Bob McDonald Banned from USEF through Safe Sport

[poltroon]

@netg

So Debbie’s book seems to indicate she and Bob started a relationship when she was underage. Now they’re married years later and it seems ok. But the wording of the accusation with so little sounds like it could be as simple as someone shared her book.
I doubt that, but employers do not tell the world about why they fire someone as they can be sued for ruining reputations if they do. But we get a vague phrase which doesn’t tell us if he had sex with a 17 year old when he was 19, or used his position to coerce minors into sexual acts.

I am VERY in favor of cleaning up the sport. Particularly for anyone currently active who may be a danger to someone. But this isn’t being handled like an employer - it is a blast to the public with no details behind it, so we don’t really know what it means.

This seems to be a repeating fear in Equestrian, that long term relationships of this sort that started when one partner was a young student of the other decades ago are going to be relentlessly called in by anonymous sources and lead to lifetime bans. Statements by SafeSport as well as some practical considerations make it clear that this isn’t what is happening. For the most part, for a situation that occurred in the past, where the person is now an adult (let alone married) would not be of interest unless there is a complaint by one of the parties and a serious, clear abuse of power. For a lifetime ban, they also need a finding that the person is a current danger, not just that there was one questionable relationship that began 40 years ago.

The spouse could complain, and depending on the circumstances (ie ongoing) I can see that resulting in a ban. (Such a situation would probably also involve criminal domestic abuse.)

Everyone likes to manufacture these ideas that it could be “17 year old when he was 19” (which would be 50 years ago) but we’ve yet to see ANY cases like that come from SafeSport. SafeSport is really really busy. They have zero interest in going after random equestrians for something like that even if they thought that relationship was hinky. There’s no reason they’d even know or have any useful complaint unless a victim complained. The only way I can see a case like that even being in the file of a person they banned is if the accused ALSO has multiple other abuse of power complaints, in which case it’s there in support of a pattern. They’re interested in preventing abuse and preventing abusive people from having positions of power.

It’s the SafeSport policy to give a general statement of the issue without details, which is a middle ground to satisfy “but what did he DO?” while not exposing the complaintants to doxxing and further abuse and public attack. And we know that most complaintants who have come forward in equestrian (even the against the small time guys) have had to handle some pretty ugly blowback. Even simple statements like the year and the age of the complaintant during that year are personally identifying in our sport.

[poltroon]

Orange County Register reports: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/06/11/former-orange-county-horse-trainer-robert-mcdonald-banned-for-life/

(He formerly trained out of Orange County in Southern California.)

The alleged sexual conduct with minors took place in more than one state and involves more than one claimant age 14 and under, according to a person familiar to the investigation.

[LexInVA]

@poltroon

Orange County Register reports: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/06/11/former-orange-county-horse-trainer-robert-mcdonald-banned-for-life/

(He formerly trained out of Orange County in Southern California.)

The article has been updated with a statement of innocence from McDonald, which also clarifies that the accusations are from the beginning of his career, in the early-mid 70’s.

[poltroon]

@LexInVA

The article has been updated with a statement of innocence from McDonald, which also clarifies that the accusations are from the beginning of his career, in the early-mid 70’s.

Not clarifies, claims. OC Register did not withdraw their reporting that there are multiple minors, multiple states.

[LexInVA]

@poltroon

Not clarifies, claims. OC Register did not withdraw their reporting that there are multiple minors, multiple states.

Until his statement, people did not have any information regarding if the accusations were recent or from earlier days. That’s why I used clarify, as some people are assuming the accusations are from either or both, in their comments.

[Mardi]

Bob McDonald’s statement:
https://www.psdressage.com/bob-mcdon…ter-safesport/

[YankeeDuchess]

@StormyDay

Also, isn’t there a possibility of safesport/USEF enforcing the part where USEF members aren’t supposed to be in contact professionally with those on the list? I assume he and Debbie work pretty closely together, and I’m not sure how you can separate the businesses they run together.
It doesn’t seem to explicitly state in the code what to do here. I know that USEF was warning members not to go to clinics with, or get ‘free advice’ from Morris, as many riders were saying they would do, as that was a violation.

   Isn’t Bob McDonald a jumper trainer, not dressage?   Why can’t Debbie do her thing in dressage while he is banned?

[skydy]

@Mardi

Bob McDonald’s statement:
https://www.psdressage.com/bob-mcdon…ter-safesport/

In other words, he is appealing the ban, which is his right. George Morris did so as well and the arbitrator did not find in his favor.

[skydy]

@YankeeDuchess

Isn’t Bob McDonald a jumper trainer, not dressage? Why can’t Debbie do her thing in dressage while he is banned?

She can. He just can’t attend or participate in any USEF shows, clinics etc… She can do what she wants as long as he doesn’t accompany her.
If they reside in the same home and she has USEF sponsored clinics or shows there, she’ll have to ask Safe Sport how that works. He cannot attend a USEF (or apparently a Hockey) function however. That is clear.

[LexInVA]

@YankeeDuchess

Isn’t Bob McDonald a jumper trainer, not dressage? Why can’t Debbie do her thing in dressage while he is banned?

They are tied at the hip, both personally and professionally. She would have to remove him from their Palm Beach business and it’s finances.

[angelssix]

@Mardi

Bob McDonald’s statement:
https://www.psdressage.com/bob-mcdon…ter-safesport/

Wow, an accusation from an incident that occurred 47 years ago.

[skydy]

@angelssix

Wow, an accusation from an incident that occurred 47 years ago.

You only have his word for it and you don’t know what he is accused of doing to those underage people. He’s not going to make that public and Safe Sport won’t either.
He can say anything he wants to. Safe Sport won’t “out” the victims.

[YankeeDuchess]

So why is he banned from hockey?

[skydy]

Apparently he has a hockey connection and kids play hockey.

I believe he will be banned from all sports under the Safe Sport umbrella assuming he is not successful in arbitration.
People can’t jump from one sport to another when they’ve been banned for sexual misconduct with a minor.

[Peggy]

I posted this on a thread in HJ: Source(s) mentioned in an article in the OC Register claim multiple victims in multiple states with at least one being 14/u. There is no timeline mentioned. Here’s a link but I can no longer see the article since I’ve apparently reached my limit. Hence my paraphrasing based on an earlier read. https://www.ocregister.com/2020/06/1…nned-for-life/

The writer of the article, Scott Reid, is also on Twitter so that might be another way to get at it.

---

Someone else kindly accessed the article and copied it.
Jun. 12, 2020, 05:18 PM
Copied and pasted from the website:

Robert McDonald, an internationally renown equestrian trainer formerly based in Orange County, was banned for life by the U.S. Center for SafeSport this week for sexual conduct involving minors.

The alleged sexual conduct with minors took place in more than one state and involves more than one claimant age 14 and under, according to a person familiar to the investigation.

McDonald, 73, who currently resides in Wellington, Florida and Hailey, Idaho, said Friday that he “categorically” denies the allegations and will appeal the ban in arbitration.

McDonald is the husband Debbie McDonald, an Olympic equestrian medalist and technical advisor to the U.S. national dressage team.

“The U.S. Center for SafeSport has issued a lifetime ban of hunter/jumper equestrian trainer Robert ‘Bob’ McDonald for violating the SafeSport Code,” U.S. Equestrian said in a statement. “With this decision, Mr. McDonald is permanently prohibited from participating, in any capacity, in any event, program, activity, or competition authorized by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USEF, or any affiliates of USEF.”

“It is with great sadness that I have to release a statement such as this one, but as many of you already know, on June 10, the U.S. Center for SafeSport banned me from participating in the sport that has been my entire life over the last 50 years,” McDonald said in a statement to SCNG. “It is beyond heartbreaking to see the reputation that I have painstakingly built throughout my career be tarnished by an allegation of misconduct from 47 years ago. Even more gut-wrenching is watching my loved ones being dragged through this as well. It is a terrible reality that we are living in a time when allegations alone would lead to the imposition of such a harsh public sanction. Unfortunately, the system in place does not allow for individuals to be given the opportunity to effectively defend any of the allegations prior to a ban, which is why I have requested for an independent arbitration on the matter.
“It would be inappropriate of me to comment more other than to simply say that I categorically deny the allegations that have been made against me. Throughout my 50-plus year career in the sport, I have always acted in a professional and respectful manner towards all individuals that I have come in contact with, which is why I am shocked at the allegations that were made. While it is paramount for the sport to have a thoughtful and thorough avenue for our riders and trainers to address complaints and areas of concern, it is of equal importance that the process be fair and balanced. That certainly has not been the case here. I am looking forward to the opportunity to present the facts and a fair defense at an independent arbitration. I stand firm on the reputation I have built over half a century and am confident that I will be fully exonerated when the arbitration is complete.”

McDonald trained young riders out of the Orange County Fairgrounds in the 1970s and 80s and the Hillsview Saddle Club in Santa Ana during roughly the same period, according to a person familiar to the investigation.

McDonald is the tenth member of U.S. Equestrian to be banned, suspended, temporarily suspended or had restrictions placed on them by the U.S. Center for SafeSport since March 12.
McDonald also trained horses for legendary Las Vegas casino financier E. Parry Thomas at River Grove Farm in Idaho.

[ladyj79]

@skydy

I believe he will be banned from all sports under the Safe Sport umbrella assuming he is not successful in arbitration.
People can’t jump from one sport to another when they’ve been banned for sexual misconduct with a minor.

Yup, any place governed by the rules of the ngb of an Olympic sport.

He is playing the one time 47 years ago tune, but the reports are multiple children under 14 in multiple states.

[Mardi]

@skydy

You only have his word for it and you don’t know what he is accused of doing to those underage people. He’s not going to make that public and Safe Sport won’t either.
He can say anything he wants to. Safe Sport won’t “out” the victims.

But someone is certainly singing to the press, and it doesn’t sound like it’s coming from the McDonald camp.

[Mardi]

Someone is certainly singing to the press, and it doesn’t sound like it’s coming from the McDonald camp.

[skydy]

@Mardi

Someone is certainly singing to the press, and it doesn’t sound like it’s coming from the McDonald camp.

Interesting that you use the old mafia/criminal slang term “singing”. Yep, whomever is giving information to the press is violating their vow of Omerta.

[BigMama1]

@angelssix

Wow, an accusation from an incident that occurred 47 years ago.

That was George Morris’ version of his story too, yet enough facts from the emerged for us to know it was multiple incidents, multiple victims, and far more recent than that. From what’s been released about MacDonald the same seems to be true. I’m sure he’s hoping the “47 years ago” issue will stick, but the sanction tells us the investigators believe he poses a current risk