Charlotte Dujardin Returns to Competition After Horse-Whipping Ban at FEI Dressage World Cup
Charlotte Dujardin marked her return to major competition at the FEI Dressage World Cup in London’s ExCeL, taking part in the Western European League event. After day one, the 40-year-old Olympic dressage star scored 76.544 on her horse Alive and Kicking, placing second behind reigning world champion Charlotte Fry, who led with 80.783.
Dujardin's comeback comes after serving a one-year FEI ban for horse-whipping, with a provisional suspension beginning on 23 July 2024. The ban followed the release of footage showing her delivering more than 20 whip strikes within a minute during coaching sessions. This suspension was imposed just prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics, preventing her from competing there.
Despite the controversy, the crowd at the ExCeL gave Dujardin a warm reception. She described her return as highly emotional and said it gave her an exhilarating buzz. With six Olympic medals to her name, including individual golds in 2012 and 2016, Dujardin remains a significant figure in the sport, aiming to regain her standing against strong rivals like Fry.
