Eventing Nation booted from covering Event in Unionville, PA

[OverandOnward]

HelenC thank you for taking the time to bring your voice to this discussion. Yes, these voices have been missing from the discussion, and they are much needed. You are offering some leadership direction in your message to EN that would be welcome to more of us besides. Hope you will be willing to step forward with your direction, I would support that and I’m sure others will as well.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@HelenC - thanks so much for sharing your perspective. Both your communications are very thoughtful.

[sherian]

well written and reasoned HelenC

[OverandOnward]

HelenC, another thought from me - I am glad you did not wait any longer to be invited into the conversation. I hope that you and other eventers of color will speak up any time that you are ready, with or without an invitation. Even tapping the USEA and the PFEE organizations on the shoulder if they forget to ask. As far as I’m concerned, I welcome people being pro-active about getting your perspective out there.

[MorganSercu]

HelenC - Thank you for sharing. Waredaca is lovely and I hope you have a terrific event season next year when your horse is ready to go again.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

HelenC. Hold your head high. No one in Area II will blame you for the loss of Plantation Fields. And if anyone gives you grief…say something and I absolutely guarantee that there will be a 100 fold to back you up including most riders of the highest levels to elementary in this sport. Your Waredaca family is strong and they have a lot of friends!!! That’s is the best thing about our sport. Hope your horse heals up well and you can be back out eventing.

[KellyS]

@HelenC

I was not planning on posting in this forum about PF’s cancellation (or anywhere) but I feel like this incident has spiraled out of control. I am a Black female Eventer in Area II and competed at PF last year. I loved every minute of it and had no personal injury with the name. I’m extremely upset that this is happening right now and that everyone is so angry. I am also extremely upset at how this issue was handled by EN. I was never asked about my feelings towards PF by EN and I submitted and had published an essay for the Diversity Scholarship last month.

I want everyone to know that this is not an easy issue to wade into and there no one blanket answer. I grew up in the South and know all about the word ‘Plantation’. So in theory I would be leading the charge for Plantation Field’s name to be immediately changed, hard stop, right?? Not necessarily. Another person of color may feel the complete opposite of me. Neither one of us are wrong.

The main reason that I’m posting here is because I sent two separate emails to Leslie at EN over the past week and have not received a response. At first I was chagrined, then annoyed, and now leaning towards angry. There’s not a lot of ‘us’ in this sport. I’m not hard to find. I board at Waredaca, have been competing and volunteering in Area II pretty regularly over the past few years, and have probably had conversations with a few of you. Horses specifically and this sport in particular have been a very happy place for me. I’ve never felt excluded or looked over…until now. There’s a lot of talk about what BIPOC want or feel or need. But no focused effort to ask questions and organize information and then act. I’m pointing to EN, the USEA, and USEF. Sigh.

So here are the two emails I sent to EN. I may regret it but here we go. I’m going to go ride my horse now. ~Helen Casteel:

9/16 8pm
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Hello,

I’m sure you’re inundated with emails/comments/social media big emotion about the cancellation of Plantation Field and that this email may be buried, but I wanted to share my thoughts about this whole thing as a Black Eventer.

I greatly appreciate ENs commitment to inclusion in the sport, the fact that the team recognized the ‘Plantation’ name has historical implications and made rectifying it an action item. There are a lot of wrongs that need to be acknowledged and righted in this country; it is practically overwhelming.

(Here I want to be delicate because thoughts about this are difficult to convey in an email.)

But did you consult with any POC Eventers or Area II POC Eventers before going down this route? I know the campaign to change the Washington Redskins name was referenced but that’s what it was…a campaign by many people with input from Native tribe members. I competed at Plantation Field for the first time last year and got my AECs qualification and never once felt uncomfortable at being there. If anything I was honored to be competing where so much Eventing history has been made. As I wrote in my essay for the Diversity Scholarship, I’ve loved this sport since I was a kid and am now at the point where I can actively participate. The fact that I won’t be able to go back is heartbreaking.

Instead of pushing for the name change and having the conflict with organizers and owners escalate, I would have requested a simple paragraph be permanently placed on the website, show brochure and any other official publication noting the history of the word ‘Plantation’ in this country; explaining the actual meaning behind the name ‘Plantation Field’ along with clear statement that all races, genders, and religions are welcome.

I want Recognition of past wrongs and more participation. Not loss of venues, volunteers, and competitors for our sport.

An example of what I’m feeling: There has been a push by some Realtors to no longer use the word ‘Master’ Bedroom when describing main bedroom suites in homes. Yes the name is a problem. However the larger issue is systematic redlining of neighborhoods that has created generational poverty for Black Americans.

On a personal level, this situation puts me in an uncomfortable position. My horse is recovering from an injury so we aren’t doing any recognized HTs this year. Next year I’m worried that people will look at me at shows and think I’m part of the reason Plantation Field isn’t running anymore. I’m now feeling more like an outsider that I ever have.

I truly hope there is some way for this to be turned around and events reinstated at Plantation Field. I know there are a couple of big personalities involved that can make discussing this topic very difficult but there has to be a middle ground somewhere.

Also…If there is a similar push with Morven Park organizers, please stop and reevaluate.

I hope this email is read and considered. Thank you.

9/18 9.21am
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Good morning,

I haven’t heard back from you about my previous email. Hopefully not because I disagree with the way this happened, but if so, that’s okay. This’ll be my last outreach on the subject.

I understand the actions behind the push to change Plantation Field’s name and am glad that a number of people, white and people of color support the effort. But again, I am a Black female USEA member in Area II and am directly affected by this. I don’t know PF’s organizer and ownership team personally but am familiar with them through years of observation. Question for you. What was your expected outcome when they were first approached? Did you think that they would just agree to the name change and that’d be it? Change like this does not come easily and usually has to be forced. I feel like the EN team entered into this with no leverage. Donald Sterling did not sell the Clippers and Dan Snyder did not acquiesce to the Redskins name change because they had a change of heart. Sterling lost his team in court. Snyder lost support of MAJOR sponsors and private equity firms. Were PF’s sponsors a part of your approach? Did you have support from the PF ground team and volunteers? Did the Area II Chair know what was going on? Have competitors told you that they would no longer compete at PF because of the name? Did the USEF and USEA take the lead in pushing the effort and managing the name change? I don’t know the details but I feel like you literally brought a knife to a gunfight. There was no way the PF name would change just because you asked for it to be done. That should have been known from the very beginning.

All I know of the EN team are the articles I see posted on the website. Do you have any Black/POC people on your executive team or in a consulting role? Yes it is up to the sport’s white leaders and members to right this ship. However from what I see, you all are running toward the cliff with little nuance or direction. For example, when the Diversity Scholarship was first announced, I suggested a ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ drop down under the EN Topics header. That has not been done. All of the Diversity Scholarship essays have disappeared from the website. I was talking with my Dad about my essay and wanted to quote another person. I went to the website to find their essay but they are all gone. All of that work we did is invisible, like it never happened. Why? These are things that you should be working on right now. You all have a huge blind spot that is only hurting you. Making sure the EN team is truly representative and that the website is reflective of what your priorities are will make any future efforts easier to achieve.

To most people this is a ‘black’ and ‘white’ issue. Either you’re for or against. It is not that simple and there is a lot of grey here. If you want change then you all need to recognize that. I, personally, am not injured by the PF name. I know the history of the word ‘Plantation’. I was born in North Carolina and spent most of my life in Texas before moving to Massachusetts (where by the way I’ve experienced worse racism than while living in Texas). I’ve been called nigger to my face and behind my back. I also know chattel slavery did not take place at PF and that the Underground Railroad ran right to Kennett Square. I know the types of people you had conversations with about the name change. I also know this sport is 1,000% dependent on land and the cooperation of land owners and work of the organizers. You cannot enter into these fights swinging with no leverage or willingness to compromise and not expect loss of venues.

What you do with this email and everything I’ve said is up to you. If you want to take on real change then how about making sure EN sponsors and advertisers have diverse advert campaigns? How about running stories on Kerrits and Smartpak who have, quickly, diversified their advertising and outreach? How about running stories about pushing USEA/USEF to diversity their leadership teams?

I have purposely not commented about this on my social media and don’t plan to yet. I will say the number of white people speaking for BIPOC and our feelings is infuriating. Including people I know. Everyone is yelling at each other and it’s just not a good time right now. I hope you and the EN team learn from this so that going forward we can work for change and actually achieve it.

Helen C, I have been out of the eventing scene for a long time but, if I have the opportunity to return, I hope I get to meet you in person. Thank you for sharing these eloquent emails with us and for sharing your critical and important perspective.

I think it is incredibly irresponsible that those at EN did not speak with you and other Black Eventers (and other POC Eventers) to find out your thoughts on this before ham-handedly attempting to force a name change. It is becoming very apparent that EN needs to get their own house in order with regard to diversity and inclusivity before attacking others.

I am disappointed by the people I see online praising EN for their “wokeness” and for “speaking out”. I have been in publishing for almost 20 years, and as others have very importantly pointed out, EN has taken on the role of activist rather than the role of professional journalism. Shame on them.

[KellyS]

@HelenC

I was not planning on posting in this forum about PF’s cancellation (or anywhere) but I feel like this incident has spiraled out of control. I am a Black female Eventer in Area II and competed at PF last year. I loved every minute of it and had no personal injury with the name. I’m extremely upset that this is happening right now and that everyone is so angry. I am also extremely upset at how this issue was handled by EN. I was never asked about my feelings towards PF by EN and I submitted and had published an essay for the Diversity Scholarship last month.

I want everyone to know that this is not an easy issue to wade into and there no one blanket answer. I grew up in the South and know all about the word ‘Plantation’. So in theory I would be leading the charge for Plantation Field’s name to be immediately changed, hard stop, right?? Not necessarily. Another person of color may feel the complete opposite of me. Neither one of us are wrong.

The main reason that I’m posting here is because I sent two separate emails to Leslie at EN over the past week and have not received a response. At first I was chagrined, then annoyed, and now leaning towards angry. There’s not a lot of ‘us’ in this sport. I’m not hard to find. I board at Waredaca, have been competing and volunteering in Area II pretty regularly over the past few years, and have probably had conversations with a few of you. Horses specifically and this sport in particular have been a very happy place for me. I’ve never felt excluded or looked over…until now. There’s a lot of talk about what BIPOC want or feel or need. But no focused effort to ask questions and organize information and then act. I’m pointing to EN, the USEA, and USEF. Sigh.

So here are the two emails I sent to EN. I may regret it but here we go. I’m going to go ride my horse now. ~Helen Casteel:

9/16 8pm
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Hello,

I’m sure you’re inundated with emails/comments/social media big emotion about the cancellation of Plantation Field and that this email may be buried, but I wanted to share my thoughts about this whole thing as a Black Eventer.

I greatly appreciate ENs commitment to inclusion in the sport, the fact that the team recognized the ‘Plantation’ name has historical implications and made rectifying it an action item. There are a lot of wrongs that need to be acknowledged and righted in this country; it is practically overwhelming.

(Here I want to be delicate because thoughts about this are difficult to convey in an email.)

But did you consult with any POC Eventers or Area II POC Eventers before going down this route? I know the campaign to change the Washington Redskins name was referenced but that’s what it was…a campaign by many people with input from Native tribe members. I competed at Plantation Field for the first time last year and got my AECs qualification and never once felt uncomfortable at being there. If anything I was honored to be competing where so much Eventing history has been made. As I wrote in my essay for the Diversity Scholarship, I’ve loved this sport since I was a kid and am now at the point where I can actively participate. The fact that I won’t be able to go back is heartbreaking.

Instead of pushing for the name change and having the conflict with organizers and owners escalate, I would have requested a simple paragraph be permanently placed on the website, show brochure and any other official publication noting the history of the word ‘Plantation’ in this country; explaining the actual meaning behind the name ‘Plantation Field’ along with clear statement that all races, genders, and religions are welcome.

I want Recognition of past wrongs and more participation. Not loss of venues, volunteers, and competitors for our sport.

An example of what I’m feeling: There has been a push by some Realtors to no longer use the word ‘Master’ Bedroom when describing main bedroom suites in homes. Yes the name is a problem. However the larger issue is systematic redlining of neighborhoods that has created generational poverty for Black Americans.

On a personal level, this situation puts me in an uncomfortable position. My horse is recovering from an injury so we aren’t doing any recognized HTs this year. Next year I’m worried that people will look at me at shows and think I’m part of the reason Plantation Field isn’t running anymore. I’m now feeling more like an outsider that I ever have.

I truly hope there is some way for this to be turned around and events reinstated at Plantation Field. I know there are a couple of big personalities involved that can make discussing this topic very difficult but there has to be a middle ground somewhere.

Also…If there is a similar push with Morven Park organizers, please stop and reevaluate.

I hope this email is read and considered. Thank you.

9/18 9.21am
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Good morning,

I haven’t heard back from you about my previous email. Hopefully not because I disagree with the way this happened, but if so, that’s okay. This’ll be my last outreach on the subject.

I understand the actions behind the push to change Plantation Field’s name and am glad that a number of people, white and people of color support the effort. But again, I am a Black female USEA member in Area II and am directly affected by this. I don’t know PF’s organizer and ownership team personally but am familiar with them through years of observation. Question for you. What was your expected outcome when they were first approached? Did you think that they would just agree to the name change and that’d be it? Change like this does not come easily and usually has to be forced. I feel like the EN team entered into this with no leverage. Donald Sterling did not sell the Clippers and Dan Snyder did not acquiesce to the Redskins name change because they had a change of heart. Sterling lost his team in court. Snyder lost support of MAJOR sponsors and private equity firms. Were PF’s sponsors a part of your approach? Did you have support from the PF ground team and volunteers? Did the Area II Chair know what was going on? Have competitors told you that they would no longer compete at PF because of the name? Did the USEF and USEA take the lead in pushing the effort and managing the name change? I don’t know the details but I feel like you literally brought a knife to a gunfight. There was no way the PF name would change just because you asked for it to be done. That should have been known from the very beginning.

All I know of the EN team are the articles I see posted on the website. Do you have any Black/POC people on your executive team or in a consulting role? Yes it is up to the sport’s white leaders and members to right this ship. However from what I see, you all are running toward the cliff with little nuance or direction. For example, when the Diversity Scholarship was first announced, I suggested a ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ drop down under the EN Topics header. That has not been done. All of the Diversity Scholarship essays have disappeared from the website. I was talking with my Dad about my essay and wanted to quote another person. I went to the website to find their essay but they are all gone. All of that work we did is invisible, like it never happened. Why? These are things that you should be working on right now. You all have a huge blind spot that is only hurting you. Making sure the EN team is truly representative and that the website is reflective of what your priorities are will make any future efforts easier to achieve.

To most people this is a ‘black’ and ‘white’ issue. Either you’re for or against. It is not that simple and there is a lot of grey here. If you want change then you all need to recognize that. I, personally, am not injured by the PF name. I know the history of the word ‘Plantation’. I was born in North Carolina and spent most of my life in Texas before moving to Massachusetts (where by the way I’ve experienced worse racism than while living in Texas). I’ve been called nigger to my face and behind my back. I also know chattel slavery did not take place at PF and that the Underground Railroad ran right to Kennett Square. I know the types of people you had conversations with about the name change. I also know this sport is 1,000% dependent on land and the cooperation of land owners and work of the organizers. You cannot enter into these fights swinging with no leverage or willingness to compromise and not expect loss of venues.

What you do with this email and everything I’ve said is up to you. If you want to take on real change then how about making sure EN sponsors and advertisers have diverse advert campaigns? How about running stories on Kerrits and Smartpak who have, quickly, diversified their advertising and outreach? How about running stories about pushing USEA/USEF to diversity their leadership teams?

I have purposely not commented about this on my social media and don’t plan to yet. I will say the number of white people speaking for BIPOC and our feelings is infuriating. Including people I know. Everyone is yelling at each other and it’s just not a good time right now. I hope you and the EN team learn from this so that going forward we can work for change and actually achieve it.

Helen C, I have been out of the eventing scene for a long time but, if I have the opportunity to return, I hope I get to meet you in person. Thank you for sharing these eloquent emails with us and for sharing your critical and important perspective.

I think it is incredibly irresponsible that those at EN did not speak with you and other Black Eventers (and other POC Eventers) to find out your thoughts on this before ham-handedly attempting to force a name change. It is becoming very apparent that EN needs to get their own house in order with regard to diversity and inclusivity before attacking others.

I am disappointed by the people I see online praising EN for their “wokeness” and for “speaking out”. I have been in publishing for almost 20 years, and as others have very importantly pointed out, EN has taken on the role of activist rather than the role of professional journalism. Shame on them.

[KellyS]

@HelenC I have been out of the eventing scene for a long time but, if I have the opportunity to return, I hope I get to meet you in person. Thank you for sharing these eloquent emails with us and for sharing your critical and important perspective.

I think it is incredibly irresponsible that those at EN did not speak with you and other Black Eventers (and other POC Eventers) to find out your thoughts on this before ham-handedly attempting to force a name change. It is becoming very apparent that EN needs to get their own house in order with regard to diversity and inclusivity before attacking others.

I am disappointed by the people I see online praising EN for their “wokeness” and for “speaking out”. I have been in publishing for almost 20 years, and as others have very importantly pointed out, EN has taken on the role of activist rather than the role of professional journalism. Shame on them.

[KellyS]

*journalists not journalism, but I’ve been placed in “unapproved” purgatory once already when trying to edit so posting my edit separately!

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@KellyS

*journalists not journalism, but I’ve been placed in “unapproved” purgatory once already when trying to edit so posting my edit separately!

They actually are CRYSTAL CLEAR that as of June, they consciously DECIDED to take on an activist role, rather than a journalistic one when it came to Plantation Field.

For everyone who sincerely cares about the MANY challenging issues related to having a more kind, caring and accepting diverse population as part of our society in the US…

do you all truly believe that EN picked the most appropriate and thoughtful fight back in June when it comes to this issue and the sport of eventing?

I don’t. I think galloping around the grounds of Morven Park… considering the actual history that took place at that venue… makes a lot more sense. I actually know people who have voiced to me that they find that particular venue a bit uncomfortable and tone deaf and elitist… and prefer to avoid it and do other things locally. For a few key reasons, not the least of which is its history as an actual plantation.

However, as someone who lives in that neck of the woods… I also know that there are a ton of VERY liberal, VERY activist, and VERY sincerely good hearted and caring equestrians in and around Northern Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic who love Morven Park. Many of these people would be heartbroken if they thought that BIPOC involved in any number of equestrian sports felt uncomfortable and disenfranchised because of this venue…

but if cancel culture came for Morven Park, you would see a SIGNIFICANT number of white, liberal equestrians in Loudoun County FREAKING OUT.

In case anyone is unaware… Mr. Glaccum and Mr. Walker have different politics. Mr. Walker has actually ran for office as a Republican before.

Call me crazy… but I think the folks at EN (who obviously are to the far left) knew this… and that is why they picked the fight they did. And I suspect part of that fight was specifically centered around MAKING someone like Mr. Glaccum in particular, agree that the name of Plantation Field Event should be changed.

It ended really poorly. Some people might think it’s stupid on one side’s part, some might think the other side are a bunch of jerks…

but it’s caused a lot of folks in the sport who have a variety of opinions on the VERY important and sensitive subject of diversity and inclusion in our society and sport to feel really uncomfortable with the STRIDENT and HOSTILE words and comments that have been lobbed by many on this thing.

I for one hate that. It’s so counterproductive. Unless the whole intent of this activist push was to make people like Mr. Glaccum realize that folks who think like those key players at EN who led the charge on this issue no longer want people like Mr. Glaccum involved in the sport at all. They want a sport that is diverse and welcoming to people of different ethnicities and accessible for people from a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds…

but if you have certain political beliefs… they want you gone. Or… you can still participate and people will still be your friends… but only if you stay quiet about your beliefs and affiliations.

That’s what is going on with this in my opinion. And serious people with a broad variety of opinions that run the gamut of the spectrum from left to right KNOW that if this attitude continues and the USEA and USEF don’t take a more constructive role and act like the adults in the room and prevent this sort of ugly dialogue… it’s going to damage the sport, and cause Some pretty specific and important donors and sponsors to find other things to do with their substantial money.

My guess is this post will go to unapproved purgatory and make a lot of people mad… it selves into the dreaded “p” word that everyone only talks about in code on the forums. But the truth is the truth. If people love their sport, and love their friends within the sport… quit being jerks and accusatory to others who are possibly going to vote differently from you in November. If it’s that big of a deal to you, and you feel you can’t be cordial to or friends with those who have different opinions and perspectives than you… at this point, please just ignore them when it comes to issues within the sport, and decide to only be polite and friendly with people who think exactly like you (as if that’s tolerant and inclusive…).

Just do your activism and aggressive campaigning elsewhere. The NFL has already seen over 30% of their viewership DISAPPEAR because of this issue. They had a huge number of viewers to begin with, and are an INCREDIBLY profitable and popular sport. They can and will likely survive this fallout.

But Eventing? The reality is the sport is hanging by a thread. It won’t survive the fallout if some folks drive away a good number of people, sponsors and venues.

Crawling back under my rock now

[TotB]

Well I guess the truth is coming out.

"However, in a letter to Eventing Nation dated Sept. 13 and signed by Rob Burk that The Horse received from a lawyer, Burk stated, “For your information, the USEA will be making clear moves to remove the use of the word plantation from our media, marketing and communications. Those moves will be made after we have been able to go through the proper channels and notify all involved with the competition and important stakeholders.”

https://patha.org/statement-from-usea-on-the-loss-of-plantation-field/

[CornishPixie]

I only know what I have read on this thread, but it says other organizations have benefited from the use of this facility, two being 4H and pony club. Is the 4H and pony club organizations concerned about the name of the facility? If not, why not? If not, it seems those organization are not concerned about inclusiveness of BIPOC while EN is. Why are those organizations silent on this issue? Side note - maybe they have issued statements but I haven’t seen it. Shouldn’t they want to be in this righteous issue so they come down on the right side of history?

I wonder if EN contacted those leaders about the troubling name.

[TotB]

Well I guess the truth is coming out.

"However, in a letter to Eventing Nation dated Sept. 13 and signed by Rob Burk that The Horse received from a lawyer, Burk stated, “For your information, the USEA will be making clear moves to remove the use of the word plantation from our media, marketing and communications. Those moves will be made after we have been able to go through the proper channels and notify all involved with the competition and important stakeholders.”

“The Horse was told that this was the final straw that caused Plantation Field owner Cuyler Walker to terminate the lease.”

https://patha.org/statement-from-use…ntation-field/

[Horsegirl_s_Mom]

@TotB

Well I guess the truth is coming out.

"However, in a letter to Eventing Nation dated Sept. 13 and signed by Rob Burk that The Horse received from a lawyer, Burk stated, “For your information, the USEA will be making clear moves to remove the use of the word plantation from our media, marketing and communications. Those moves will be made after we have been able to go through the proper channels and notify all involved with the competition and important stakeholders.”

https://patha.org/statement-from-use…ntation-field/

Wow, so is the USEA trying to make EN the scapegoat now that this has all gone south? (Which, now I realize it, sounds insensitive to Southerners so maybe I should say it has all gone pear-shaped).

This article by John McWhorter, a renowned black linguist at Columbia, is certainly timely for this situation. (As a linguist, McWhorter believes that language does and should evolve, so I don’t know where he stands on ‘plantation’ specifically. I do know he advocates for the current trend to get rid of ‘African-American’ in favor of ‘Black.’)

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/academics-are-really-really-worried-about-their-freedom/615724/

From the article (in which he discusses, among other things, letters from fellow academics):

“This episode represents a pattern in the letters, wherein it is white students who are “woker” than their Black classmates, neatly demonstrating the degree to which this new religion is more about virtue signaling than social justice.”

“Very few of the people who wrote to me are of conservative political orientation. Rather, a main thread in the missives is people left-of-center wondering why, suddenly, to be anything but radical is to be treated as a retrograde heretic. Thus the issue is not the age-old one of left against right, but what one letter writer calls the “circular firing squad” of the left: It is now no longer “Why aren’t you on the left?” but “How dare you not be as left as we are.””

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

I decided to copy and paste this letter to the editor that Sara Cavanaugh - the Editor of The Horse of Delaware Valley just published to this thread… because it mentions a few names and quotes and background about this whole thing that TRULY makes one wonder WTF people were thinking…

Beginning of copied text

To: Leslie Wylie – Editor-in-Chief @ Eventing Nation

Ron Burke – CEO – USEA

Max Corcoran – President – USEA

Lady & Gentlemen ,

What a sad state of affairs, when organizations such as yours, in your rush to appear politically correct would make a unilateral decision not to use the proper name for an event without first educating yourselves as to the origins for the name.

AS IF THAT was not enough, you offended the landowner to the extent that they will no longer allow eventing to take place on the property. You have profoundly affected thousands of amateur and professional eventers that have been dutifully supporting your website and livelihood.

Mr. Walker’s family has long supported equestrian endeavors. His family has been involved for generations; his grandfather, Pluckett Steward, purchased farms to stop them from being developed and preserved them as open space. They have generously allowed use of their properties for Pony Club events, Paper chases, Point to Point Races & Fox hunting. They didn’t limit their generosity to equestrian endeavors but also included the running of the Tough Mudder event, Charity races, balloon festivals, and other uses. They allowed local boy scouts to plant trees and hedges to achieve the goal of earning a merit badge from their organization. Thereafter the area being called Plantation Fields.

Over the years, we the locals have proudly watched Denis Glaccum (whom you should know was instrumental in establishing 3 day eventing at Chesterland and Fair Hill) take a local horse trials to an International level of competition. Coaches consider this a “must” to bring their students here to learn the ropes of eventing, parents bring their children to the starter trials, professionals bring horses here to start them. Those that go on to represent our country in International & Olympic level competitions consider this an event for testing young and developing horses. We have had the pleasure of watching such professionals as Bruce Davidson, his son Buck Davidson, Jennifer Brannigan, Sarah Cousins, Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin (to name a few) bring multiple students and horses to complete at Plantation Fields. Many regional youth and adult amateur riders have had the opportunity to dip their toes into eventing at this wonderful facility.

So in your negative bias and prejudice against the word “plantation,” which has more than one meaning, and I quote the first definition from Webster’s, “A group of plants or trees planted & under cultivation,” you have denied current and future riders the use of this top notch venue.

It would be a tragedy if this weekend’s International (which is run without spectators due to COVID 19) becomes the final eventing competition ever held at Plantation Fields.

And so I charge you with one task, MAKE THIS RIGHT!

Greatly Aggravated,

Jennifer Yoder

*** End of copied text ***

According to another recent report from The Horse of Delaware Valley, that Sara Cavanaugh publishes on Sept. 16th… the Sept. 13th letter that went from the USEA (and was signed by Rob Burk) to PFEE informed them that the USEA had decided to stop using the word “plantation” in any of their press releases going forward, and apparently were planning on referring to this event as “P*** Field.”

Per Ms. Cavanaugh’s report… that agitated Mr. Walker, and brought to mind the way people commonly speak about the “n” word whenever that topic comes up (because it’s a highly offensive word). After receiving that Sept 13th communication from the USEA… he apparently sent them the e-mail most people have seen by now (it’s dated September 14), informing everyone he was done opening up his farm to a USEA Competition after the 2020 season.

I’m sure some folks will still believe that Mr. Walker overreacted… and others will believe he was completely justified.

Which brings me back to a point I have already made… nobody’s mind has been changed by this debacle. But the eventing community has now lost access to a truly beautiful and important property in the heart of area II… a place where some of the most successful and well known figures in US Eventing routinely take students for competition experience.

Many have piled onto EN and placed blame at their feet for this. Obviously Mr. Burk played a pivotal role as well though.

Last thought… I’ll be curious if USEA is equally sensitive about Morven Park, and has a plan for how they will handle publicity surrounding the upcoming event at THAT venue. I am indeed bringing this up again… not because I wish to see that venue canceled or negatively impacted… but because people need to realize the surreal degree of selective sensitivity and selective outrage people directly involved in this situation are actively displaying. It defies common sense… and points to something profoundly disingenuous, or profoundly stupid, IMO.

[AffirmedHope]

@TotB

Well I guess the truth is coming out.

"However, in a letter to Eventing Nation dated Sept. 13 and signed by Rob Burk that The Horse received from a lawyer, Burk stated, “For your information, the USEA will be making clear moves to remove the use of the word plantation from our media, marketing and communications. Those moves will be made after we have been able to go through the proper channels and notify all involved with the competition and important stakeholders.”

“The Horse was told that this was the final straw that caused Plantation Field owner Cuyler Walker to terminate the lease.”

https://patha.org/statement-from-use…ntation-field/

But what did EN send to USEA? Did they pound them with correspondence until they got the result they wanted?

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

I decided to copy and paste this letter to the editor that Sara Cavanaugh - the Editor of The Horse of Delaware Valley just published to this thread… because it mentions a few names and quotes and background about this whole thing that TRULY makes one wonder WTF people were thinking…

Beginning of copied text

To: Leslie Wylie – Editor-in-Chief @ Eventing Nation

Ron Burke – CEO – USEA

Max Corcoran – President – USEA

Lady & Gentlemen ,

What a sad state of affairs, when organizations such as yours, in your rush to appear politically correct would make a unilateral decision not to use the proper name for an event without first educating yourselves as to the origins for the name.

AS IF THAT was not enough, you offended the landowner to the extent that they will no longer allow eventing to take place on the property. You have profoundly affected thousands of amateur and professional eventers that have been dutifully supporting your website and livelihood.

Mr. Walker’s family has long supported equestrian endeavors. His family has been involved for generations; his grandfather, Pluckett Steward, purchased farms to stop them from being developed and preserved them as open space. They have generously allowed use of their properties for Pony Club events, Paper chases, Point to Point Races & Fox hunting. They didn’t limit their generosity to equestrian endeavors but also included the running of the Tough Mudder event, Charity races, balloon festivals, and other uses. They allowed local boy scouts to plant trees and hedges to achieve the goal of earning a merit badge from their organization. Thereafter the area being called Plantation Fields.

Over the years, we the locals have proudly watched Denis Glaccum (whom you should know was instrumental in establishing 3 day eventing at Chesterland and Fair Hill) take a local horse trials to an International level of competition. Coaches consider this a “must” to bring their students here to learn the ropes of eventing, parents bring their children to the starter trials, professionals bring horses here to start them. Those that go on to represent our country in International & Olympic level competitions consider this an event for testing young and developing horses. We have had the pleasure of watching such professionals as Bruce Davidson, his son Buck Davidson, Jennifer Brannigan, Sarah Cousins, Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin (to name a few) bring multiple students and horses to complete at Plantation Fields. Many regional youth and adult amateur riders have had the opportunity to dip their toes into eventing at this wonderful facility.

So in your negative bias and prejudice against the word “plantation,” which has more than one meaning, and I quote the first definition from Webster’s, “A group of plants or trees planted & under cultivation,” you have denied current and future riders the use of this top notch venue.

It would be a tragedy if this weekend’s International (which is run without spectators due to COVID 19) becomes the final eventing competition ever held at Plantation Fields.

And so I charge you with one task, MAKE THIS RIGHT!

Greatly Aggravated,

Jennifer Yoder

*** End of copied text ***

According to another recent report from The Horse of Delaware Valley, that Sara Cavanaugh publishes on Sept. 16th… the Sept. 13th letter that went from the USEA (and was signed by Rob Burk) to PFEE informed them that the USEA had decided to stop using the word “plantation” in any of their press releases going forward, and apparently were planning on referring to this event as “P*** Field.”

Per Ms. Cavanaugh’s report… that agitated Mr. Walker, and brought to mind the way people commonly speak about the “n” word whenever that topic comes up (because it’s a highly offensive word). After receiving that Sept 13th communication from the USEA… he apparently sent them the e-mail most people have seen by now (it’s dated September 14), informing everyone he was done opening up his farm to a USEA Competition after the 2020 season.

I’m sure some folks will still believe that Mr. Walker overreacted… and others will believe he was completely justified.

Which brings me back to a point I have already made… nobody’s mind has been changed by this debacle. But the eventing community has now lost access to a truly beautiful and important property in the heart of area II… a place where some of the most successful and well known figures in US Eventing routinely take students for competition experience.

Many have piled onto EN and placed blame at their feet for this. Obviously Mr. Burk played a pivotal role as well though.

Last thought… I’ll be curious if USEA is equally sensitive about Morven Park, and has a plan for how they will handle publicity surrounding the upcoming event at THAT venue. I am indeed bringing this up again… not because I wish to see that venue canceled or negatively impacted… but because people need to realize the surreal degree of selective sensitivity and selective outrage people directly involved in this situation are actively displaying. It defies common sense… and points to something profoundly disingenuous, or profoundly stupid, IMO.

[Djones]

Do not attribute to malice what is more readily attributed to stupidity.

[TXnGA]

@HelenC

I was not planning on posting in this forum about PF’s cancellation (or anywhere) but I feel like this incident has spiraled out of control. I am a Black female Eventer in Area II and competed at PF last year. I loved every minute of it and had no personal injury with the name. I’m extremely upset that this is happening right now and that everyone is so angry. I am also extremely upset at how this issue was handled by EN. I was never asked about my feelings towards PF by EN and I submitted and had published an essay for the Diversity Scholarship last month.

I want everyone to know that this is not an easy issue to wade into and there no one blanket answer. I grew up in the South and know all about the word ‘Plantation’. So in theory I would be leading the charge for Plantation Field’s name to be immediately changed, hard stop, right?? Not necessarily. Another person of color may feel the complete opposite of me. Neither one of us are wrong.

The main reason that I’m posting here is because I sent two separate emails to Leslie at EN over the past week and have not received a response. At first I was chagrined, then annoyed, and now leaning towards angry. There’s not a lot of ‘us’ in this sport. I’m not hard to find. I board at Waredaca, have been competing and volunteering in Area II pretty regularly over the past few years, and have probably had conversations with a few of you. Horses specifically and this sport in particular have been a very happy place for me. I’ve never felt excluded or looked over…until now. There’s a lot of talk about what BIPOC want or feel or need. But no focused effort to ask questions and organize information and then act. I’m pointing to EN, the USEA, and USEF. Sigh.

So here are the two emails I sent to EN. I may regret it but here we go. I’m going to go ride my horse now. ~Helen Casteel:

9/16 8pm
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Hello,

I’m sure you’re inundated with emails/comments/social media big emotion about the cancellation of Plantation Field and that this email may be buried, but I wanted to share my thoughts about this whole thing as a Black Eventer.

I greatly appreciate ENs commitment to inclusion in the sport, the fact that the team recognized the ‘Plantation’ name has historical implications and made rectifying it an action item. There are a lot of wrongs that need to be acknowledged and righted in this country; it is practically overwhelming.

(Here I want to be delicate because thoughts about this are difficult to convey in an email.)

But did you consult with any POC Eventers or Area II POC Eventers before going down this route? I know the campaign to change the Washington Redskins name was referenced but that’s what it was…a campaign by many people with input from Native tribe members. I competed at Plantation Field for the first time last year and got my AECs qualification and never once felt uncomfortable at being there. If anything I was honored to be competing where so much Eventing history has been made. As I wrote in my essay for the Diversity Scholarship, I’ve loved this sport since I was a kid and am now at the point where I can actively participate. The fact that I won’t be able to go back is heartbreaking.

Instead of pushing for the name change and having the conflict with organizers and owners escalate, I would have requested a simple paragraph be permanently placed on the website, show brochure and any other official publication noting the history of the word ‘Plantation’ in this country; explaining the actual meaning behind the name ‘Plantation Field’ along with clear statement that all races, genders, and religions are welcome.

I want Recognition of past wrongs and more participation. Not loss of venues, volunteers, and competitors for our sport.

An example of what I’m feeling: There has been a push by some Realtors to no longer use the word ‘Master’ Bedroom when describing main bedroom suites in homes. Yes the name is a problem. However the larger issue is systematic redlining of neighborhoods that has created generational poverty for Black Americans.

On a personal level, this situation puts me in an uncomfortable position. My horse is recovering from an injury so we aren’t doing any recognized HTs this year. Next year I’m worried that people will look at me at shows and think I’m part of the reason Plantation Field isn’t running anymore. I’m now feeling more like an outsider that I ever have.

I truly hope there is some way for this to be turned around and events reinstated at Plantation Field. I know there are a couple of big personalities involved that can make discussing this topic very difficult but there has to be a middle ground somewhere.

Also…If there is a similar push with Morven Park organizers, please stop and reevaluate.

I hope this email is read and considered. Thank you.

9/18 9.21am
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Good morning,

I haven’t heard back from you about my previous email. Hopefully not because I disagree with the way this happened, but if so, that’s okay. This’ll be my last outreach on the subject.

I understand the actions behind the push to change Plantation Field’s name and am glad that a number of people, white and people of color support the effort. But again, I am a Black female USEA member in Area II and am directly affected by this. I don’t know PF’s organizer and ownership team personally but am familiar with them through years of observation. Question for you. What was your expected outcome when they were first approached? Did you think that they would just agree to the name change and that’d be it? Change like this does not come easily and usually has to be forced. I feel like the EN team entered into this with no leverage. Donald Sterling did not sell the Clippers and Dan Snyder did not acquiesce to the Redskins name change because they had a change of heart. Sterling lost his team in court. Snyder lost support of MAJOR sponsors and private equity firms. Were PF’s sponsors a part of your approach? Did you have support from the PF ground team and volunteers? Did the Area II Chair know what was going on? Have competitors told you that they would no longer compete at PF because of the name? Did the USEF and USEA take the lead in pushing the effort and managing the name change? I don’t know the details but I feel like you literally brought a knife to a gunfight. There was no way the PF name would change just because you asked for it to be done. That should have been known from the very beginning.

All I know of the EN team are the articles I see posted on the website. Do you have any Black/POC people on your executive team or in a consulting role? Yes it is up to the sport’s white leaders and members to right this ship. However from what I see, you all are running toward the cliff with little nuance or direction. For example, when the Diversity Scholarship was first announced, I suggested a ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ drop down under the EN Topics header. That has not been done. All of the Diversity Scholarship essays have disappeared from the website. I was talking with my Dad about my essay and wanted to quote another person. I went to the website to find their essay but they are all gone. All of that work we did is invisible, like it never happened. Why? These are things that you should be working on right now. You all have a huge blind spot that is only hurting you. Making sure the EN team is truly representative and that the website is reflective of what your priorities are will make any future efforts easier to achieve.

To most people this is a ‘black’ and ‘white’ issue. Either you’re for or against. It is not that simple and there is a lot of grey here. If you want change then you all need to recognize that. I, personally, am not injured by the PF name. I know the history of the word ‘Plantation’. I was born in North Carolina and spent most of my life in Texas before moving to Massachusetts (where by the way I’ve experienced worse racism than while living in Texas). I’ve been called nigger to my face and behind my back. I also know chattel slavery did not take place at PF and that the Underground Railroad ran right to Kennett Square. I know the types of people you had conversations with about the name change. I also know this sport is 1,000% dependent on land and the cooperation of land owners and work of the organizers. You cannot enter into these fights swinging with no leverage or willingness to compromise and not expect loss of venues.

What you do with this email and everything I’ve said is up to you. If you want to take on real change then how about making sure EN sponsors and advertisers have diverse advert campaigns? How about running stories on Kerrits and Smartpak who have, quickly, diversified their advertising and outreach? How about running stories about pushing USEA/USEF to diversity their leadership teams?

I have purposely not commented about this on my social media and don’t plan to yet. I will say the number of white people speaking for BIPOC and our feelings is infuriating. Including people I know. Everyone is yelling at each other and it’s just not a good time right now. I hope you and the EN team learn from this so that going forward we can work for change and actually achieve it.

Thank you Helen for weighing in here. It definitely brings a better perspective that has needed to be said And brought forward to this whole conversation. I’m surprised that after all EN has claimed, they wouldn’t respond to your emails. But in the same sense, due to your feelings/ opinions/ thoughts don’t align with them, they aren’t going to respond or even validate your feelings. I hope your horse is on the mend and to meet you one day.