She might also have an income problem. I don’t think she comes from great wealth and she is certainly not earning from clinics. I wonder if anyone is quietly lessoning with her.
Since CJD can’t compete, It makes perfectly good sense for owners to move their horses to other riders. esp. if they are at or near the top of their game. Otherwise the horses sort of stagnate visibility-wise and may miss their shot at stardom.
My guess is she is going to quietly focus on younger horses for now - bringing along newly started youngsters to get them ready to move on to new owners or riders who can compete them.
Can someone refresh my memory? She is still allowed to act as a sales agent - yes? So owners can ask her assistance in shopping for young FEI prospects and then put them in training with her to bring up the levels behind the scenes.
She didn’t own him so his sale won’t help her cashflow.
From Horse and Hound:
“The news follows the sale of Charlotte’s ride Times Kismet to Jessica von Bredow-Werndle’s partners for Jessica to campaign, but Carl told H&H he wanted it be clear that the sale of “Pete” was always on the cards – and that he and Charlotte were “fully supportive and in agreement”.
“There’s no sinister, awful situation. Between Charlotte, myself and Coral, we always kept Pete for the Olympic Games and he was always going to be sold afterwards,” he said.
“Coral has been the one who has supported us as his owner. We kept him for Paris and obviously things didn’t turn out as we hoped. We’d been speaking to Diana in May, she asked if we’d consider selling him, and we said ‘This could be a horse for you’.
“The timing could have been more ideal, especially with Kismet being sold, and those things happen. But this was always going to happen and unfortunately Kismet went first, which made this look a bit more weird – but it’s not weird at all.”
I’m sure plenty of people are, especially if their prior experiences with her as their coach were positive.
Wait. Are you saying that having a baby is going to replace her competitive career? Doesn’t she get a second chance as a competitor???
Hold up. Half halt. I read that as may this baby be a welcome balm in a tough world.
Easy, there.
If I had the chance to ride with her I must certainly would. Unfortunately for me I have neither the money nor talent.
Not at all. I’m saying that hopefully it marks a reset point in this sad chapter, gives her something good in her life from which to move forwards in a positive way.
This may be Plan A whether or not she was at the Olympics. This is a period in the cycle of BIG competitions where things are a bit quiet. Next year would have had only the World Cup but no big championships like Worlds or Olympics. That said, I do wish her the best.
That’s kind of what I was thinking. She will also have time for her family that she wouldn’t have if she were still competing and in the limelight. It’s a new and different chapter, and I hope that it brings her some joy.
So does anyone know if CDJ is still working with Hester? Or working out of his operation?
This article included a reference to the buyer thanking them and saying she “will stay in close contact with them” as she works with her new horse.
Charlotte Dujardin — Team GB’s joint-most decorated female Olympian — has been suspended from equestrian for one year after “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare.”
The sport’s governing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), confirmed on Thursday Dujardin would be suspended from competing until July 23, 2025, and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,884; $11,300).
Dujardin’s sanction comes after a video emerged in July 2024 of the double Olympic dressage champion whipping a horse repeatedly four years previously, which saw her withdraw from the Paris Olympic Games. The time already served during her provisional suspension will count towards the FEI punishment.
During the suspension period, the 39-year-old is prohibited from participating in all activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or of a National Federation.
After the video emerged in the summer, Dujardin withdrew from the Paris Games and said she had made “an error of judgement” during a coaching session. The FEI, British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and British Dressage subsequently launched a disciplinary process, with the latter two bodies reciprocating the FEI’s ban.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said after the initial investigation was opened: “We welcome that this has already been referred to a relevant authority and that the FEI is investigating. We are ready to provide any support to their work, if required.”
Dujardin has won six Olympic medals across the three Games she has competed at. She won two golds in the individual and team dressage at London 2012, before defending her individual gold at Rio 2016 and winning silver in the team event. Dujardin then claimed two bronze medals at Tokyo.
Her medal haul leaves her level with cyclist Laura Kenny, who won five golds and one silver across three Games. With Kenny retiring ahead of Paris, any medal for Dujardin earlier this year would have made her Britain’s most decorated female Olympian.
Dujardin had been due to compete in the team and individual dressage in Paris.
The FEI added that since the video emerged, it has not received any further complaints about Dujardin’s conduct.
Dujardin said at the time that the incident was “completely out of character” and “does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils”, adding that she was “deeply ashamed” of the footage.
FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said on Thursday: “It is regrettable that this case has put our sport in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially during a critical time leading up to the Olympic Games. Yet, despite the challenges, the FEI acted decisively by immediately opening an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension.
“These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences. We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
Final word from the FEI: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/charlotte-dujardin-investivation-outcome-879551?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2QBxOcfitwZtlc4kLtNo-6uloLSoh8PO8ql-mncs7giYmPteipWjNpQFA_aem_Db1p0vSd7S-KbzSx0OOjmA
I’m glad to hear there weren’t any other allegations brought to the FEI when I was expecting there might be. Also sounds like her provisional suspension will count toward the one year official suspension.
Eurodressage article on the same topic.
So does this wording mean she could keep riding and training at home as long as she does not go to a competition or a training event?
“During her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from participating in all activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or of a National Federation.
British Equestrian and British Dressage have reciprocated the suspension, resulting in Dujardin’s ineligibility to compete in any national competition or training events during this period.”
I’m going easy.
But how many times do you think this particular balm would have been offered to a man?
Good. Now she can go forward. Sometimes the hardest thing is waiting for the final results. I do wish her good luck in future. Let anyone who has not made mistakes in their career or personal life cast the first dissatified stone.
She just released a statement on Instagram which I am not able to link from work.