Posted on the 24th July 2024
Charlotte Dujardin, a dressage champion for Team GB, has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is due to recently-surfaced footage, taken four years ago of her whipping a horse repeatedly around the legs.
Heartbreakingly, tales such as these are not unusual. Abuse is rife within the equestrian world, including cases of horses being neglected, whipped, disciplined with excruciating riding aids (such as bits and bridles) to name but a few.
Many people, often without knowing, engage in training practices which can lead to ‘learned helplessness’, whereby a horse learns to ‘shut down’ in order to submit. Learned helplessness is associated with depression in humans, and occurs when animals learn that no matter what they do, they have no control over what happens to them; they feel powerless. ‘Breaking a horse’s spirit’ is a normalised practice, but it is unquestionably cruel.
In 2024, the use of animals in sport is outdated and unethical. A progressive society should nurture qualities of kindness and compassion, not domination and control. It’s time for the Olympics to lead by example, and go animal-free.
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