Footage has emerged of Olympian Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse during a training session.
Dujardin, Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, pulled out of the Paris Games over the video, which was recorded while she was giving a lesson at a private barn.
Referring to the video taken by a whistleblower, the Team GB athlete, 39, said what happened was “completely out of character” and “does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils”.
But she said “there is no excuse” and she was “deeply ashamed” and “sincerely sorry”.
Dujardin said the incident happened four years ago, however, the whistleblower’s lawyer told Sky News it was recorded two-and-a-half years ago while his client was watching a lesson as a sponsor.
Mr Wensing’s client said they had seen similar abuse several times while working with Dujardin, but felt compelled to film because of how badly the animal was being treated.
The client said they hadn’t reported it before now because they felt intimidated by her prestige and had been warned by people in the dressage community to stay quiet, but felt they had to act with the Olympics coming up.