This is what is very wrong about this situation. What does putting an angry face on old comments do about the situation? Nothing. It simply means the poster feels better about themselves for “punishing” the evildoer and shames the person for existing because they did something bad.
What does calling her a child abuser accomplish? Nothing. It’s pure vitriol. It’s ugly. Comment on her riding, comment on the excessive whipping, comment on her too-tight nosebands, but leave her child out of it.
Apologies. You are correct. I was responding to Impractical_Horsewoman (one of my favourite usernames, by the way) who said she wondered why the woman picked up her camera at that moment. I said I don’t think she did, I thought it was a small clip from a longer recording.
You responded directly to me, even quoting. me, with ??? and then mentioning conspiracy so I thought you were saying I was pushing some conspiracy about a longer recording with more abuse.
I think we agree on the point that this was the only minute of the session germaine to the complaint but that more of it was surely recorded.
I just don’t see a pitchfork mob here. I guess there is one on SM but there also seem to be several people saying slow your role to that mob both on here and on SM. I think a couple have been re-posted here.
I got the impression that this was a one-day thing. I certainly could be wrong. It is a choice to push in a clinic environment – particularly if you don’t know the rider, or the horse. If that was the case here, it was obviously the wrong choice.
What continued attempt to normalize abuse? If that’s what you’re reading from my posts you are NOT reading for comprehension.
On social media, she is now receiving death threats. Public stoning is somewhat hyperbole, but this kind of thing can drive people to suicide. It’s not “more civilized” just because it isn’t actual rocks.
As I said in a previous post… the venom and lynch mob mentality is roaring Out There. And suddenly, just like that, everything CD has ever done is suspect and wrong and being covered up in some way by someone or other - hence my comments earlier about conspiracies. One of my favorite comments was that Valegro should now be tested for drugs and “saved”. What purpose does any of that serve - yes, including death threats? Or the childish example of the angry emojis being plastered on everything?
Yes - I have said it as have others… some of it has gotten out of control. But then you get called a supporter of CD’s actions and told that you did not see anything wrong with that video and WTH is wrong with you… …among other comments that have no relationship to actual reality.
First of all, this was not a man whipping a child, so your question is bizarre.
Secondly, you took part of her statement out of context to show that in your opinion CDJ has “not owned up to it”.
What she actually wrote was:
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete”.
I don’t know what more you expect. Her statement reads like a mea culpa to me.
I am curious about who should abuse/unacceptable acts be reported to? At a show we have the TD. In the case of this video, whom should the reporter have contacted? I do believe the reporter took the path s/he did to get maximum exposure. However, would any other path have had any impact? What about things that happen at your home barn or when riding in a clinic?
Exactly. Imagine people coming up to you and saying to your face “you’re awful.” “I hate you.” “You are a disgrace to humanity.” “You’d be better off dead.”
Over and over again.
Because you did something bad, admitted guilt and are already getting the consequences of your actions. But the people keep walking up to you and verbally p***ing all over you.
That is what is happening to her on social media. And it’s wrong. She is already facing real consequences and her career is on hold. She doesn’t have a backup plan probably. It’s not happening here, but it is on all of her social media platforms. Her team should shut down comments until the mob stops.
Rarely will someone actually say these things out loud to someone’s face because it comes with social risk. Online…there is no risk. You can say whatever you want. And that is what we are seeing unfold now.
He’s not telling anyone how to feel. He’s saying stop tarring and feathering this one person when there is SO MUCH more (and worse) horse abuse happening every single day and nobody says shite about it. Am I disappointed in her? You bet. Did this knock her off the pedestal I put her on? Absolutely. Do I suddenly hate her and vilify her? Absolutely not. Her career has been completely destroyed, right or wrong is up to each of us as individuals. I personally think it’s wrong. I think it’s overkill and grossly misplaced, YMMV. I sent her a PM on Facebook wishing her well. She has been harmed much more substantially by the social media firestorm than either Parra or Helgstrand. That’s not right and it sucks.
This is a curious question. Does the FEI have a reporting system? Surely they do. I think I tried to look at that up during the Helgstrand/Parra incidents but I cannot remember for the life of me what the end result was and whether I found some sort of form or not.
I was the victim of bullying in Elementary and High School. I do believe that words can commit violence and I will never inflict that on someone else if I can avoid it.
Again, I don’t think anyone here is doing that, we’re a pretty balanced and thoughtful group for the most part, but I am extremely careful about inflaming the pitchfork-wielding mob.
A few really good books if you are interested in the connection between words and actions are Leadership and Self Deception and the Anatomy of Peace, both by the Arbinger Institute. Highly recommended and very confronting reading (in a positive way).
Two of my neices worked as zoologists. My older neice (who is now a shelter veterinarian) was a primate keeper. She trained the larger primates to put their arms through a hole in the wall to have their blood drawn. They did this with clicker training and positive reinforcement. She would always ask us for pizza boxes, which they used for enrichment. They would put some treats inside and tape them up and throw them in the enclosure for toys. I saved my Amazon boxes and did this for my horses when they have to stay in their runs int he winter due to snow or ice. They love it. I started buying large dog toys for my horses. They like the rope toys.
My horses like cardboard boxes. I fill them with hay, and sprinkle treats and oats inside of them. They enjoy rifling through the boxes, getting the oats, and one of my horses really enjoys flinging the boxes.
They also love playing with cones in the paddock. And one of my horses loves pulling the t-post caps on that are on one section of fence (I dutifully put them back on every day). He just loves popping them off and will go down the line and pop them all off then he leaves the fence alone. No idea.