dissoudre, who the heck knows. It says, no one more than Charlotte Dujardin, recognizes the part welfare holds in sport, and as such, has done the right thing in stepping down to allow the FEI tribunal to take place in a timely manner.
And has done the right thing. The right thing that she should have done was never do that video and never or never actually done that to a horse. So, it's just nonsense. It's all nonsense. And then she's also been dropped, I believe, just recently, just, you know, in the last few hours, as an ambassador for an animal welfare charity. I mean, it's a joke, isn't it? And I'm Brooke, who I haven't actually heard of, they're perhaps a UK charity.
But, and also, you know, other endorsements that she has are likely to follow. And right yourself, you know, she has, she's been inspiration to a lot, a lot of young riders and, and this display of outright abuse. I mean, there is no other word for it. It's not acceptable in any equestrian sport. No, not in any equestrian, even just somebody going on a trail ride. No, it's not acceptable. It also says that on that particular day, the same day that this video was given or sent to the dressage society, whatever, that the, they had, or the, the FAA, that's right, they had just announced a programme called the Guardian Programme, which is to encourage people to become part of that, become a guardian of the horse, and to respect, in their words, not mine, respect the natural needs, natural needs of horses in international equestrian sports, fostering a global commitment to equine welfare, and ensuring that horses receive the care and respect they deserve.
Is that all they could come up with? I could come up with something better than that. I don't know. I don't know what to say. I mean, this will probably, you know, unfold even more. Check out the video itself. I maybe I would attach it to the end of this video, but and let me know your thoughts. You know, I, I'm in rescue horse rescue for this exact reason. And to see somebody as well known and well liked as well as Charlotte, do this and be caught doing this, I don't know what's worse, actually doing it is worse, obviously, but I mean, to be cool, really, doesn't give you any faith at all.
I mean, and it puts, you know, the saying like whipping into shape. It gives them a whole nother meaning, doesn't it? I mean, is that what they're doing? whipping this horse into shape? I don't know. Anyway, comments on the post are gone. No, I shouldn't go to that, but you know what I mean. Thanks so much.
