Andrew Kocher - electrical spurs?

[smoofox]

@Willy Von Whompers

I then found out about the zapping that jockeys use as they break from the gate. I had no idea at all. It sickens me to my very soul. Someone who does that to an animal should never be allowed near any animal ever again.

Where did you “find out” that all jockeys (as you suggest) “zap” horses as they break for the gate??!! That is simply NOT true. I get very frustrated when myths are spread as facts. Some jocks have been caught with buzzers they mainly use in the stretch for that final push - but they are the extreme minority and get busted for it.

I also had a TB explode and bolt from hearing a bug zapper next door. He had never been in training or at the track or had any kind of device used on him. He had the same reaction to a hot wire snapping/zapping - so may have gotten his nose too close to one in the past… and had a good memory.

[vxf111]

@hunter4126

I noticed the Plaid Horse article was written by his PR rep.

JoUrnAliZm!

[Highflyer]

@smoofox

Where did you “find out” that all jockeys (as you suggest) “zap” horses as they break for the gate??!! That is simply NOT true. I get very frustrated when myths are spread as facts. Some jocks have been caught with buzzers they mainly use in the stretch for that final push - but they are the extreme minority and get busted for it.

I also had a TB explode and bolt from hearing a bug zapper next door. He had never been in training or at the track or had any kind of device used on him. He had the same reaction to a hot wire snapping/zapping - so may have gotten his nose too close to one in the past… and had a good memory.

Yeah, mine (OTTB) learned this lesson the hard way, by putting his head over the fence when I was undoing the gate and touching the ring on his halter to it. He now has a healthy fear of electric wire and that popping noise. But he pretty clearly didn’t before.

[SuzieQNutter]

@Highflyer

Yeah, mine (OTTB) learned this lesson the hard way, by putting his head over the fence when I was undoing the gate and touching the ring on his halter to it. He now has a healthy fear of electric wire and that popping noise. But he pretty clearly didn’t before.

Forget the horse I react if I stand on a stick and it makes the same sound.

[Happyhack]

If he really has used these awful spurs then it doesnt matter if the whistleblower decided to report on him simply out of revenge etc . I read originally that he said the photos had been manipulated. How can this be? First of all, Grand Prix in France say they did their own research and found photos of him with the black button and the wires up his sleeves riding dffrerent horses on 5 different occasions in 2018. Grapd Prix said these photos all came direct from two professional agencies. Horsesport.com then found a photo from Toronto last year from a third photographer. COTH then found a photo from Kentucky in 2019 which they sourced direct from a fourth photographer. I’ve also seen various posts on FB from a fifth photographer called Tom saying he has found the black button in his own photos from 2017, 2018 and 2019 and has sent to them the investigators. So that’s five totally unrelated photographers, all with incriminating photos spanning three years. They can’t all be in on the same “conspiracy!”

[Willesdon]

I can not see the FEI, an international governing body, wasting time and money investigating an unsubstantiated accusation.

This has a similar vibe to Safe Sport where so-and-so [insert name of choice] could not possibly be a child abuser and sexual predator because they are famous and ride horses.

It wasn’t so long ago that well known riders were killing their horses to defraud insurence companies.

I think it is concerning that USEF is trotting along behind the FEI rather than enforcing its own rules more effectively, sooner.

[atl_hunter]

@Happyhack

I read originally that he said the photos had been manipulated.

This is why people have careers in digital imaging forensics. Experts absolutely can tell if a file has been edited. There are even software programs with algorithms designed to identify modified digital images. So, all FEI has to do is turn over the photos to a forensic specialist.

[vxf111]

Does anyone unaffiliated with Kocher think the allegations are likely false? Just curious. I am not really in the loop but I don’t see a tremendous number of people rallying to his defense aside from him, his family, and his current clients.

[trubandloki]

I do look forward to hearing some of the evidence… I am just really curious how one can get away with having electronics that require wires being run all over and no one noticed before some angry X pointed it out.

Not defending him at all, that is for sure.

[staceymc]

@vxf111

Does anyone unaffiliated with Kocher think the allegations are likely false? Just curious. I am not really in the loop but I don’t see a tremendous number of people rallying to his defense aside from him, his family, and his current clients.

Because apparently he wasn’t shy about telling friends/other riders he was doing it. From what I understand it wasn’t some big secret he tried to keep quiet about. Not very smart.

[Willesdon]

@trubandloki

… I am just really curious how one can get away with having electronics that require wires being run all over and no one noticed before some angry X pointed it out.

I’m not in the USA, so everyone can tell me off and kick me around, but from my outsider view there are many reasons:

a) no one wants to offend anyone,
b) no one dares upset a Big Name,
c) show organisers and USEF are worried about loosing money,
d) individuals and organisers are worried about trial by public opinion,
e) individuals and organisers are worried about law suits,
f) fame and success are too often equated with, or in practice trump, personal integrity and ethical behaviour,
g) a totally weird suspension of normal values and judgement because horses are involved.

And most telling, a persistent desire within the American equestrian media to remain safely hidden behind rose tinted spectacles. I suspect that is why the article that lead to the FEI investigation was printed in a French magazine.

[SuzieQNutter]

Why does a BNT use these for years?

[ladyj79]

@SuzieQNutter

Why does a BNT use these for years?

I would not call andy a big name trainer. I would call him a middling pro rider who has found…people. that’s the word I will choose, people to buy him horses and fund his hit or miss professional career.

[fourfillies]

@ladyj79

I would not call andy a big name trainer. I would call him a middling pro rider who has found…people. that’s the word I will choose, people to buy him horses and fund his hit or miss professional career.

This.

[Bobby7]

How do you think his auctions will do after all this bad press?

[skydy]

@Bobby7

How do you think his auctions will do after all this bad press?

I don’t think they were a success to begin with, so quite possibly downhill from there.

[skip99]

The photographer at Princeton just congratulated him via FB post on his win today. :rolleyes: 🙄 eye roll

[vxf111]

@skip99

The photographer at Princeton just congratulated him via FB post on his win today. :rolleyes: 🙄 eye roll

Well maybe it’s because he’s caused renewed interest in old horse show photos (of him) /s

[skip99]

@vxf111

Well maybe it’s because he’s caused renewed interest in old horse show photos (of him) /s

I mean he did win the class today, but kind of a shame that he can continue to show business as usual and get social media kudos for it.

[ladyj79]

It’s a shame cause he publicly treated animals like garbage before this electrocuting horses thing came out, he should never be receiving any accolades, social media or otherwise.

Shunning is a sadly underemployed tool in the horse 8ndustry, except when it comes to speaking out about abuse. Definitely those people are shunned.