Inside Charlotte Dujardin’s world from fiance break-up after very public declaration of love to meetings with The Queen
CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN has done it all, from winning Olympic gold to meeting The Queen.
But her life has been turned upside down after she was handed a six-month ban for allegedly whipping a horse.
She is Team GB‘s most decorated female athlete of all time along with Laura Kenny, with the pair both winning six medals at the Games.
Dujardin, 39, needed just one more medal in Paris to take the record for herself but she will now not be able to compete after withdrawing from the event.
The dressage star has apologised after a video emerged in which she is alleged to have beaten a horse with a long whip 24 times in one minute.
Dujardin revealed her shame at the incident, which she describes as being “completely out of character”.
It is a fall from grace for the athlete, who was the darling of equestrian sports and after winning gold in the Individual and Team dressage events in London 2012.
She was awarded a CBE and even invited to have afternoon tea with The Queen at Buckingham Palace, who said of Dujardin: “Now, you’ve never seen anyone ride quite as well as this young lady.”
Dujardin’s love for equestrian began in her childhood when her parents bought her and her sister Emma Jane Shetland ponies.
The sisters would race across “any field we could find” near her hometown of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, before making the move up to show ponies and then her first dressage horse at the age of 19 – paid for with inheritance from her grandmother after she died of cancer.
Charlotte Dujardin's statement
“A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session.
“Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating.
“And I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition – including the Paris Olympics – while this process takes place.
“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.
“I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.”
She first started riding at just two-years-old and achieved second place in her first Pony Club jumping competition a year later.
After leaving school Dujardin won the Horse of the Year Show competition four times and was a winner at All England Jumping Course at Hickstead on three occasions.
Dujardin then met Olympian Carl Hester who became her tutor and offered her a job – the pair later won Olympic gold together in London.
In 2007 she met long-term partner Dean Golding, who made headlines with his public proposal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The pair actually got engaged a year after they met but split after London 2012 after they grew apart following Dujardin’s ascent to stardom.
She reflected on that time in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying: “Dean found the media side of things really difficult — that and not being able to see me so much because I was travelling abroad a lot competing.
“He said, ‘the media know more about you than I do’.
“He told me he needed to be alone to clear his head. That was the hardest thing. Dean was my first love. It felt like I’d had everything and then it was all taken away. I’d lost my relationship. I was going to lose my horse — my whole life had been turned upside down.
“If I could have given my medals back and have things return to the way they were, I would have done. But when I wasn’t with him I wasn’t in a good place.”
The couple patched things up, leading to Dean’s famous public proposal in Rio, where he wore a shirt bearing the words ‘Can we get married?’ as he cheered Dujardin on her way to winning a third gold medal.
They had got engaged for a second time prior to the Games with Dujordan revealing how she “always wanted him to be there [with her]”.
But by the time the next Olympics should have been taking place, in July 2020, Dean left her once again while Tokyo 2020 was pushed back a year.
Dujardin recalled that period, saying: “He made that decision — that call — and I had to go through with it so he went and I went away to Cornwall. Some friends down there invited me for the weekend. We took the horses swimming, galloped on Bude beach, anything to take my mind away from Dean.
“I kept thinking why? Why was I not good enough? Why didn’t it work? To be honest, Dean is 42 so there’s six years between us. I think we just outgrew each other. I just went to places beyond where he even thought I could go and he struggled with that.
“When he left I was absolutely terrified. I just remember being like, ‘oh God, I’m in the house on my own. It’s a lonely place to be and I’m not going to say it was easy. It was a real test of my strength and of where I was as a person.
“I realised I needed to find who I was. I don’t think I had found that out because I’d always had him and always, kind of, kept going back. Actually, I was like, ‘no, you need to find yourself.”
She quickly got back on the horse, literally, her beloved Gio, who she calls Pumpkin – the horse she would create history with by winning her fifth and sixth Olympic medals in Tokyo.
Dujordan even got back together with Dean despite stating she was over him and that she had “tortured herself enough” in the relationship.
In 2023 the couple had their first child, Isabella Rose, one, with Dujardin sharing her first photos of her daughter alongside her heroic horse from London 2012, Valegro.
She wrote in a public post: “All I can say Isabella, is that this horse changed my life, as you now have, and I have so much love for you both and these precious times.”
According to Dutch media, a complaint relating to animal welfare was filed against Dujardin on Monday morning.
The complainant is weighing up whether to release the video to the public and will make a decision on Wednesday.
FEI statement in full on Charlotte Dujardin
THE FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440) for a period of six months, effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.
This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.
During this period of suspension, she is prohibited from participating in any activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any competition or event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation (NF). This also includes any FEI or NF-related activities.
In addition, the British Equestrian Federation has mirrored this provisional suspension, which also makes Ms. Dujardin ineligible to compete in any national events during this period.
On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant.
According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.
Upon receiving the video, the FEI promptly initiated an investigation. As part of this investigation, Ms. Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage were informed of the allegations. Ms Dujardin was given a deadline of 17:00 Swiss time on 23 July to respond to the allegations.
Subsequently, Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.
On 23 July 2024, Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.
The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behaviour. Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.
The FEI acknowledges the cooperation of Charlotte Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage with the ongoing investigation and intends to proceed as swiftly as possible.
“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”
To maintain the integrity of the investigation, the FEI will refrain from making further comments on this matter until the process is concluded.