This is official notice of actions taken by the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. Hearing Committee on October 26, 2017
KELLEY FARMER of Wellington, FL, violated Chapter 4, GR410-411 of this Federation, in connection with the Ocala Winter Classic Horse Show held on February 7-12, 2017, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse KODACHROME after it had been administered and/or contained in its body benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester.
The Hearing Committee noted that prior to the hearing, Ms. Farmer stipulated to the Federation’s case. In mitigation of the penalty the Hearing Committee considered the testimony in Ms. Farmer’s affidavit that before she received notice of this positive she became aware that one of her employee’s was using cocaine and as a result she terminated the employee from her employment. Subsequently, she learned that the employee was a habitual user. Despite these facts, Ms. Farmer claimed this might be the source of contamination. Her affidavit also pointed to environmental contamination because the horse was placed in a dirty stall that had not been cleaned. Ms. Farmer provided no concrete proof to support either scenario and the Hearing Committee had no way to test the credibility of her affidavit based on Ms. Farmer’s decision not to attend the hearing.
In setting the proper penalty, the Hearing Committee considered the significant prior violations against Ms. Farmer for violations of the Drugs and Medications rules. The Hearing Committee believed that Ms. Farmer had been sufficiently penalized for her history of drug violations in a prior ruling, and determined that the appropriate penalties should be set in this case without revisiting the prior penalties levied against her. On the side of a higher penalty was the fact that cocaine can unfairly affect the performance of a competing horse, and that Ms. Farmer did not attend the hearing or present any witnesses to rebut the Charge or explain the positive result. On the side of a lower penalty was the pervasive nature of cocaine in our society, and the higher chance that a cocaine positive could result from some form of environmental contamination. On balance, the Hearing Committee determined unanimously that the following penalties were appropriate for this violation.
For this violation of the rules, the Hearing Committee members present directed that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, KELLEY FARMER, be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for two months, and is excluded from all competition grounds during Licensed Competitions for that period: (1) as an exhibitor, participant or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities, (3) from holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities.
The two-month suspension shall commence on February 1, 2019 and terminate at midnight on March 31, 2019. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of hers, or shown in her or her name or for her or her reputation, (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c.
The Hearing Committee also directed that KELLEY FARMER be fined $5,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j.
