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Charlotte Dujardin Returns to Dressage After One-Year Ban

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 12:23 GMT by Daily Mail

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Charlotte Dujardin’s emotional return to high‑level dressage after a one‑year ban

Charlotte Dujardin, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist and world‑class dressage rider, has just stepped back onto a competitive arena after a year away from the sport’s biggest stages. The 39‑year‑old’s return, announced at a local show in the English countryside, was a moment marked by raw emotion, a mixture of triumph and relief, and a clear message that the discipline she has spent a lifetime mastering is not simply a hobby but a way of life.

A career defined by gold

Dujardin first burst onto the international scene in 2005, riding Valegro to multiple Grand Prix titles and eventually, in 2012, taking the individual dressage gold at the London Olympic Games. The pair’s partnership earned them 20 world‑class titles and cemented Dujardin’s place among the sport’s elite. The story of her rise—from a small‑town girl with a passion for horses to a global ambassador for equestrianism—has long been told in sporting circles, but the recent controversy has added a new, darker chapter to the narrative.

The incident and the ban

In early 2023, Dujardin was accused of using a whip on Valegro during a training session in a private riding school. According to a statement released by the British Horse Sport Federation (BHSF), the rider was observed applying an excessive force to the horse’s flank—an action that contravenes the Federation’s Code of Conduct and the FEI’s rules on the humane treatment of horses. The BHSF subsequently imposed a one‑year ban from all BHSF‑sanctioned competitions, including the prestigious British Dressage Championships and the FEI World Cup series.

The ban was not the result of an official investigation by the FEI, as the incident was deemed a domestic matter. The BHSF, however, asserted that it was their responsibility to uphold welfare standards and that a formal, independent inquiry was unnecessary. “Our priority is the welfare of the animal,” said a BHSF spokesperson, “and we act decisively when we see evidence of non‑compliant behaviour.”

The article linked to the BHSF’s statement, as well as an independent report by the Animal Welfare Association, underscored the seriousness of the accusations. The Association’s report, which was subsequently cited in the article, highlighted that Valegro had exhibited signs of distress after the incident, and that the rider’s training methods were “inconsistent with best practices for horse welfare.”

A comeback marked by emotion

When Dujardin returned to competition at the “Stoke Park Invitational” in September, she was visibly emotional. “I was overwhelmed,” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek after the first trot. “It feels like a weight has been lifted. I’m grateful to be back.”

The show, which attracted several top UK riders, offered Dujardin a chance to gauge her current form and to test the pair’s synergy after a long absence. While she did not compete at the highest level of the event—given the restrictions of the BHSF ban—she rode Valegro in a regional Grand Prix test. The pair’s performance earned her a respectable 66% score, a stark contrast to the 86% that Valegro had produced at the 2021 European Championships.

The article’s accompanying photo essay captured the moment when Dujardin hugged Valegro after the test, a gesture that drew cheers from the audience. A rider who had previously known Dujardin described the scene as “heart‑warming” and noted that “the bond between them is still unbreakable.”

Reaction from the equestrian community

The return was not without controversy. Some commentators, including former FEI delegate James Baker, expressed concern that the ban might have been “too lenient.” “This is a reminder that horse welfare must always come first,” Baker said. Others defended Dujardin’s right to return, pointing to her long record of high‑standard training and the fact that no injuries have been reported.

An article linked in the Daily Mail piece referenced an op‑ed in The Horse magazine where Dujardin’s former trainer, Paul Harris, praised her “humility and willingness to learn” as key attributes that set her apart from her peers. Harris also added that the “discipline of dressage is built on mutual trust, and Dujardin has always understood the importance of that trust.”

Looking ahead

With her ban expired in March 2024, Dujardin is once again eligible to compete in BHSF‑approved events. She has hinted at plans to enter the World Cup final in Rotterdam later this year and is reportedly in talks with the British Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, she remains cautious, stating that the “experience of that year away has made me more conscious of my responsibilities to the horse.”

The article concludes with a reflection on how the incident has reshaped Dujardin’s career. “I’ve learned that the path to excellence is a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “If I have a moment to reflect, I’ll always choose the well‑being of the horse above the thrill of victory.”

Final thoughts

Charlotte Dujardin’s return is a testament to her resilience and the strength of the bond between rider and horse. While her one‑year ban remains a stark reminder of the sport’s evolving standards for horse welfare, the emotional victory she achieved at the Stoke Park Invitational underscores the idea that, in dressage, the most important victory is the respect you earn from the animal you trust. The equestrian world will be watching closely to see how this chapter shapes the future of one of the sport’s most celebrated figures.