At least he can show at WEC !
Not true.
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No he can’t. WEC recognizes USEF suspensions and upholds them.
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Gee…what would it take for a lifetime suspension???
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As atrocious and inhumane as I think western pleasure is to horses, even THEY check bits & tails.
Time for USEF to step up their game.
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Killing horses for insurance money.
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That’s about it apparently. Not even for all the horse killers, some managed to slip under the radar and get reinstated. How disgusting is it that KILLING HORSES FOR INSURANCE FRAUD is the place we draw the line and not like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay inside that line.
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I would have no problem with stewards doing a basic visual bit/spur/tack check at ringside. I can’t imagine a reason why that sort of spot checking would be a problem (the same way drug testing is a spot check and not everyone is tested but some random portion are).
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Yes. Longest ever FEI suspension is 20 years for the UAE endurance rider whose horse broke a leg and was put down in a race. So 10 years is a harsh penalty by FEI standards.
And I believe the only lifetime suspensions from USEF over horse abuse were Barney Ward and Paul Valliere, so again, horses died.
It’s way, way past time for both USEF and FEI to seriously strengthen penalties for horse welfare issues. It’s just appalling that a serious drugging or soring infraction can result in a 6 month suspension from USEF and no further penalties. It’s starting to feel like a bit of a ticking time bomb before a major media outlet publicizes this, especially with the Olympics coming up.
Also - why does this sort of thing (besides Ward/Valliere) never end up in criminal court?
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Absolutely. I have said this SO many times - I would pay more in USEF drug fees if they tested 1st, 2nd & 3rd in EVERY rated class. No exceptions. Pull blood if that’s more efficient. Whatever it takes. I’m sick of these poor creatures being treated like crap.
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Most FEI showjumping classes I’ve groomed for have you remove the horse’s boots after each round for inspection. I think it would be quite easy to require that all riders remove their spurs at the same time for inspection as well. It wouldn’t take much longer, in fact I would say most riders would have their spurs off in a fraction of the time that it takes for the groom to remove the horse’s boots!
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Death. Which he did in my option, Navalo. That horse was dead lame and they were trying to keep it sound on the leg he broke. He’s 100% responsible for that horses death. Why do you think that horse was retiring after the Hickstead derby? Andy just had to squeeze one more show out of that horse, The World Cup wasn’t enough. He made Navalo do the derby and he killed him. On a sidenote how do you think he got Navalo to jump around? That horse was spinning out of the ring and stopping when he got them. Electrics spurs. That horse rather jump on a broken leg than take the jab of electricity. That horse broke his leg and still tried to go to the next jump, Andy said it was because of their bond, no it was fear. Evil.
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Also what really gets me is he’s trying to say A disgruntle owner is just trying to ruin his career. It doesn’t matter, it was illegal, he trusted the wrong person to keep his secrets. He still did an illegal act and cheated so he has to pay the consequences. It would be no difference if I rob the bank and someone told on me and I was upset about it. I still did a crime! Andy has very much gotten away with a lot of things because of his charismatic personality. I’m finally glad someone tattled on him.
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Some of the other horse killers also got lifetime bans but quietly and successfully petitioned for reinstatement. It wasn’t only BW and PV. There were some others too.
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2018 at Hickstead. If there is photograpic evidence of the button and wires used on this horse, there will be no mercy from the CAS.
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His 2018 Hickstead run was included in the photographic evidence gathered and provided to the FEI and they most certainly do consider the death of Navalo De Poheton to be tied to his use of electric spurs, but examining the horse’s remains isn’t possible at this point, so he’s just gotten lucky or the FEI was feeling lenient. Whether or not he receives any additional punishment state-side, is anyone’s guess, but there are only two ways he gets a permanent ban without FEI involvement, which are a SafeSport violation for whatever apparent reason or the USEF voting to ban him outright, which likely won’t happen, given how popular he is with the in-crowd in The Hamptons and Wellington.
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It must be my middle class mores showing, because I can never understand why the super wealthy–historically speaking–seem to absolutely love actual trash bags.
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Because to become “super wealthy” you have to be a trash bag yourself. No one “earns” ridiculous amounts of money just through “hard work.”
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[quote=“LexInVA, post:276, topic:469426, full:true”] given how popular he is with the in-crowd in The Hamptons and Wellington.
[/quote]
Huh???
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I’m pretty sure dirtbags attract fellow dirtbags across all socio-economic classes. I’m also pretty sure you could find some super rich people who would find his actions deplorable. No need to turn this into class warfare and obscure the issue which to me is a complete lack of accountability for our sporting organization to uphold basic humane rules to protect the very asset this whole industry is based around. When USEF or whatever organization oversees our sport gets some actual teeth and the guts to upset the apple cart and come down hard on anyone who cheats-I mean anyone: owners, riders, not just trainers-only then will we all take more responsibility for ensuring we do right by our equines. As an owner, I may actually have to research a trainer before I send my horse to them! If offered a ride at a show, I may want to question what the horse has been given previously. These types of actions may end up becoming the norm. I am so sick of the good old boys club still dominating and the fear of reprisal from so many involved in the industry that keeps them from speaking out. It really is a problem, and not just among the super-wealthy.
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