Awesome for Ema!
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I have had an update that BC’s leaving has nothing to do with AM
My apologies for my speculation
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FVF Top Gun, owned by a syndicate, competed under Ema Klugman this weekend.
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and won! Go Ema!
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Exactly how does a person “cash in” by reporting animal abuse?
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So what is the status of this investigation, FEI/USEF/USEA? Multiple videos from multiple parties, radio silence and CDJ banned immediately off one video and no woodworks?
Tangential, but why is Rich Fellers who is literally rotting in jail for a REAL conviction in a REAL court still on the suspension list and not permanently banned? Far lessor no-names are on that permanently banned list. Dare I bring up the Eric Lamaze situation?
I think (IMO) what FEI fails to recognize is that the greater populace here are quite educated. In real life. We may not be able to get a horse around a 5* but we sure know obfuscation when we see it in, dare I say, more real world applications than an increasingly niche sport.
The also-current Md 5* thread has quite a bit of convo on sponsorship of riders. I actually currently sponsor an FEI horse in a different sport. Not a better sport, just the one I ended up in with this particular horse. But I sponsor the RIDER with my horse. Someone on the MD thread made a comment that owners care more about their horse and the individual goals and that is 100% true. Why should I put my horse and his pathway subservient to a leadership I don’t believe in?
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Lots of social media influencers do it. They get paid for views (and YouTube i believe is the biggest pay out) or they have a patreon, or sell an e book etc.
The moment I clicked on that person’s YouTube video you could tell it was about sensationalized view counts, not about the real story.
It’s the same with all the body workers, positive training internet gurus that rope you into buying their ebook or e-course. They get you there by convincing you that every well known trainer, vet, previous way of doing business is evil, but for 99$ they will teach you a better way to be kind.
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IKR? I have been a practicing lawyer for 20 years, I have seen more S&^$ than FEI can possibly imagine. My ability to smell a rat far exceeds my talent in the saddle, a hobby pursuit. I’m far from the only one with such real world experience.
FEI simply doesn’t care. They don’t think they need “us” – and in part, they are right. They’ve got their Saudi princes, etc. to fund them. But I don’t think they know we know how corrupt they are.
When they need us in the court of public opinion, which eventually they will, I personally will not be there for them. I’m not a stooge, ready to repeat whatever talking points they have in their crisis management plan. They lost my trust a long time ago.
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Its quite sad that this issue still appears to have not been addressed, and that there are people out there still allowing (and paying $$$$) for their horses to be ridden/trained in such a program. Pitiful, really.
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I thought they were doing an investigation? Is that not ongoing?
Who knows? CDJ was suspended immediately while being investigated. This @r$e is still going.
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Do people from the area know that he’s still operating and working for clients? If so, that’s insane.
USEF and FEI members should rise up and demand the governing bodies do something. It’s been over 6 months now since first report with evidence. WTAF??!!
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Neither USEF or FEI seem to have suspended him have they? I’m sure this discussion would have been updated with the news.
No, but my question is: is there evidence from local sources that he continues to do training work for clients? He is not suspended, but he may also not be working b/c people have pulled their horses/sought training elsewhere. It’s just a question of curiosity about what he’s actually up to since the story hit SM.
Does anyone know if people are still working with him?
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3 new additions to the FEI suspension list… but still no Andrew 
His attorneys must be working overtime to stall things!
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Yes. Last report is 5 horses in the barn and some of the owners who know what has been happening. Unconfirmed but source is reputable.
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Sad to say… but I doubt it.
I don’t think ANYONE is working overtime to address this. Certainly not anyone on the FEI investigation team. Apparently not anyone with USEF or USEA. My guess is that he has paid a retainer for lawyers, there’s been a few communications exchanged… and that’s about it. He apparently has a few owners standing by him, a loyal partner, and still has nice horses to ride.
He will probably have a quiet period involving keeping a low profile, then re-emerge. Maybe with a narrative involving attending counseling, becoming a better person, etc etc etc.
Just my guess as to how this whole thing evolves. I hate to be so cynical… but… it is what it is.
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Allie Conrad posted an update on Facebook a few days ago, linked here with the text posted below.
Just a reminder that Andrew McConnon regularly beats, abuses and tortures horses as part of his training regimen and apparently the FEI isn’t feeling super speedy about naming him in an active investigation despite over a dozen people being interviewed and over 30 reports made AFTER this was made public on September 5th.
In these interviews people have reported watching him kick horses in the head, withhold food and water, tie horses to their own legs and tails while beating them so badly they do things like break their own tails amd or flip over to get away from the pain.
People have reported multiple horses with long standing psychological and physical problems that never recover.
Ooooh and the dog beatings! Can’t forget about beating a dog at WEC with a bridle because the dog dared eat horse treats in front of a crowd of people and a vet. The beating was prolonged and horrendous and scary and I know at least one person who tried to stop it.
Wait should we talk about beating a horse in the head in the warmup ring at WEC? Being told by a steward to “knock it off” instead of being written up?
Maybe if Andrew had a uterus and a spot on the UK Olympic dressage team it would have been handled expeditiously. Weiner owners get away with lots, and horse beatings are no exception.
Allegedly. All of it allegedly of course.
Reminder that less than 5 eventing professionals have made a statement about this publicly, but far more have said they “will stand by Andrew”.
And turn your attention to the active social media booting back up.
Oh! And people seeing videos and pictures of their beaten horses in his barn and supposedly leaving them there for more abuse.
But wait there’s more! Should we talk about the abuse of people? Because that’s apparently plentiful also. seems captain temper tantrum no likey when clients see him for the sociopath he is and leave. Sorry client, you can find all of your stuff in the road! And you might find a padlock on the gate. Also you’ll be blackmailed with MORE abuse of your horses if you dont pay him off.
Should we discuss the campaigns of cruelty? That drove people to near suicide? Ran them out of this town?
One of my fave sociopath memories was hearing him tell me gleefully about how he would see a friends car out and about and if it was near any food establishment he would quick pop out and draw a picture of a pig and put it on their windshield BECAUSE THEY WERE FAT!! GET IT!! FAT GIRLS ARE FUNNY!!! isn’t that hilarious? Stalking friends who are trying to eat a meal and insulting their weight.
Captain temper tantrum realllllllly hates a fat lady. Even a not so fat at all lady!
It’s all just silly and so fun
Toodles!
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What type of owner would leave their horses in his barn? Don’t the whip mark on the horse mean anything? I just don’t get it, I guess.
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