Well-worth the read
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/an-open-letter-to-diane-carney
A great article, but once again, some of the comments on Facebook are so disheartening.
So many people seem so determined to remain willfully ignorant and/or refuse to look reality in the face.
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I LOVED this piece. And it sounds like it was a forum user that wrote it. Thank you @gully’s pilot for putting your thoughts out there so publicly. I’ve tried to write similar sentiments as Facebook posts multiple times and ended up scrapping them because I just haven’t managed to get my meaning across; you stated it just perfectly.
I will say, as yucky as many of the comments on the post and on the article are, I’m heartened at how the balance seems to have shifted in favor of supporting SafeSport. Not sure if that’s down to the USHJA presentation, time, or something else entirely, but it does feel like more people are coming around.
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Now deleted but someone admitted to training with Tom Navarro despite his conviction because “she asked him about it.” Oh and her minor daughter rides with him too.
@specifiedcupcake was able to get screen shots before she deleted.
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This piece is so spot on and well-stated. It’s a shame there is a whole segment of the industry that doesn’t want to hear it, because the points are valid.
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Denial…more then a river in Egypt.
Its a very normal reaction, even by very smart people. Much harder to accept the actions of somebody you put your total trust and respect into over many years. It’s a way to deal with events your heart just cannot accept. I’m not surprised some just cannot bring themselves to accept it.
Don’t mean this as flippant at all…perhaps they need to talk out their feelings with a professional. They are wasting much of themselves in this, which is more about the fact they misplaced trust and respect one person that didn’t deserve it. Hard to rationalize to ones self. And there has been a huge cultural shift bringing things like this and the JW scandal out of the shadows. It’s not OK, never has been but now it’s in the light.
Know DC, very slightly as well as some other defenders. Feel sorry for them, that kind of thing hurts and perhaps they are trying to save face for supporting him, even if they can’t admit it to themselves.
Personally heard all the same things everybody else did for years but remained neutral. Until reading his own words in his book, which admit to not finishing.
COTH has been doing a very good and responsible job both in print and hosting these Forums. Keep it up.
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I have stated before on the forums that I had a coworker and friend who is now in prison for such acts. I won’t share the details even though they are public from news reports as they are vile. Suffice to say he received consecutive sentences and is eligible for parole in 100 years.
I understand the shock, heartbreak and dismay that someone you have known, that you thought was a nice person, who taught you a lot could do such a thing. I personally was sick to my stomach knowing he babysat for mutual friends and had two young children. However, to me it speaks volumes that people cling to their reality rather than what reality actually is.
I am also shocked that the prison system has a moral code better than these people. I’m pretty sure my former friend and coworker is in segregation as he would be killed otherwise. Even the dregs of society have zero tolerance for rapists and child molesters.
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Cling to their reality…like that better then the way I tried to put it.
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I am so annoyed at the people attacking the IHOP bit. “What?! You don’t care about kids at IHOP? IHOP KID KILLER!!”
I can almost hear the “whoosh” from here as the point of the article goes straight over their heads.
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right? like um safe sport is to deal with abuse of kids/athletes in sport, so if you see your local IHOP kid being assaulted or harassed, use your safe sport training to call the cops. Cause that is literally part of the training.
Its almost like they didn’t take the training or, I don’t know, have a vested interest in misrepresenting safe sport.
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THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR.
Diane was also telling people about GM being under investigation before he was publicly listed, I found out from her over a year ago.
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Oh FFS really? Way to go Diane. Can Diane become the new “Karen”?
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Thanks Kim, every bit like this I think helps to turn the tide.
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I just want to say that not only is this letter spot-on, but Kim is a very talented author and her books for children and young adults are absolutely wonderful. I can’t recommend them highly enough, I had no idea she was a “Coth person” too!
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I feel like Diane should be a test case of USEF resolve. As someone openly opposed to safe sport, I think usef has to take a stand and not allow this person to officiate usef shows, host or give usef advertised clinics, be published in any usef publications.
Because otherwise they are giving a platform and even financially supporting someone who is openly opposed to enforcing training in and implementation of a program meant to stop sexual exploitation of primarily minors.
Gotta go, Diane.
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I cannot get over the irony of Diane’s organization being called “Athletes for Equity in Sport”. SafeSport is about trying to balance the inherent INequity of the coach-athlete relationship that provides an easy avenue for abuse by providing a way for athletes to end the abuse.
Thank you, Kim for such a powerful piece.
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#ByeDiane
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AMEN.
@limptoad - thanks for stating openly what everyone knows. Diane Carney knew that the GM investigation was ongoing. She let other people know she knew about it.
Kristin name name name Hardin publicly posted that her family members were threatened during the investigation by friends and supporters of GM, and that she was pressured not to offer any witness testimony to Safe Sport investigators.
So did Diane’s open acknowledgement of the ongoing GM investigation impact her decisions as a judge? Did the fact that she’s a well known judge, and close close friend of GM, and obviously was giving folks the impression that she had inside knowledge about the ongoing investigation impact anyone’s decision regarding whether or not they would cooperate with Safe Sport investigators and provide honest witness testimony?
This is a real issue, and unfortunately a big one. It’s not ok to have USEF officials openly spreading misinformation about Safe Sport. If they are willing to do that… what else has gone on with respect to their officiating decisions?
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There are much, much bigger named judges sharing Diane’s letter and link to donate to her cause because they have donated.
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USEF needs to take a position on this issue.
Does anyone know of other MGBs for other sports having similar challenges with licensed officials being so publicly at odds with Safe Sport, and expressing public sympathy for banned persons?
One other question… I’ll admit I am 100% ignorant about and such a low level amateur competitor myself… it just was never something I had even casual awareness about. So the question is… what are the USEF or USHJA rules and regulations with respect to licensed officials or judges, and potential conflicts of interest? I assume there must be SOME rules, regulations, or general guidelines. Furthermore… is there anything that speaks to whether or not licensed judges can broadly solicit athletes to contribute to a specific cause?
Diane Carney and the whole reaction to GM’s ban throughout the hunter jumper and equitation community aside… this issue could just as easily pose a problem in the Dressage community or the eventing community (the Dressage phase IS scored subjectively, to a certain extent). There must be regulations that speak to how licensed judges and officials are expected to conduct themselves. Fundraising for ANY cause, if you are a licensed judge, seems like a tricky thing that might be best avoided. Many professions or organizations have ethical guidelines that require individuals in certain roles to avoid even the appearance of impropriety…
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