The info is posted in many places. You can’t turn a corner at WEC Ohio and not see a sign with the vets number. It’s also posted in the office. Same at most all of the major A shows
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That’s great to hear and honestly I’ve just never paid attention - I make it a point to know who the show vet (and farrier) is and how to reach them, if our own vets aren’t there showing.
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Why can’t these trainers just teach people to actually ride???
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I thought this practice was long gone and done, until I was told by a reliable source last summer about a certain trainer who is still doing this. Not the only unscrupulous thing they have done, but still shocking to hear in this day and age. Ironically, this same trainer is one of the many who piled on Karl Cook on McLain’s thread. It has kind of made me rethink my participation in the sport entirely, tbh.
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Perhaps if video surveillance is the best way to stop those using abusive practices then USEF/USHJA should have the cameras installed at licensed competitions. Not rely on fellow competitors to supply the surveillance. Just my opinion.
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I first became aware of bleeding circa 1983 showing APHA/AQHA Western Riding, Trail and a little Reining. in Texas. Then learned of it on HJ circuit in New England in 1992-3, knew it was going on with AHSA then the Fed through the late 90s and early 2000s in the Midwest and WEF. And here we are in 2025. And with no test, why would it stop?
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@wanderlust, Boy do I want to use initials to see if I know which one! One of them used to withhold water.
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The things people will do to horses to get a little ribbon is almost unbelievable. But you are correct, I know of trainers who used to give Bute, dex and an alphabet soup one ACHC or something to calm the horse. Horse was also lunged for unknown time in the a.m. I know of a trainer who did not nerve the equitation horse permanently but did inject something that paralyzed the tail during the season. All for a ribbon.
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Yeah well it’s unnecessary for her to call out the fact that I only show at schooling shows every time she gets the chance. So tit for tat.
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Because there are many “trainers” who are unqualified to teach and don’t know what they don’t know themselves, so are incapable of teaching others properly.
From the article:
“We need a “professional equine sport pathway” that works to ensure the person responsible for the care and development of the horse and/or athlete is qualified. It would include professionals, assistants, grooms and amateurs. No one should be able to just become a professional after they turn 18. No one without a license should be allowed to train, teach or compete at a USEF competition without an education on best practices and humane, socially accepted training methods.”
GB and Germany require qualifications for instructors but this will never happen IMO. Recognizing that in the U.S. it is an issue, is something (not much, but something.)
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Yes, I am one of them. I think it’s a great idea, but to say that we should tell owners to pressure trainers to put cameras in every barn as the solution for abuse is a little naive.
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Because that requires time and the potential to fall off and ride horses that aren’t perfectly prepped. And Susie wants her jumper ribbon yesterday.
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In this day and age a trainer should welcome cams in their business. Kind of like the animal cams that are on 24/7 that people can tune into to see what the eagle is doing in their nest or the wolves on a certain trail. They could have a login code for owners to access the barn cams.
I would have loved to have been able to login into my horses barn at night to watch him sleep. 
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Totally agree. In fact, I plan on having publicly available feeds at my next facility.
However, the people that are abusing horses are not going to welcome them and even if they did acquiesce, they would find ways to do abusive things out of view of the cameras.
I’m not just pulling this out of nowhere, I have worked at these barns and I have seen these practices and I have seen the way that people try to hide things.
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Guaranteed people will be watching your cams! Mine That Bird (2009 KY Derby winner) had a stall cam when he went home to OK. I was hooked on checking it throughout the day to see what he was doing. A stall voyeur, yes I am.
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I think the owner and lessor (if one exists) should be fined along with the trainer. It can only help, and I don’t care if the owner was ignorant of the situation.
What’s the downside of such a suggestion? What have I not thought of?
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I don’t get it, I know you’re joking of course but wouldn’t showing be more fun if the horses weren’t all perfect and dead?
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I’m not sure you mean to respond to me?
No I was just replying broadly to the thread, sorry about that.
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No sweat. 
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