Eventing Nation booted from covering Event in Unionville, PA

[FrittSkritt]

@Virginia Horse Mom

And the folks with EN and USEA knew that the land owner felt this solution would unfairly and inaccurately imply that the name of this venue somehow WAS racist in origin, and this unfairly and inaccurately imply that he and his family were racist…

but no one with EN or USEA was concerned about his feelings on the issue. Because, I can only presume given the predominant train of thought I keep on hearing over and over, the property owner is a white make, and “privileged,” and therefore his opinion doesn’t and feelings don’t matter and he needs to just “suck it up” … in the opinion of others.

Well… he actually doesn’t just need to suck it up. It’s his property. Everyone involved in this actually SHOULD have considered his opinion and feelings… for purely technical strategic common sense reasons. They didn’t, and the venue was lost. And THAT amounts to incompetent mismanagement of the situation on the part of the folks at the USEA, in my opinion.

It’s more of your posts are too long and rambling to be of any coherence. Until someone releases emails, transcripts, whatever, we do not know what went on behind the scenes and to speculate the way you have is dangerous. The LO reacting with such a drastic move (plus the lack of anyone willing to go on record) tells me that there is WAY more to this story than just “The USEA and EN f***ed up, they should be held responsible and punished, boo on them, etc.”

Also, the fact that Boyd jumped so quickly to the LO and EO’s defense by posting a screengrab of the definition of “plantation” is indicative of his loyalties. He could have stayed quiet on the issue like all the other BNRs and not offended either party, but that screengrab plus the recent public post of denouncing EN shows me he has his priorities, and being tactful or open-minded is not one of them. As someone said on the thread, he could have used his position as a BNR and part of the event organizing team to be neutral, say that the issue was handled poorly and work to enact a SOLUTION rather than throw a tantrum on FB.

[enjoytheride]

@FrittSkritt

No, it’s because you use the terms like “activist agenda” and “aggressive tactics” when there aren’t any. My guess is that you are NOT a BIPOC and have never experienced the kind of racism and bigotry that others have, and in that case, your ‘opinion’ is pretty much worthless.

Just go out and say what you really mean: “These ‘social justice warriors’ make me uncomfortable when they challenge my beliefs.”

But there is an activist agenda and aggressive tactics. I don’t understand how throwing away any opinion that isn’t that of a BIPOC is going to help you, because you yourself aren’t a BIPOC, most of us aren’t. We’re a bunch of white people arguing about how a BIPOC feels without actually listening to any BIPOC. Why can’t you understand what white privilege is and ALSO think that the way EN pursued this was ham handed?

I also don’t understand accusing Boyd of not being tactful or looking for a solution when that’s exactly what EN did!

[Albion]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Anyway, back to Boyd. I think it’s awesome he stood up publicly at this time after how all this has played out and said, “Nope. No more of this. Not only do you people from EN get the boot from covering this venue the last time it runs, courtesy of Denis. You all also get the boot from covering me and my horses, at any venue, from here on out. Courtesy of me.”

To me… that is a matter of Boyd publicly standing up against people who have treated a loyal sponsor and friend of Boyd’s poorly. And there is no doubt Boyd KNEW he would be attacked on social media when he did it. But he did it anyway. Because he knows the actual players involved, and what really went on.

That’s just my opinion. You are welcome to disagree and decide you think Boyd’s actions are all a result of his “white male privilege.” Suit yourself.

Boyd Martin can’t stop EN from covering him. He’s ‘asked not to be featured.’ OK. Do you actually think that’s going to stop EN from covering him? As someone who wrote for a very well-known site (far more professional than EN) in another (far more professional) industry than equestrian events very few Americans care about, here’s a tip: if Sony had come to us & said ‘We don’t want to be featured’ we would’ve said ‘k, cool.’ And unlike Boyd Martin, Sony WOULD actually have the power in the area I was writing in to actually block someone from an event that would’ve meant loss of views & thus loss of income. We would’ve done it anyway.

Boyd Martin DOES have white male privilege (which is no comment on his personal character), and further, he has in the US equestrian world ‘white male with a furrin’ accent privilege.’ That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person, that doesn’t mean his actions are “wrong,” but by golly yes, he has white male privilege. Privilege exists. It IS a thing. Ask yourself if George Morris would’ve been tolerated for as many decades as he was if he were Georgina Morris, African-American equestrienne. Do you really think rich horse people would’ve paid good money to be verbally abused by a black woman, whatever her credentials? Really?

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Albion

Boyd Martin can’t stop EN from covering him. He’s ‘asked not to be featured.’ OK. Do you actually think that’s going to stop EN from covering him? As someone who wrote for a very well-known site (far more professional than EN) in another (far more professional) industry than equestrian events very few Americans care about, here’s a tip: if Sony had come to us & said ‘We don’t want to be featured’ we would’ve said ‘k, cool.’ And unlike Boyd Martin, Sony WOULD actually have the power in the area I was writing in to actually block someone from an event that would’ve meant loss of views & thus loss of income. We would’ve done it anyway.

Boyd Martin DOES have white male privilege (which is no comment on his personal character), and further, he has in the US equestrian world ‘white male with a furrin’ accent privilege.’ That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person, that doesn’t mean his actions are “wrong,” but by golly yes, he has white male privilege. Privilege exists. It IS a thing. Ask yourself if George Morris would’ve been tolerated for as many decades as he was if he were Georgina Morris, African-American equestrienne. Do you really think rich horse people would’ve paid good money to be verbally abused by a black woman, whatever her credentials? Really?

I understand your point, that they technically CAN cover him anyway going forward. But I still respect what he did. It’s ok if we disagree.

As far as white make privilege… I do understand what the concept means. However, I personally do NOT choose to look at situations or the world through that lens. I understand many other people do factor this into their analysis of this situation. And feel we should all be conscious of our own white privileged at all times when speaking about a number of issues. I do not subscribe to that philosophy. Not because I am ignorant of it. Because I just don’t choose to go about my life thinking that way.

I hope folks can take that for what it is… honesty. I understand and respect if some of you believe the concept of white privileged IS something you should consider at all times. That’s your choice, But much of society doesn’t choose to adopt that personal philosophy. And that doesn’t make us all racist. We just have a slightly different opinion on the matter than some of you.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Albion

Boyd Martin can’t stop EN from covering him. He’s ‘asked not to be featured.’ OK. Do you actually think that’s going to stop EN from covering him? As someone who wrote for a very well-known site (far more professional than EN) in another (far more professional) industry than equestrian events very few Americans care about, here’s a tip: if Sony had come to us & said ‘We don’t want to be featured’ we would’ve said ‘k, cool.’ And unlike Boyd Martin, Sony WOULD actually have the power in the area I was writing in to actually block someone from an event that would’ve meant loss of views & thus loss of income. We would’ve done it anyway.

Boyd Martin DOES have white male privilege (which is no comment on his personal character), and further, he has in the US equestrian world ‘white male with a furrin’ accent privilege.’ That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person, that doesn’t mean his actions are “wrong,” but by golly yes, he has white male privilege. Privilege exists. It IS a thing. Ask yourself if George Morris would’ve been tolerated for as many decades as he was if he were Georgina Morris, African-American equestrienne. Do you really think rich horse people would’ve paid good money to be verbally abused by a black woman, whatever her credentials? Really?

I understand your point, that they technically CAN cover him anyway going forward. But I still respect what he did. It’s ok if we disagree.

As far as white make privilege… I do understand what the concept means. However, I personally do NOT choose to look at situations or the world through that lens. I understand many other people do factor this into their analysis of this situation. And feel we should all be conscious of our own white privileged at all times when speaking about a number of issues. I do not subscribe to that philosophy. Not because I am ignorant of it. Because I just don’t choose to go about my life thinking that way.

I hope folks can take that for what it is… honesty. I understand and respect if some of you believe the concept of white privileged IS something you should consider at all times. That’s your choice, But much of society doesn’t choose to adopt that personal philosophy. And that doesn’t make us all racist. We just have a slightly different opinion on the matter than some of you.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@FrittSkritt

It’s more of your posts are too long and rambling to be of any coherence. Until someone releases emails, transcripts, whatever, we do not know what went on behind the scenes and to speculate the way you have is dangerous. The LO reacting with such a drastic move (plus the lack of anyone willing to go on record) tells me that there is WAY more to this story than just “The USEA and EN f***ed up, they should be held responsible and punished, boo on them, etc.”

Also, the fact that Boyd jumped so quickly to the LO and EO’s defense by posting a screengrab of the definition of “plantation” is indicative of his loyalties. He could have stayed quiet on the issue like all the other BNRs and not offended either party, but that screengrab plus the recent public post of denouncing EN shows me he has his priorities, and being tactful or open-minded is not one of them. As someone said on the thread, he could have used his position as a BNR and part of the event organizing team to be neutral, say that the issue was handled poorly and work to enact a SOLUTION rather than throw a tantrum on FB.

Emails have been published in the Horse of Delaware Valley, and they indicate they have seen a copy of the letter Rob Burk sent to Eventing Nation on Sept. 13 as well. Everything I’ve stated in my post has bent based on reporting that anyone came from reading from both HoDV, and COTH. Nancy Jaffer’s recent report on it all (she put it out on September 21st on the HorseSport site) also has many quotes from people directly involved, and reporting with respect to what the situation was like at Plantation field with all the riders there the other weekend.

It’s fine if you don’t like my style or want to read my posts, and if you don’t want to bother reading reports from HoDV abc COTH or HorseSport on this whole situation. You can have an opinion without having followed it closely. But it is actually not ok to accuse me of “dangerous speculation” when it seems quite clear you haven’t read what I’ve posted, or noted that it’s based on MULTIPLE public reports that are now out about this situation, and the chain of events and communications with respect to everyone involved. I call foul on that.

[Albion]

@Virginia Horse Mom

It’s fine if you don’t like my style or want to read my posts

VA Horse Mom, with all due respect, you write long & rambly posts that make my eyes cross, even omitting your quotes - every single post. I am an academic, and we’re often accused of being too windy with our writing, but you take it to a new level. I find it harder to read your posts (on a subject that I have a vague familiarity on) than I do an academic monograph on a subject I know nothing about. You’d make much more of an impact if you pruned down your prose. <- Again, I’m an academic, and I know what I’m saying when I say that, because I am prone to the same thing. That’s not me being ‘woke.’

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Albion

VA Horse Mom, with all due respect, you write long & rambly posts that make my eyes cross, even omitting your quotes - every single post. I am an academic, and we’re often accused of being too windy with our writing, but you take it to a new level. I find it harder to read your posts (on a subject that I have a vague familiarity on) than I do an academic monograph on a subject I know nothing about. You’d make much more of an impact if you pruned down your prose. <- Again, I’m an academic, and I know what I’m saying when I say that, because I am prone to the same thing. That’s not me being ‘woke.’

I’m aware I write long posts. I enjoy writing. This is a discussion board. I can appreciate if you are an academic, that you are used to evaluating other’s writing and providing them feedback that helps them write better.

But I’m just a person on the Internet participating in a discussion. I’m not a student seeking your feedback on my writing, and trying to earn a grade If you don’t like my posts, with all due respect, just feel free not to read them If you want to debate and discuss and engage with me, then with all due respect, the polite thing to do is to try and read my posts before criticizing them

[Albion]

@Virginia Horse Mom

I’m aware I write long posts. I enjoy writing. This is a discussion board. I can appreciate if you are an academic, that you are used to evaluating other.’a writing abc providing them feedback that helps them write better.

But I’m just a person on the Internet participating in a discussion. I’m not a student seeking your feedback on my writing, and trying to earn a grade If you don’t like my posts, with all due respect, just feel free not to read them If you want to debate and discuss and engage with me, then with all due respect, the polite thing to do is to try and read my posts before criticizing them

I’ve read your posts, sweetie, and you can convey your meaning without going on for a page and a half. After all, it’s a discussion board, and no one wants to read your personal 3/4s of a page blog to get to the actual, you know, discussion. Edited: PS: Well done on insulting my profession! If you think what I do in my day job is ‘writing abc providing them feedback,’ well, you’ve clearly never been in one of my classes. But then, I’m just an average, middle-class, has-no-land-and-never-will white girl, so who cares, right?

Further edit: Nice edit there, VA Horse Mom!

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

Oh… and there’s no need to be defensive about being ‘woke.’ You are entitled to be so if you wish… just as other people are entitled to find it silly at times, and crack jokes about people who are “woke.”

I can understand if some folks get offended by the joking, and feel as though they are being mocked. I hope some of you can understand that other people get offended by being regularly lectured about white privilege, and called “intolerant bigots” if we decide that it is not a concept we particularly buy into. I do understand the concept… it’s just not how I choose to look at the world.

Feel free to judge away though, and tell me I am part of a bigger societal problem because I choose to tune out when others talk about white privilege, and don’t subscribe to that general philosophy. It’s ok… we aren’t all going to agree on that issue and line of thinking, as is evidenced by the huge divide in the country. Furthermore, the debate over whether this Plantation Field name change controversy was a good and righteous cause… or a divisive cause that cost the sport a great sponsor and a wonderful venue? Also evidence that not everyone agrees when it comes to the whole notion of white privilege, and the wisdom of folks taking proactive stances on behalf of equestrian BIPOC over issues like the word “plantation.”

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Albion

I’ve read your posts, sweetie, and you can convey your meaning without going on for a page and a half. After all, it’s a discussion board, and no one wants to read your personal 3/4s of a page blog to get to the actual, you know, discussion. Edited: PS: Well done on insulting my profession! If you think what I do in my day job is ‘writing abc providing them feedback,’ well, you’ve clearly never been in one of my classes. But then, I’m just an average, middle-class, has-no-land-and-never-will white girl, so who cares, right?

Further edit: Nice edit there, VA Horse Mom!

? There was no intent to insult your profession. Just to request that you not speak to me as though I am a student of yours. As I said earlier… feel free to skip my posts if you wish. Sweetie.

[ladyj79]

@Virginia Horse Mom isn’t it funny that I made a remark about aggressive grandstanding by people who don’t read?

Anyway, very glad Boyd made the statement he did, and as I said earlier in the thread, I hope his sponsors and owners just agree to send him to compete in Europe for the next decade.

I hope the people who can continue to say no to the bullies and those who want no more than to sow the seeds of destruction and dissent and hate.

Good times, good times.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@ladyj79

@Virginia Horse Mom isn’t it funny that I made a remark about aggressive grandstanding by people who don’t read?

Anyway, very glad Boyd made the statement he did, and as I said earlier in the thread, I hope his sponsors and owners just agree to send him to compete in Europe for the next decade.

I hope the people who can continue to say no to the bullies and those who want no more than to sow the seeds of destruction and dissent and hate.

Good times, good times.

Amen sister, I appreciate the assist ;). I was feeling a little bullied over here, and quietly rocking back and forth, while thinking to myself…

“There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.“

[Albion]

@Virginia Horse Mom

? There was no intent to insult your profession. Just to request that you not speak to me as though I am a student of yours. As I said earlier… feel free to skip my posts if you wish. Sweetie.

Amazing, you can manage to be succinct when you’re not pontificating for pages (as I always knew you could!!). Feel free to go on further though, honey. And yes, if you were one of my students, I’d be rolling my eyes while marking your assignments.

PS: ‘white privilege’ isn’t a ‘general philosophy.’ It’s actually just a thing. But of course, you feel free to go on at length about random things for (internet-length) pages with what appears to be practically full-blown hysteria, so I won’t attempt to (yet again) describe in a succinct way what ‘white privilege’ means, from my not-very-privileged (but still privileged enough) background.

I don’t actually consider myself particularly “woke.” I just understand what “privileged” means & am not offended when someone applies it to me, despite the fact that I’m not Georgina Bloomberg. Which is more than I can say for a lot of people on this thread.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Albion

Amazing, you can manage to be succinct when you’re not pontificating for pages (as I always knew you could!!). Feel free to go on further though, honey. And yes, if you were one of my students, I’d be rolling my eyes while marking your assignments.

PS: ‘white privilege’ isn’t a ‘general philosophy.’ It’s actually just a thing. But of course, you feel free to go on at length about random things for (internet-length) pages with what appears to be practically full-blown hysteria, so I won’t attempt to (yet again) describe in a succinct way what ‘white privilege’ means, from my not-very-privileged (but still privileged enough) background.

I don’t actually consider myself particularly “woke.” I just understand what “privileged” means & am not offended when someone applies it to me, despite the fact that I’m not Georgina Bloomberg. Which is more than I can say for a lot of people on this thread.

At some point, I could report you for being pretty darn personally hostile to me in particular, over and over, which is actually against the forum rules.

But I don’t want to get the thread shut down.

So feel free to keep at it I can take it. I probably deserve it because I dared to speak up about my opinion on this thread so much, and say out loud that I just don’t care about the notion of white privilege. And I wrote a lot of long posts. Without really caring if other people liked what I wrote or thought my posts were too long… silly me… I just figured if they felt that way they would skip reading then - no harm no foul, Right?

I just thought it was generally allowed for me to come onto the forum, and write posts as part of this discussion because I was thinking about the topic and reading various reports on the subject, and, ya know, thought I’d share what I was thinking and reading. Just because sometimes I come onto the forums and do that when a topic grabs my interest.

I hope your arm is feeling ok, btw.

[ladyj79]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Amen sister, I appreciate the assist ;). I was feeling a little bullied over here, and quietly rocking back and forth, while thinking to myself…

“There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.“

Yeah sometimes I sleep. Also I don’t feel the need to keep beating my head against the stone wall that is wanton ignorance. I have to get paid to do that long term :lol:

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@ladyj79

Yeah sometimes I sleep. Also I don’t feel the need to keep beating my head against the stone wall that is wanton ignorance. I have to get paid to do that long term :lol:

Careful… You can’t call anyone else ignorant in the course of this discussion about Plantation Field, “white privilege”, etc. Nope. Why?

Because all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

ETA: I can afford to spend time on frivolous pursuits like posting on the forums. Because I’m not only white, I’m also independently wealthy. :eek: The horror.

Not quite as wealthy as Georgina Bloomberg, unfortunately. But I’m ok with that.

[ladyj79]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Careful… You can’t call anyone else ignorant in the course of this discussion about Plantation Field, “white privilege”, etc. Nope. Why?

Because all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

ETA: I can afford to spend time on frivolous pursuits like posting on the forums. Because I’m not only white, I’m also independently wealthy. :eek: The horror.

Not quite as wealthy as Georgina Bloomberg, unfortunately. But I’m ok with that.

On that boyd martin thread I wanted to say something like the gates family thinks they’re helping the less fortunate when they give jan tops money :lol:

[MorganSercu]

As Albion has written, you can be white and aware of the privilege that confers without overcompensating, or speaking over others.

So, does this mean that USEA will release the survey results? I presume it was done anonymously? Or through a third party to confirm that only an invited member filled it out (double-blind)?

[rah]

I don’t know this landowner or care if the name is changed… not my call. I will always associate the word ‘plantation’ with slaves though, even though I know the word has different meanings. I agree with OverandOnward as well, if everything was fine there wouldn’t be any discussion at all.
I also believe that white people are the only people who can dismantle and destroy white supremacy, so arguing that POC should be the only people to bring this subject up or question things is ludicrous. They have been trying for generations to end systemic racism. At this point in time, POC have more support for change than they have ever had, why are people so surprised things like this are finally being questioned?
And again, I don’t know this landowner or have any idea about their views on racism. Their reaction to this is really all I need to know. Why would it matter if some publication decides to expose something they know they are not? And of course I agree, they can do anything they want because it’s their land. Their reaction, imo, is the most privileged thing they could have done. Some of the defense here of the landowner is the white privilege way that has allowed white supremacy to dominate our country from the beginning. Again, my opinion.
If one supports racist ideas and policy, that makes them racist. You are either racist or anti-racist, there is no in between. I have to check myself daily. This has been a truly nauseating read for me, full of white privilege and privilege, two very different privileges. If that makes someone feel defensive, sorry, that’s on them… not me or any other woke person.