A bit extreme but probably not over the top. I pretty much agree with all of her suggestions. What do you all think? https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/see-something-say-something-we-need-a-strong-immediate-response-to-abuse/
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I’m in agreement with everything she said, particularly the point that it’s pretty much a guarantee that we’ve all made choices we aren’t proud of in the past but that doesn’t mean that we should use that as an excuse to not change our behavior now. Know better to do better.
I have a lot of thoughts about horsemanship, training, what/who people are learning from, and what that has to do with individual priorities, but I’m currently at work and unable to organize my thoughts enough to actually articulate them effectively, lol. Maybe later.
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I agree with most of the article but this gave me pause:
“To the bad actors in our sport: I want to remind those using the practices mentioned that you have neighbors at the show, stabled in the same barn, and many of us know who you are. Your actions can be recorded. Someone will turn you in. Prosecution without evidence won’t happen, but surveillance can and will be something your neighbors can do.”
Video can be altered, edited to remove context, sound added or removed, enhanced with AI. I’m not comfortable becoming the surveillance police or encouraging others without authority to do so.
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To me, this article highlights how we need to more careful with how we throw around the word abuse. We can (and should) ban things that are not abuse because we think it still is unethical, unsportsmanlike, or not in the best interest of the horse. Horses can’t show at rated shows on ace, but I don’t think giving a horse ace is abuse - just unethical for competitive advantage. Lunging your horse in an unfenced area isn’t abuse, but I definitely don’t think that is in anyone’s best interest. I don’t think showing a horse in 15 classes in a weekend is abuse. But certainly we can say that isn’t fair to the horse and make restrictions on it.
I think there are many things that fall under bad horsemanship or not being in the best interest of the horse that don’t cross over into abuse. And the tone of this article (continuously referencing “other abuses” “this abuse” “many abuse issues”) makes it seem like we only put an end to things once they rise to abuse, so we have to label everything as abuse to get it taken seriously.
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I thought she was spot on. The more we are learning about horses and their longevity and wellbeing, the more we should be taking measures to protect them and identify people who are (often knowingly) failing to do so.
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What do I think? She is dead on as far as the bad actors and undereducated Pros. Bit surprised she had only recently become aware of some of it, think I have seen all of that and worse, especially things done in retaliation for somebody who does say something. That needs to be dealt with too. But that’s the rub.
Most braiders could tell some real horror stories, DL should get a private virtual focus group set up with circuit regular braiders.
Did not know about the anonymous text “drop a dime” reporting option…maybe just making more members aware of that option would be a good idea.
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I have been made aware of people putting gasoline in a water bucket to stop a horse from drinking, thereby causing him to dehydrate and become lethargic.
Oh. My. God.
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Yeah that was my main takeaway too. The framing of the article as if USHJA only just now discovered abuse was occurring because they did an investigation seemed a bit tone-deaf considering how much focus there’s been on social license and abuse the past few years. The article also focuses on reporting and conveniently doesn’t address how the governing bodies can be more effective in investigating and punishing abuse when it comes up. She mentions the strangulation case and how it’s unfortunate that the professional behind it is still able to attend USEF shows because “no one reported it” but clearly it was reported at some point if it came up in the investigation? I’m assuming that’s one where the rule change to allow rulings on activity that takes place away from show grounds would have changed things, but it felt odd for her not to mention it.
Otherwise I generally agree with her suggestions. I think a professional licensing program of some kind is a good idea but probably not feasible, and I really don’t think it would have much impact on the abuse issue. The truly abusive behavior isn’t due to a lack of education or training - those people know exactly what they’re doing and just don’t care. It doesn’t take a professional licensing program to teach people that putting gasoline in drinking water is wrong…
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I’ve never seen information about that anywhere, either. Getting that info out alone is a huge help, and would allow people do something like send a photo or video along with the message. Really helpful for after-hours too when there isn’t always the option of finding a Steward at 11PM while doing night check.
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Is there a USEF rule that requires posting of show management or vet on call numbers around the barns? Seems like adding that texting option to those signs would be a good start.
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Exactly. And even if the bad actors jump through the hoops of licensing, they’re still going to abuse horses. We need to weed them out, call them out, and ban them for life.
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I think that placing more responsibility on the owner would be one of the most effective deterrents. If the owner is suspended, they will not support trainers that will cause them to miss showing, especially the biggies like indoors.
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That information is required to be in the prizelist, which is publicly available, and I’ve usually seen it printed and posted in the show offices. Depending on barn configurations, I’m not sure how feasible it would be to post that in all the barns, given some of the creative solutions of I’ve seen for having to mount sharps containers in temp stabling–handing paperwork wouldn’t last the week.
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That’s a shame. Not sure why it can’t be taped up next to the sharps containers. 🤷
Regardless, it sounds like not many of us know about it so it would behoove them to publicize it more.
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Believe it or not, many times the owners just don’t know what’s going on. Yes, they should, but trainers are good at hiding things. I know USEF is a private entity and can make whatever rules they want, but if attorneys got involved, it wouldn’t take more than a first year law student to prove that things were happening without the owner’s knowledge.
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There is no form of reporting that can’t be tampered with. We don’t rule out reporting altogether because of that.
How often is video tampering truly occurring? Answer: Not enough to remove video as an extremely valuable, and accurate, form of reporting.
If you retain the original, there is always an original true version for someone to confirm, in case they suspect tampering. Most tampering is quite obvious to someone who knows how to spot it. Frequently such a person will be called in if there are disputes about accuracy.
Video actually corrects verbal and written reports, because they are inevitably influenced by emotion and bias. Emotion and bias in either direction, either for or against the abuser. Plus, humans just miss things, or misinterpret them. Especially if they are upset at the time. Video clears much of that up for the investigators.
When our most critical tools are dismissed because there are rare bad intentions behind it, we lose the ability to report effectively. We lose some of our best opportunities to make a difference.
Each person can make their own decision about what role they are willing to play in reporting. But we should not advocate against the most effective means for reporting, so that others may use it to help report.
IMO.
For what it is worth, in U.S. society today, cell phone video just being in the hands of a potential victim or bystander has prevented many abuses across many problematic parts of life. Policing (body cams are almost universal now, reporting on each officer’s actions), military training, neighborhood behavior, domestic violence, and the solving of many crimes through video cameras everywhere in urban areas. Etc. Video outs the lies and holds the bad actors accountable.
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DL says something like “ Everybody needs to know to anonymously report abuse just text 2USEF…”,I didn’t know and I still keep up with stuff, lifetime member. Quick check with a couple of friends still actively showing reveals they did not know either.
Have to add, gasoline in the water? Stupid, it stinks a smell that is red flag in any barn…most just dump a bottle of Liniment in the water so it looks like horse has water and smells like he had a brace or its on his legs. The really stealthy just bleed them. None of this is new, a secret and none is restricted to HJ or USEF.
2USEF it is and do not want to hear whining because it is extra work to sift through tips.
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100% this.
In horse showing, in every discipline, the people with the most power are the people who pay the trainer’s bill. The people who allow the rider to ride. That is the owner.
If the owner takes a stand, game over for the abuser. The owner can remove their horses. The owner can stop financially supporting the abuse. The owner is the last word on what goes on with their horses.
That is what at least some TWH owners did as they learned the validated truth about what has happening to their horses. They not only pulled their horses, they changed their show discipline away from Big Lick. They changed their whole philosphy of showing their horses.
But of course, the owner has to step up to that reponsibility. Many don’t seem to know how to even start, as they usually leave their show horses in the trainer’s hands.
The horse show world could use some owner education and coaching on what they can pro-actively do to ensure the fair treatment and care of their horses. True enough that so many may be well-intentioned, but don’t know where to start.
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This is all true, but how can USEF hold an owner responsible for a horse being drugged or LTD when the owner has no idea because it’s being hidden? Yes, I know that the owner is currently responsible under USEF rules, but placing more blame on the owner instead of the trainer/grooms who are actually doing the abuse, doesn’t seem like it’ll move the needle much.
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Jesus wtf.
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