Charlotte Dujardin has admitted feeling "very emotional" at the warm reception she received from supporters in her first major event after serving a one-year ban for horse-whipping. The 40-year-old is competing at the two-day FEI Dressage World Cup in London, her biggest event since she was banned just before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last July, a video emerged showing Dujardin whipping a horse more than 20 times in a minute while coaching a young rider, leading to widespread condemnation. The six-time Olympic medallist accepted she made "an error of judgment" and fully accepted the punishment imposed by equestrian's international federation, the FEI.
Dujardin scored 76.544 on her horse Alive and Kicking to end the first day of competition in second place behind fellow British rider and current world champion Charlotte Fry, who scored 80.783. "Just going back in that arena, there is something so special about riding here, it is incredibly special," Dujardin said.
"Going around the edge and having so many people shout 'go on Charlotte', it was very emotional. It gave me a real buzz to be back. I thoroughly enjoyed it and in the test I could not have done any more with her."
