How do we make this happen? I am so disgusted with my beloved industry. I am not up to date on all the latest rules and rule changes since I go to so few shows, but I wish USEF had some teeth-and maybe the gut-to actually take these horrible participants to task. Not just the trainers but the owners who support them.
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isn’t that the job of a horse show steward?
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I imagine that if this were the case, there would be an eruption of lawsuits brought by owners against trainers who violated rules, claiming they were unaware of the chicanery.
It could be interesting to watch from the sidelines, and might eventually shake out that drugging/illegal equipment, etc., became a less common feature of showing.
Or at least more surreptitious.
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If we reach a point where athletes have to be strip searched in order to prevent malfeasance, the game is lost and I think horse sport as an olympic event or any kind of spectator sport is over.
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No. The USEF steward is there to uphold the rules and regulations of the show not check everyone’s tack and artificial aids. If a potential rule violation is brought to the stewards attention they can investigate and determine if something is or is not legal. If a judge spots an illegal bit or other piece of equipment, they can eliminate or penalize the horse and rider, but many things are very hard to see from the judges box.
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Most of the time, once suspensions are over they are removed from public listings.
The Chronicle article said he’d release a statement today, and I looked at his social media, and there are two posts of what look like him showing and also advertising a sales grad. You’d think someone who was just suspended for 10 years for a horrific offense would be quiet on social media for at least 24 hours after that announcement… I think he’s a true narcissist.
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He has released a statement. It’s in the updated Chronicle article.
No explanation of what he was doing with a button in his hand and wires in his pants.
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Thanks Skydy, I missed that!
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Oh my. The French news outlet that first broke the story found quite an unflattering photo of Kocher to lead the story of his suspension by the FEI. https://grandprix.info/fr/45036/Suspendu_dix_ans_pour_avoir_use_deperons_electriques,_Andrew_Kocher_fera_appel_devant_le_TAS
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The way it works at dressage shows is that checks are done by the ring steward–who is usually a volunteer, at least a most shows. It may be different at CDIs, but I’ve done it, as a volunteer, at regional dressage shows, think the equivalent of a small A hunter show. Only 1/3 of entries need to be checked, but it’s better than nothing–I think the most common violation is a whip being a bit too long. If there’s a problem at the check, then you call the show steward over.
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At CSIs there are stewards in the warm up and immediately outside the in gate. They inspect all riders/horses/equipment going in and out and around, but they aren’t strip searching anyone.
Right. Only that it’s obviously a conspiracy and everyone/everything is just working against him. The investigation and proceedings were totally not legit, but no explanation as to why someone would need a button on their hand. Just ride off into the sunset, the sport doesn’t need your asshattery.
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No kidding. He seems, from his “statement” to believe that the FEI needs to have a chain of custody proven for his horse zapper, as a prosecutor in a criminal trial would need to keep a clear chain of custody for a weapon.
Sorry buddy, but you have to explain why you have been photographed, many times over, on horses in FEI competitions wearing that apparatus. And it better be good. 
It will be interesting to read his explanation for the rig in the photos (if he has one) when the FEI Tribunal decision is published in detail.
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Honestly, are owners blind?
ARE. OWNERS. BLIND.
Serious question.
I would pull that off my horse immediately and would not need to see electric gadgets to do it.
I feel bad first for the horses, then for the legitimate, kind trainers who have to watch these idiot owners fund that BS.
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What the horses, and this sport, and the world in general, needs is for people to make a different choice.
All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing.
You don’t need to force your friend to choose your way.
I’m not even going to go so far as to say your should disown a friendship over a few catch rides.
But your choice to NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL was cowardice and tacit enabling. What difference of opinion is there if you don’t even say what yours is.
See? I can’t force you to speak up next time and I don’t need to disown you as a person but I can let you know pretty clearly that as far as this goes I am not impressed.
Hope you grow some balls for next time.
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I won’t miss seeing him ride at all.
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This whole thing of shaming people for dropping friends and family over “a disagreement” is absolute trash.
If it is a disagreement over basic human rights, abuse, animal abuse, etc., it’s not just a disagreement, and it’s not about “we’re all free to make our own choices,” it’s an extreme difference in morals. Expecting someone to stay friends with someone whose moral compass is so wildly off from theirs is absurd. Nah, I won’t stay friends with people who choose to support animal abusers.
If you remain friends with someone who willfully employed a trainer known to abuse horses, but your friend chose to use them as a trainer because they won’t use the device on their horse, you and that friend are saying you’re okay with horse abuse as long as it isn’t happening to your horses.
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I noticed a lot of people commented on FB that they thought he should be banned for life by the FEI.
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Yeah, I mean, why not?
If you’re going to cheat somewhat blatantly, and just be so arrogant to think you can show total disregard for the rules and for horse welfare then, bye Felicia. A “professional” knows better. How could he even begin to defend his actions. He can’t. There is no legitimate reason to use electrical spurs. The fact that he thinks there is a reason speaks volumes about him. The FEI would merely be taking out the trash.
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