Helen Sheracing@Sheracing
Like everyone I’m horrified and disappointed at the abuse Charlotte Dujardin has dished out and it can’t be excused. Horse welfare isn’t the primary motivator at play here, though. Someone has sat on the video for 4 years, waiting for the moment to release it for maximum damage.
Suzanne Campbell@campbellsuz
For those of us who train horses, hitting it repeatedly across the hocks to improve canter work seems a bizarre practice but what else does she do? It’s such a pity to see this and it lets down everyone who loves horses and takes part in #dressage or #equestriansports
PJ Butler@peejb
Racing should be actively distancing itself from dressage. Racing is harnessing the naturally evolved behaviours of the animal. Dressage is training horses to prance about for show. When was the last time you saw a horse in a field practicing its dressage moves.
David Baddiel@Baddiel
Making horses, via a f**king whip, jump and dance and tip-toe sideways for our delectation is not sport anyway: it’s circus; cruel circus.
mick fitzgerald@mickfitzg
Sad to hear Istabraq died. What a horse. Thought I had a chance in the Champion Hurdle until he went by like I was stood still!
David Johnson@davidjohnsonTF
There cannot be many short priced favourites at the Cheltenham Festival that get a round of applause as they are pulled up after a couple of hurdles. RIP Istabraq.