Show must go on for Hester as Paris dressage begins
Carl Hester and the rest of the Great Britain dressage team will aim to put the Charlotte Dujardin controversy to one side today as they begin their quest for Olympic glory at Chateau de Versailles.
Dujardin withdrew from the Games in Paris last week after a video emerged of her repeatedly hitting a student’s horse with a whip from the ground during a coaching session. The video was described as ‘an error of judgement’ by Dujardin with equestrian’s governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, imposing a provisional suspension.
As a board member of the International Dressage Riders Club, Sark star Hester was subsequently a signatory of a letter that ‘universally condemned’ the actions of his protege Dujardin, who has been replaced in the three-strong GB team by travelling reserve Becky Moody, who joins Hester and world champion Lottie Fry in the line-up.
British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam conceded it would be ‘incredibly difficult’ for the team to compete in Paris and also revealed they will conduct their own disciplinary process after Dujardin’s actions.
‘In the immediate future we need to rally our support around Carl, Lottie and Becky as they fly the flag for Team GB in Paris,’ Brautigam said.
‘It will be incredibly difficult for them to compete in such circumstances, but we need to show that we’re right behind them all the way, as they aim to bring home medals and showcase the best of our sport.’
There will be 60 combinations competing in Paris, including 15 teams, and the Grand Prix sees them split into six groups based on the FEI Dressage World Horse Rankings – three groups will compete today and tomorrow, with the top two from each group, plus the six next best ranked combinations, qualifying for the Grand Prix Freestyle individual final on Sunday.
After the Grand Prix, the top 10-ranked teams will qualify for Saturday’s Grand Prix Special team final, which will decide the team medals.
