George Morris on the SS list

[farmpony84]

@Denali6298

Nah. Just don’t support people in their BS. Blunt yes. Sorry. I do not tolerate an unwillingness to not understand protecting minors. My bad. I suffer fools lightly.

Again. I never said that sexual misconduct towards a minor was ok. I never said any of that and I never thought that. Again… You are slathering your BS all over thread while you try to bully me into submission and accuse me of being an idiot. All I can say is. Bless your heart.

[skydy]

@AffirmedHope

He was born into a pretty wealthy family if I recall correctly.

If I remember correctly George Morris said in his book that he didn’t make much money and that his boyfriend (can’t remember his name) financed “Hunterdon” and its expenses , which was why the property , its contents and most of George’s trophys and memorabilia, were sold when their relationship ended.

[RioTex]

I find it curious that no one has mentioned others that were added to the list today.

[Denali6298]

@farmpony84

Again. I never said that sexual misconduct towards a minor was ok. I never said any of that and I never thought that. Again… You are slathering your BS all over thread while you try to bully me into submission and accuse me of being an idiot. All I can say is. Bless your heart.

So he is on list for sexual misconduct with a minor. I know now you’re not defending that but you need to realize that’s why people get on the SS list. There is no “well the victims got something out of it” because they were minors at the time.

[BigMama1]

I can’t believe there are people out there who are even the buying the PR spin that these sanctions are for a single incident that happened close to 50 years ago. We all know by know that the “permanent ineligibility” sanction is reserved for the most serious infractions and those who currently represent a potential threat to minors. He can appeal and if he does, I’m sure we will find out more. However I’m guessing that as in the Rob Gage case, other victims will feel empowered to come forward.

And sexual misconduct aside, GM is literally the poster child for bullying in equestrian sport. Isn’t that exactly the sort of thing SafeSport is meant to deal with? Yet we have all the same gnashing and wailing of teeth that he should somehow be free from the consequences of his actions due to his age, fame, or both.

Personally, when a team of experts from outside the sport have completed an initial investigation and found sufficient evidence to impose a permanent ban, I tend to believe them.

[Tackpud]

@flofleming

Where did you find info on Gage’s accusers speaking out and their ages? Thanks.

On the thread about him. Hilary Ridland and a couple of others had a meeting at a show in California to address their accusations and try to stop the false information that was being spread.

[skydy]

@RioTex

I find it curious that no one has mentioned others that were added to the list today.

l only see one. Jonathon Soresi and that is listed under suspensions/ineligible, not a permanent ineligible ban. Both are subject to appeal.

Surely we all must realize that this sanction was not imposed capriciously. Mr. Morris has friends and if money is the only hurdle to disproving the accusations against him, it will be provided by someone.

[Sputnik_1]

@BigMama1

I can’t believe there are people out there who are even the buying the PR spin that these sanctions are for a single incident that happened close to 50 years ago. We all know by know that the “permanent ineligibility” sanction is reserved for the most serious infractions and those who currently represent a potential threat to minors. He can appeal and if he does, I’m sure we will find out more. However I’m guessing that as in the Rob Gage case, other victims will feel empowered to come forward.

And sexual misconduct aside, GM is literally the poster child for bullying in equestrian sport. Isn’t that exactly the sort of thing SafeSport is meant to deal with? Yet we have all the same gnashing and wailing of teeth that he should somehow be free from the consequences of his actions due to his age, fame, or both.

Personally, when a team of experts from outside the sport have completed an initial investigation and found sufficient evidence to impose a permanent ban, I tend to believe them.

Agree on all counts. It’s always bothered me how GM has been allowed to get away with bullying over the years due to his reputation and being put on a pedestal by others in the industry (he’s a human y’all, not a god, I promise). Do I respect his knowledge of classical riding? Yes. Do I respect him as a person? No. I wish he’d been held responsible for his actions long ago but am glad that SS is capable of doing such.

[541hunter]

@farmpony84

However, sometimes in situations like this, the victim isn’t exactly innocent because being quiet or participating in certain acts may have helped them advance in their career path.

Only the victim, the accused, and the man upstairs knows the truth in the situation.

Eitherway, it saddens me.

A person in power holding career advancement over someone’s head to coerce them into participating in sexual acts is absolutely harassment at the very least, if not rape depending on local laws and the scenario. That’s what your hypothetical situation here is describing - sexual coercion. And the person being coerced is absolutely not at fault, even if they said “yes” under duress.

Every single one of the threads on this topic goes the same way. I don’t mean to single anyone out (despite quoting one person, sorry!!), and I hope I don’t sound too uncivil. But I do wish more people on this forum and in the wider horse world were a bit better educated on the topic of sexual misconduct. It’s exhausting trying to kindly redirect people but for whatever reason I feel obligated.

[skydy]

@Room for a Pony

Unless the PR firm has already been involved with equestrian clients, they would not have access to any email list. They might buy an email list from a publication or organization, but they couldn’t compile one on the spur of the moment. Whoever sent the email with his statement knew this was coming; he would have had to have hired the PR firm before this hit the fan.

I find it interesting that lifetime suspensions are being handed down for reasons that are not always completely clear to the general public or even people involved in the horse world (criminal convictions aside), yet there are people currently working in the industry who were involved in, and pled guilty to, insurance fraud schemes that killed horses.

Two of which were permanently banned from USEF before Safe Sport existed.

[Room_for_a_Pony]

@skydy

Two of which were permanently banned from USEF before Safe Sport existed.

I am aware of two who were involved and are still in the industry. Sometimes working together, still.

[AllOverFarm]

I’m wondering if the “ 50 yr old allegation “, is just a PR move …similar to RG’s “ it was a mutual relationship with a girl just shy of her 18th birthday “.
I’ve heard rumors of George liking young boys for years. This is no shocker to me. Wonder if tryon will change the name of its stadium & his name will be removed from any awards.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

Is SafeSport painting any other sport in as terrible of a light as equestrian sports?

I apologize if this has been discussed elsewhere. I am not surprised at all to hear about GM and RG, but is this pattern turning out to be normal for other sports too?

[skydy]

@Room for a Pony

I am aware of two who were involved and are still in the industry. Sometimes working together, still.

Yes there are plenty of bad apples that are still with us. Safe Sport is working on it, but they can’t do anything about insurance fraud.

USEF can, however, by their own rules, they must be able to refer to criminal charges and convictions of insurance fraud. I am guessing the folks you are speaking of weren’t convicted?

Safe Sport has more leeway, which is obviously required in cases of sexual misconduct between coaches and students.

[541hunter]

@Can'tFindMyWhip

Is SafeSport painting any other sport in as terrible of a light as equestrian sports?

I apologize if this has been discussed elsewhere. I am not surprised at all to hear about GM and RG, but is this pattern turning out to be normal for other sports too?

They have a central database of all sanctioned NGB members, separated by sport. Looks like plenty of folks in the couple categories I just searched (gymnastics, soccer, track) - even more than equestrian actually.

https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/disciplinary-database/

[ladyj79]

@Can'tFindMyWhip

Is SafeSport painting any other sport in as terrible of a light as equestrian sports?

I apologize if this has been discussed elsewhere. I am not surprised at all to hear about GM and RG, but is this pattern turning out to be normal for other sports too?

if you read through the Rob Gage thread, nope, we’re the worst in terms of public pushback against a d resistance to safe sport, according to a person from another sport who has been personally involved with safe sport operations.

Hurray for us…

[skydy]

@AllOverFarm

I’m wondering if the “ 50 yr old allegation “, is just a PR move …similar to RG’s “ it was a mutual relationship with a girl just shy of her 18th birthday “.
I’ve heard rumors of George liking young boys for years. This is no shocker to me. Wonder if tryon will change the name of its stadium & his name will be removed from any awards.

Why wouldn’t anyone try a PR “move”? It worked so well with Gage supporters.

I know, it’s so difficult and disappointing to see that your hero is not a good person, yet it is time that the victims of our “heroes” are taken into account. This has been going on for far too long.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

@ladyj79

if you read through the Rob Gage thread, nope, we’re the worst in terms of public pushback against a d resistance to safe sport, according to a person from another sport who has been personally involved with safe sport operations.

Hurray for us…

I tried to keep up with the RG thread. But I got too busy for a couple of days, and then BOOM! 100 pages. I don’t have time for that right now.

I’m too deeply entrenched in the bubble that is the horse world to know what other sports are like, but I have to think that our culture of condoning these behaviors is exceptional. And not in a good way.

Thanks for the confirmation I guess?

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

@541hunter

They have a central database of all sanctioned NGB members, separated by sport. Looks like plenty of folks in the couple categories I just searched (gymnastics, soccer, track) - even more than equestrian actually.

https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/disciplinary-database/

I guess my question is more like, “do other sports have as dark and ugly of a culture surrounding sexual misconduct as ours?”

I’m sure other sports have as many or even more violators, but given that equestrian sports are so small, does any other sport have such a high rate?

[Room_for_a_Pony]

@skydy

Yes there are plenty of bad apples that are still with us. Safe Sort is working on it, but they can’t do anything about insurance fraud.

USEF can, however, by their own rules, they must be able to refer to criminal charges and convictions of insurance fraud. I am guessing the folks you are speaking of weren’t convicted?

Both plead guilty to various things…conspiracy, lying. Didn’t apparently learn anything from their sentences, though. And even with the internet they still get clients and run their businesses.