The Summer 2024 Olympics in Paris were an incredible display of athleticism, sportsmanship, and global community building. But distressing footage of Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin abusing a horse during training highlights a broad, nefarious issue within equestrian sports. Such abuses are symptomatic of a deeper cultural problem in competitive horse training and handling. This calls for an urgent reassessment of the inclusion of equestrian sports in the Olympic Games.
Sign this petition to urge the International Olympic Committee to temporarily remove equestrian sports from the Olympic Games until significant cultural changes and ethical practices are adopted!
In the video, Dujardin can be seen and heard whipping a horse during a training session. The Olympian whips the horse over 20 times within one minute; 60 seconds of uninterrupted abuse. The circulation of the video led to Dujardin being banned from the Paris Olympics...but that is simply not enough.
The mistreatment and exploitation of horses under the guise of sport and competition is pervasive, and cannot be justified by medals or prestige. These animals endure significant stress and pain, often pushed to their limits for personal and national victories, without ever having a choice in the matter. There are many reports of suspected or proven mistreatment by equestrians, and multiple competitors were even eliminated during the Paris Olympics after their horses were observed bloody and injured. Back in 2021, a horse was euthanized at the Tokyo games after tearing a ligament while competing. This is a pattern of suffering we cannot allow to continue.
By suspending equestrian events, the Olympics would set a powerful precedent that animal welfare is paramount and non-negotiable. This pause would allow time for the necessary cultural shifts and ethical overhauls within the sport, ensuring that when equestrian sports possibly return, they do so with the highest standards of animal welfare and dignity. Join us in demanding that the International Olympic Committee take immediate action.
Sign the petition today to advocate for the suspension of equestrian sports in the Olympics until we can guarantee these magnificent creatures are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
