Helmets with built in ear buds

[Moneypitt]

I believe it has been against the USEF rules for years to not allow electronic communication devices used in competitions?

Hypothetically of course… Not cell phones but think wireless ear buds built into rider’s helmet, used with a small walk-in talkie to coach/direct the rider on courses. ** not a disabled rider or hearing impaired type situation **

My question is (not hypothetically) has anyone actually been set down for violating this rule over the past decade? If so; what were the sanctions against them?

If sanctioned; who besides the trainer/coach is in trouble? Is the rider; if they are say a junior under the age of 18? Or an amateur adult over 18 years old? Is the owner of the horse responsible? What if the horse is being leased by a junior riders parents or amateur rider? The parents in case of a junior rider vs an amateur adult?

I imagine it’s considered to be cheating?

[Mander]

Definitely cheating. From what I’ve read, any kind of electronic communication is strictly prohibited including cell phones and walkietalkies, but the penalty is just elimination.

Perhaps if a trainer/rider was a known repeat offender they might hand down some heavier penalties, but I imagine it’d be a pretty easy thing to get caught doing. In all honesty though, I’d expect the show management to kick a repeat offender off the property and not let them show at their venue anymore before USEF would get involved.

[Moneypitt]

USEF JP111 8

FEI 256 Article 1.10

Imagine a competitor with two trainers; one near the in gate and the other casually positioned with back to judges view, across the arena wearing a hat…

Technically, the competitor is not wearing/carrying a phone or walkie talkie; the coach is in charge of that. The competitor would have ear bud type speakers built in their helmet.

I have never heard of a helmet being checked for speakers at USEF/FEI competitions.

Maybe they should be?

[soloudinhere]

And the milieu of people at the ingate/rail wouldn’t notice someone yammering riding instructions into their phone to a rider who is apparently not in sighting range? That wouldn’t last very long.

[Moneypitt]

Yammering?!? Lol. Nope, the correct term is discreet.

How many years did Mr Electric Spurs get away with it? If not turned in by a disgruntled owner…

Imagine.

[soloudinhere]

Someone using concealed spurs is a lot more discreet than someone at the ingate going “turn left…sit up, to the sailboats, more pace, now turn right…” while facing a show arena.

Coaching from the rail is obvious even when it’s not someone openly speaking instructions…

[trubandloki]

Why bother? It is not like the trainer can not yell things out loud from the rail at a hunter show.

[Moneypitt]

Re-read my posts. More than one ‘coach’; not the ‘coach’ at the in-gate.

I never mentioned hunters…

Discrete enough, I would have never noticed.

[initiate1987]

Just curious, have you actually seen/think this may have been something someone did, or are you just speculating?

[Jaegermonster]

well you ARE on the hunter/jumper forum after all

[Moneypitt]

I did observe it; after it was pointed out to me at a USEF sanctioned H/J show.

Which is why I’m wondering about anyone being sanctioned by the USEF and or FEI?

[Scribbler]

Did you report it to the stewards?

[Moneypitt]

I did not report it. The person who pointed it out to me did not report it either, as far as I know. Possibly, due to who the rider was?

They have since aged out, have different coaches and moved up to FEI.

[Scribbler]

Well, if you see something illegal that concerns you, then report it to the stewards. If you are more concerned with maintaining social relationships, then don’t report it.

This goes for everything, from doping horses on up to suspected sexual activity with minors. Where do you draw your line in the sand, and how do you handle repercussions when you report something?

It’s good to think these things through in the abstract and have a plan in mind. What do you feel OK ignoring, covering for, and for whom? And what is the thing you would never let anyone get away with, ever, even your closest friend, teammates, husband etc?

Knowing this in advance and accepting consequences are part of having a personal system of ethics.

Obviously most people don’t report most non-criminal rule infractions at horse shows, work, or generally in life.

But realize that if no one reports novel infractions like helmet ear buds, no one will get sanctioned.

[Moneypitt]

I don’t think the choice not to report at that time had anything to with social graces?

Possibly more to due with who the ‘party’ was with the special helmet. Think. Global level wealth.

[Scribbler]

That’s part of it. Reluctance to report wealthy people because of possible blowback. That can be a legitimate reason in some situations, or a lazy excuse in others. Only you really know, I can’t evaluate.

Many people are reluctant to report rule infractions of any kind that don’t directly affect them at the moment (like a pure spectator at an event) . Some people are over zealous in reporting suspected infractions if they stand to benefit (claiming the competing barn doped their horses).

People make all kinds of personal cost benefit analyses around this. How much personal effort and risk for what personal gain.

My point is just that if no one reports rich child with earbuds then there won’t be sanctions. I doubt judge or steward focused on the ring would notice coach up in the bleachers by the rafters whispering on her phone.

[Tha_Ridge]

First of all, I think Moneypitt’s supposed witnessed scenario is all fake—but even having someone in your ear telling you exactly what to do doesn’t guarantee a perfect course. If that were the case, I’d suspect 99% of us amateurs would all ride to perfection at home, huh?

[Scribbler]

I also think that a rider who needs that much direction in a round is unlikely to place. In dressage you have the option to have a test reader. Honestly people do smoother rides once they memorize the test and do it without a reader. A rider that needs to be told the order of fences during competition isnt going to be that focused.

It’s possible the Nosy Nellie who pointed this out to OP was mistaken, too.

[Moneypitt]

It was a ‘Nosy Nelson’ I guess to correct the gender inference?

No they didn’t win but placed above some other riders.

It was a scenario where they open the child/ adult jumper cards up to run together over the course.

That’s why I was there at that ring with ‘Nosy Nelson’.

Since then the ear bud helmet rider has acquired horse facilities on both coasts and barns full of super talented, nice horses. I wish them nothing but success with their Olympic aspirations. Hope they hang on tightly…

[Tha_Ridge]

If you’re so confident that this actually happened, come out and name names. Don’t be a coward.

In the jumpers, what could the trainer possibly have been saying that they couldn’t yell across the ring?