Ben, Jan and Amy Ebeling Named in Sexual Assault Civil Suit

[erinmeri]

@SBrentnall

Amelie Kovac (who worked for the Ebelings for 4 years) just posted this on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/amelie.kovac/posts/pfbid02wKaLCbJh1wnDLbv3pYZExGj6NoGimX9JmANxodbzJEP5r6krdievtnNwpbKTPqz6l

“And the truth finally comes out…
Heartbroken for the victim and outraged that such a person is representing the US. Hoping for justice for everyone involved.”

And from her in the comments:
“they sure know how to present themselves to visitors. I worked there for almost 4 years. The things that go on behind closed doors are pretty incredible.”

“I’m glad you had a good experience. Unfortunately, the vast majority didn’t have that chance. I rather keep it at that for public information.”

I am happy to hear that people are supportive of the victim!

A quick FB search shows a whole lotta people defending and deflecting. You know, the usual. Bonnie Navin is of course there, calling the victim a “puppeteer”, saying “the court of public opinion” will be “embarrassed when the truth comes out”, and saying “The puppeteer will soon be disclosed”, which sounds like a threat to me.

There are other ugly comments, but I also saw a few comments about how people (more than one) have been hearing rumors about this, including on the East Coast.

@iridedressage

She chewed him up and spit him out. I enjoyed reading it!

Me too!!! It’s disappointing and predictable that the same old fuddies come out of the wood work to decry SafeSport, condemn victims, and minimize or deny abuses. I love to see young folks having none of it!

[skydy]

@GroovyGroom

Super concerning that Robert Dover so aggressively defended Ben, attacked and questioned the timing of the suit, and denounced an alleged victim of sexual assault within the dressage community. If the allegations are proven true I really hope Dover’s participation in horsemanship clinics, d4k, young rider programs, and USDF is reconsidered.

What is wrong with him? He seems to believe that no one in the equestrian world is capable of sexual assault.

Attacking people who have already had to make the difficult decision to come forward (especially when he knows nothing about it) is horrible, and honestly, pretty weird.

[GroovyGroom]

Yes! It’s weird! After it was pointed out on here that he defended GM publicly as well I did some digging. I found Bezzie Madden’s response to the GM situation when trying to find RD’s response and I think it is a great example on how to speak publicly about these situations.

The article to refresh anyone’s memory:

Equestrian Community Reacts To George Morris SafeSport Suspension

Further reading that article I find it incredible that RD just brushed off the time period and, once again, verbally attacks the victims.

[erinmeri]

@CurrentlyHorseless

No. I’m not defending the alleged attacker.

I think there is a big difference between her choosing to partake of underage drinking when he offered it or “encouraged it” vs a situation in which someone offers an alcoholic drink that has been spiked with a drug like Rohypnol. Not that the suit contends there was a substance beyond alcohol. That’s all I’m saying.

What difference does it make since regardless of the agent(s) used, she was incapacitated? Either can be deployed to render a victim incapacitated and/or unable to consent. I suppose you can argue that Rohypnol shows that he DEFINITELY intended to incapacitate the girl - but alcohol can and does do the same… especially for those with low tolerances. The complaint alleges she was uncomfortable with underage drinking, so it isn’t likely she had a high tolerance at 14 years old.

No matter how you slice it, if the allegations are true, she was UNABLE TO CONSENT and it does not matter if she willingly drank or not, or what her age is. The fact that she was a minor child makes this all a whole lot worse. But she would be a victim, regardless. Remember Brock Turner?

[NaturallyHappy]

I always thought he was pond scum no matter how famous he is; he just proved it.

[Warmblood1]

Robert Dover’s commentary on FB is so unnecessary and is infuriating to me.

I shall hope that if a serious crime is committed that I must report, that is doesn’t conflict with show season. End sarcasm.

May the truth prevail.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

The allegations in the complaint (in terms of how quickly she allegedly lost control of her body) make it sound as though GHB might have been involved.

Here’s a link to info on the three most common date rape drugs. All of these are horrifyingly easy for people with nefarious motivations to purchase online these days.

GHB Drugs: Common Drugs, GHB, and Rohypnol

[IdahoRider]

@iridedressage

I found his responses to her very patronizing, and dismissive. What a jerk.

Scary to think how embedded he is with young riders in this country.
Sheilah

[iridedressage]

@IdahoRider

@iridedressage

I found his responses to her very patronizing, and dismissive. What a jerk.

Scary to think how embedded he is with young riders in this country.
Sheilah

Absolutely!

[Fiesta01]

@erinmeri

You know, the usual. Bonnie Navin is of course there, calling the victim a “puppeteer”, saying “the court of public opinion” will be “embarrassed when the truth comes out”, and saying “The puppeteer will soon be disclosed”, which sounds like a threat to me.

I don’t think she is calling the victim the puppeteer. She stated that there is a puppeteer (some third party, apparently) behind the victim, encouraging and enabling the suit. Disgusting, nevertheless.

[erinmeri]

@Fiesta01

I don’t think she is calling the victim the puppeteer. She stated that there is a puppeteer (some third party, apparently) behind the victim, encouraging and enabling the suit. Disgusting, nevertheless.

You’re probably right. I assumed she meant the girl, since the girl filed suit. Either way, disgusting.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Fiesta01

@erinmeri

You know, the usual. Bonnie Navin is of course there, calling the victim a “puppeteer”, saying “the court of public opinion” will be “embarrassed when the truth comes out”, and saying “The puppeteer will soon be disclosed”, which sounds like a threat to me.

I don’t think she is calling the victim the puppeteer. She stated that there is a puppeteer (some third party, apparently) behind the victim, encouraging and enabling the suit. Disgusting, nevertheless

I read it that way as well.

It’s a variation on previous comments BN has made about SafeSport though, alleging that it has been weaponized intentionally to take certain people out of contention for (?) - presumably spots on a team?

The clearest evidence yet of the weaponization of SafeSport involves what happened with the case we are not allowed to discuss on the forums at this time. But that case didn’t involve a competitive strategy to knock someone else out of contention… just people who were mentally/emotionally unstable.

[Fiesta01]

@NaturallyHappy

I always thought he was pond scum no matter how famous he is; he just proved it.

Kind of off topic. My first experience of RD was at the dressage clinics during the Festival of Champions at Gladstone.

As he was teaching FEI riders, he was very attentive and encouraging with lots of good corrections. When the rider was non-FEI level, his instruction was minimal to say the least.

I remember one 2nd - 3rd level rider who went around and around in a 15 meter circle for 10 minutes without one comment/instruction given to her. RD was too busy chatting with the auditors (read holding court) to bother to actually teach her.

I know that was decades ago, but I have always had a negative view of him ever since, only amplified by his comments during the GM saga.

ETA: My friend and I also watched the GM clinics that year. I was West Coast raised. She was East Coast raised. (She trained with Bernie Traurig). That was the first time I had heard of GM’s predilection for young boys. (She had no proof, just recounting what she had heard around the barn and on the circuit).

[skydy]

@skydy

@GroovyGroom

Super concerning that Robert Dover so aggressively defended Ben, attacked and questioned the timing of the suit, and denounced an alleged victim of sexual assault within the dressage community. If the allegations are proven true I really hope Dover’s participation in horsemanship clinics, d4k, young rider programs, and USDF is reconsidered.

What is wrong with him? He seems to believe that no one in the equestrian world is capable of sexual assault.

Attacking people who have already had to make the difficult decision to come forward (especially when he knows nothing about it) is horrible, and honestly, pretty weird.

Dover has seemingly instant, knee jerk reactions whenever an equestrian is accused of sexual assault. I don’t understand that mindset. Being unkind towards someone who may have been victimized is not a good look (to say the least.)

If you (general you) really feel such hostility, vent to your friends, don’t blast it on social media.

[GroovyGroom]

I’m wondering if RD’s social media rants go against the USEF Code of Conduct?

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/dH6tKIBjNsc/code-of-conduct

He’s certainly not acting as an ambassador to the sport in a way that does not bring embarrassment to USEF. He’s not modeling inclusive behavior. He is not treating media, fans, participants properly, justly, professionally, respectfully, or with sensitivity. Definitely not displaying good sportsmanship.

[skydy]

You’re kidding, right? USEF doesn’t enforce its conduct rules.

To be fair, they’d need a full time staff whose only job was patrolling members’ social media.

[erinmeri]

@Fiesta01

I don’t think she is calling the victim the puppeteer. She stated that there is a puppeteer (some third party, apparently) behind the victim, encouraging and enabling the suit. Disgusting, nevertheless.

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

I read it that way as well.

It’s a variation on previous comments BN has made about SafeSport though, alleging that it has been weaponized intentionally to take certain people out of contention for (?) - presumably spots on a team?

Further thinking has me wondering… which puppeteer(s) in equestrian sport are so powerful that they could conceivably convince people to blow up their lives and make these supposed false, baseless allegations? What are the puppeteers in Bonnie Navins’ mind promising in return?

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@erinmeri

Further thinking has me wondering… which puppeteer(s) in equestrian sport are so powerful that they could conceivably convince people to blow up their lives and make these supposed false, baseless allegations? What are the puppeteers in Bonnie Navins’ mind promising in return?

It’s pretty crazy when you think about it.

[marianne]

Couple of thoughts on this. This whole incident has me thinking about the women who had issues with Kavanaugh and how those women were brushed aside. People said it was nothing but frat hijinks and such. What courage Jane Doe has.

The other thing is the fortuitous move of the Ebeling’s training operation to another state. Does this mean that the business entity is no longer in existence in CA? Is this a sheltering of assets by moving to another state? Just thinking and wondering on a summer evening.

[BigMama1]

@Warmblood1

Robert Dover’s commentary on FB is so unnecessary and is infuriating to me.

I shall hope that if a serious crime is committed that I must report, that is doesn’t conflict with show season. End sarcasm.

May the truth prevail.

I hope he doesn’t delete all the comments rightfully calling him out