When Hester hired Dujardin to work at his yard in 2007, he was the one who introduced her to the world of horses. Since then, Hester has been Dujardin’s primary guide on her mission to win six Olympic medals.
The 39-year-old athlete was forced to make a dramatic withdrawal on the eve of the Games when a whistleblower published a video showing her repeatedly beating a horse on its legs. If she had added to that score in Paris, she would have been the most decorated female Olympian in the history of the United Kingdom.
In an open letter that he wrote the previous week, Hester criticized her behavior. Although he did not offer any explanations for his protégé, he claimed that the episode was not consistent with his character.
“The video was a huge shock to me; I didn’t know it was there, and it’s not from my property,” claimed the 57-year-old participant. “It’s not from my property.”
“It is clear that nobody is going to support that video. Certainly not. Even though I have known Charlotte for seventeen years, I have never witnessed such a thing. This is not her at all.
That she is a mother, that she has a young child, and that she is paid a very substantial amount for this is something that you simply would not believe.
I simply wish that she is resilient enough to be able to recover from everything she has been through. I am aware of how difficult things are for her, but there are people around her who are trying to help.
“She has come to terms with what she has done, and I am relieved on her behalf. This was four years ago, and it is true that people do make mistakes.
Why do we never forgive those who have wronged us? This is going to be a challenging journey that will teach everyone in the horse world a valuable lesson. It is imperative that we prioritize the horses.
The tragedy that has engulfed Hester’s sport has cast a shade over the preparations that were being made for his eighth Olympic appearance, which would have equaled the British record.
Despite the fact that the future of dressage on the Olympic program has been called into question as a result of the controversy, Hester intends to take advantage of the Paris platform and the breathtaking background of the Chateau de Versailles as an opportunity to demonstrate the sport’s good side.
His performance in the qualifying stage prompted him to make the following statement: “In the United Kingdom, you don’t see that kind of video, and I’ve never seen it for myself.”
“Everyone here is in a state of shock. A concerted effort is being made to demonstrate how much we adore our horses and the manner in which we teach them. If this is the case, then we are aware that it has to be altered.
The equestrian sport retains a glimmer of hope for survival. There are a great number of individuals who are having a good time participating in it, and the environment was quite pleasant to enter.
When you ride in this ring, you will experience a truly remarkable atmosphere. It is a pretty amazing ring.
On board Fame, whom he referred to as “a pet,” Hester appears to be in a strong position to qualify for the individual final that will take place on Sunday.
In the meantime, he is hoping to compete with Lottie Fry and Becky Moody, who came in as a replacement for Dujardin at the eleventh hour, in order to attempt to win a fourth consecutive team medal.
He remarked, “It has been a challenging period of time.” However, I eased up and began to take pleasure in the journey.
The thought that came to my mind was, “I have to think about the team now; that is what I am here for.”
According to the statement, “Becky has been thrown into this, her first team, and it’s an Olympic team.” In order to be successful, she will require our backing, which she already possesses.
Lottie is an outstanding fighter for the squad, and she is the proud owner of one of the most talented horses in the tournament. Without a doubt, we are engaged in the battle there.