Bobby Costello out as Chef D'Equipe

[TXnGA]

@AMWookey

Everyone is throwing Carl Hester to the wolves too right?

I’ve explained before to others where Bobby’s farm and ring are, in comparison to where Andrew has worked and riden most recently (since he came back from WFP), and on that, WFP’s got to be assumed here too right?

Did you ever think that it’s the opposite? That the truth came out, and maybe Bobby resigned because he didn’t know, or didn’t know enough to say something? That he heard the rumors like all the rest of us, and didn’t actually see that shit with his own two eyes?

I cannot tell you the number of times I have ridden by Bobby giving lessons, watched Bobby giving lessons, seen him volunteering at the LOWEST level of the sport during his few free periods, mentoring and coaching any rider who asked for the help. Never once did I see him condone abusive behavior, in fact, I have sat and heard him do the exact opposite.

I flipping hate all the vulturistic behavior. If I am wrong I am wrong, but Bobby has done so much for the sport of eventing, and people only see a small fraction of it. I’m absolutely not willing to throw him out because ONE of his students got caught with shitty behavior.

AM was almost booted out of WFP for this specific behavior. WFP said stop this crap or get the F out.

Bobby knew. Everyone knew. Please stop trying to show sympathy towards someone ( AM) who doesn’t deserve it.

Love Bobby, great guy, great horseman. But he looked the other way on this.

Do I believe he should have been booted- not my decision…. Raked across the coals… I just don’t know because all I see are the horses who were repeatedly abused

His role as Chef was different than the role previous chefs held. He wasn’t necessarily there to coach the riders- the riders were told to keep doing what they were doing- train with whomever you want to be the most successful rider ( and riders were given a pittance of funding towards their training) and Bobby was to oversee the training or be a sounding board for any problems, making plans etc.

I am of the mind comparing AM to CDJ is comparing apples to oranges. Completely different extremes

[TXnGA]

@AMWookey

(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged)

Put it in this perspective:

Say a child was being abused by a parent, other parent knew but did nothing.

Should parent who did nothing not be held accountable for allowing the abuse and not preventing the abuse?

Now do I agree that Bobby should be crucified- No, but he was aware of AM’s training behavior

[Jealoushe]

I don’t see him being crucified in the comments here, just speculation and discussion as per the usual format on CoTH. We are curious and want to know why, it seemed like riders were happy with him. We will likely never know the “why”, but it’s natural to wonder.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@TXnGA

Put it in this perspective:

Say a child was being abused by a parent, other parent knew but did nothing.

Should parent who did nothing not be held accountable for allowing the abuse and not preventing the abuse?

Now do I agree that Bobby should be crucified- No, but he was aware of AM’s training behavior

But… we don’t even know if the AM thing is why he lost the role. It seems like it might have been multiple issues…

Regardless, the AM debacle has resulted in horrible publicity for the sport. And looking the other way and pretending this isn’t the case? That solves nothing. And it’s not what good leadership does.

[piaffequeen2]

Will withdrew his horse due to an allergic reaction. People seem to forget he coached the World Championship to 2nd place. Bobby doesn’t make the desicion on who is picked for the team. He is there to coach.

[SouthernEv]

You’re assuming he’s innocent based on driving by his farm and seeing how he acts out in public?

Remember that old saying, “integrity is doing right when NO ONE is watching”?

[beowulf]

@FLeventer

I’m more upset that Erik’s contract wasn’t renewed. He really helped to shape the team and worked with the riders to improve their program. I don’t think Bobby got enough time to show what he could do, but the best thing he did was allow riders to keep their programs that worked. I think he did inherit a lot of good work that Erik did. I think that ship has sailed though unfortunately.

Agreed. Bobby was a great Chef D’Equipe on his own merit, but I wish ED had never been forced out.

And I agree with @AMWookey’s sentiments, I’m discouraged to see people conflating her post with supporting AM - the total opposite of what she intended.

Keep in mind only Andrew McConnon is responsible for his own shitty behavior.

[AMWookey]

Dude. No. I am saying that after spending 4 years there, watching him teach while I volunteered at every show at the Park, watching him give lessons, full disclosure - including my spouse, watching him volunteer with the Pony Club, the horse park, everywhere he can- that i am not throwing him to the wolves.

Full disclosure - I count Bobby as a friend. I have spent more then a few nights at a dinner table with him, or having a drink with friends.

What I am saying, is that if AM was doing this shit at Bobby’s farm, people would know. It wouldn’t have been whispered rumors behind closed doors.

[AMWookey]

Thank you. I deleted my other post because honestly, I don’t want to drag my own self into this. …but wanting to not see Bobby get dragged through the mud for one riders behavior does not equal condoning AM’s actions.

[Jealoushe]

It seems like based on the comments here that people did know?

[beowulf]

It’s possible that there were rumors but BC never saw it with his own eyes; it can be hard to act on rumors. Think of how sneaky abusers are. They know better than to show their true colors to people in positions of power.

[Maria]

I have read that BC did not step down because of AM. My speculation in another thread was incorrect

My apologies

[CatchMeIfUCan]

Just to help move this conversation along, I feel very confident that Bobby is not out due to AM or any ties or knowledge there. The AM news was shocking to a lot of UL eventing.

[hey101]

@CatchMeIfUCan

The AM news was shocking to a lot of UL eventing.

No it wasn’t

[M1ssmouse]

Can’t imagine Leslie Law would want the hassle of the chef job full time.

[Texarkana]

@wanderlust

Has anyone on the team taken to working with Bobby in the way the riders did previously with Erik Duvander (minus the O’Connor folks of course)?

I might be wrong about this, as I’m totally on the outside.

But I seem to recall in the Erik Duvander uprooting that part of USEF’s “reasoning” for removing him is that they wanted the chef to be less of a coach and more of an admin position.

There was a lot of strife about some riders being managed and coached by ED and others wanting to do their own thing.

IIRC there was a quote from the federation (that I’m badly butchering) about wanting eventing to emulate the other disciplines where the high performance riders have more freedom to train how they want and only come together for the big show with some fine tuning from the chef.

[AMWookey]

CatchMeIfUCan would know if it was

Maybe you are an UL rider, or close to someone who is, but so are they. What is true for some might not be true to all.

[FitToBeTied]

Without commenting about the various individuals, i will says this. Organizations that change leadership constantly always fail.

[wanderlust]

FWIW, I read this line of reasoning as a CYA from USEF. And that approach clearly hasn’t worked.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@CatchMeIfUCan

Just to help move this conversation along, I feel very confident that Bobby is not out due to AM or any ties or knowledge there. The AM news was shocking to a lot of UL eventing.

Thanks for sharing this point of clarity.

Setting aside the issue of AM, and who knew what, and when they knew it about any of his issues…

I think the way both ED and BC have left this role is concerning. It speaks to significant dysfunction in terms of leadership. And will possibly be a significant impediment in terms of hiring another top notch person to take on the role.

Not good.