I think defamation and tortious interference are two separate claims here - the TI being that third parties contacted her sponsors and influenced them to break contract with her, resulting in her loss of “benefit” (product, money, whatever) from them. From what I have read, factual vs false info, opinions, whatever, doesn’t matter, just the action itself.
I am also very much not an attorney in any sense of the word, and this is just my basic understanding of the general law.
I sent alittlegray a message of support. She answered me. Both messages flash up for a second then I get an error message.
interesting.
I wonder how much influence the ML incidents had on Townsend getting a warning today for over use of his whip?
I wonder how much a law firm charges for one cease and desist letter? What if a hundred people wrote the same thing on their blog or facebook page? A thousand?
Could one bypass 1 and 2 by preferencing “in my opinion” and then state they they were not going to be purchasing MDC stirrups because of my opinion of 1 and 2 without asking MDC to pull support from ML even though it is implied? Could one bypass any liable for stating “I feel” instead of saying “I know”? “I feel ML is not kind to her horses, ergo, I will not be buying MDC stirrups.”
I am disappointed that The Chronicle of the Horse published a 3-1/2 page article by Packy McGaughan, ironically titled, “Animal Rights: Where the Rubber Meets The Road,” and did not disclose his relationship to Marilyn Little, nor did they give any space to a contrary view.
Since there have already been references to this article in this thread, I won’t bother quoting much from the article, but suffice it to say that it is disappointing to see true concerns within the horse community over animal welfare dismissed as “fetishized anthropomorphic views,” PETA conspiracies, or stalking.
Nice.
UGH
My petty ass would scan and post that letter so we could all enjoy a good laugh :lol:
When was this published?
It is Vol. 81, No. 8, April 23 & 30, 2018.
It just arrived in the mail a few days ago, and after reading the article, I decided to read this thread. Wow.
I hope The Chronicle addresses this imbalance soon.
I immediately dismiss anyone who mentions “dominance” and “becoming alpha,” in regards to animals, because these are such outdated terms and concepts, that research has shown to be incorrect at best, and harmful at worst. What a complete ignoramus. Goes to show that titles, jobs, and “experience” can sometimes (often…?) mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.
To be clear, I am NOT an animal rights activist. I am an animal welfare advocate, having spent many years working in that field. Huge difference between the two, in my book.
At first I thought you were joking about this being volume 8 of Bloody Marilyns incidents, then realized no, that’s the actual magazine issue. Sad.
Sad COTH sides this way.
Man that was some bad luck :lol::lol:
This guy is really NOT helping the sport.
I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that he got this out right before an event where statistics tell you MLs horse will end up bloody. so anyone who says anything is already a kook. Smart guy.
I find it strange that people send cease and desist letters, or try other ways to stop people talking and writing about an issue. It just gives more attention to the original person’s views. It strikes me as counterproductive to spend a ton of money, and publicize the issue even more.
For example, there is a famous Civil War fiction book, turned into an iconic movie, that is heavily protected by the author’s estate. A parody book based on the characters was written, and used some of the same characters with a very different slant.
I doubt it would have sold that many copies, until the estate tried to prevent the publication. The only reason I read the parody was that I heard about the legal action, and it made me want to see what the dust up was about, and I’m guessing many other buyers of the parody were because of the publicity.
Just got around to reading alittlegreys post, or what was left of it.
WOW, I am really saddened that it was Edited as it was.
Having worked as a Groom in the early 80s for show jumpers, and questionable ones. I can tell you that the things I can imagine her daughter saw were real. LL and ML are from that same group.
I was very young and very naive, but I can tell you I worked one summer, and that was it.
What I find interesting is that the ULRs coming to ML’s defense are doing so out of fear of “tougher” rules, such as a “no blood” rule. However, we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion if ML hadn’t ridden her horses with bloody mouths at several FEI events.
ML is the one bringing this issue to the forefront, and if a “no blood” rule is passed for eventing, the ULRs should put the blame squarely on ML’s shoulders. But, instead, they are attacking those who are very concerned about horse welfare. It’s not a good look for them.
It’s a shame that officials haven’t used the yellow card system to address this, and that’s why I have little faith that it will work in the future. If spur rubs can result in elimination, so should any bleeding from or around the mouth.
I’ve read all 36 pages of this thread and simply can’t remember how far back the appropriate email is for the FEI. Will someone please repost?
I watched a lot of the Badminton live stream yesterday. The video showed more time at the end of the course when riders were dismounting and helping their grooms after XC than what we normally see on video of our only US 4*. Of course I was watching with a hyper sensitivity to towels and the reality is I didn’t see a lot of towels at all. Dark colored or otherwise. One particular positive note toward the end of the day was Tom McEwen coming in on what the commentators referred to as a ‘green at this level’ horse Strike Smartly. They were coming in with a clearly tired horse and were into time penalties. I appreciated what I saw in that he dismounted earlier than other riders had and was immediately attending to his own horse. His groom came out, but it was the rider removing the flash and literally jogging back and forth around his horse as it was walked forward by the groom so that he could pull the saddle off as quickly as he could so other grooms could apply water and start cooling the horse down. He was jogging back and forth to help his horse - horsemanship! And I’m to the point I want to call it out when it’s good because so much of what our US PTB will accept, condone and promote is not the level of horsemanship that I am comfortable with.
I don’t have a strong love for the FEI but I do think that they are our (US equestrians) best chance to address a rider that repeatedly bloodies the mouths of her horses. US officials’ lack of action over many years and instances of what is easily defined as abusive habits by one individual and her program says to me that our officials are too impressed and/or cowed by this rider’s powerful connections to enact any policies to save the reputation of the sport that they are expected to promote and protect. I believe reaching out to the FEI, which is hopefully less connected to these bloody-mouthed practices will be more productive in seeing the change we desire. So I would appreciate a repost of the appropriate FEI email.
#nobloodrule - if the officials on-site at multiple FEI events could not find strength to give this rider a single yellow card for all of her repeated bloodied horses then a hard and fast no blood rule is the only way to save the integrity of the sport. Do it for the horses.
This is absolutely true.
Technically, we do not NEED more rules… There are measures the officials could have taken (the yellow card system), but no one had the balls or integrity to do so on multiple occasions.
If the officials will not use the power they have at their disposal to address these issues then yes we DO need more rules… Even though I personally and many do not support a hard and fast “no blood rule,” if this type of thing keeps happening unchecked there will be no sport left.
Frankly, while ML is the focus, I place a large amount of blame on the officials who have stood by idly.
To to quote a friend, “ML may have dug her own grave, but the officials pushed her in.”
The officials inaction makes them complicit in these repeated incidents of bad horsemanship, and cast doubt on their integrity and honest reporting of issues they’re clearing/penalizing.
If, for example, ML had gotten a warning or a yellow card in 2015 and/or 2016, I would be much more inclined to trust the statements that were made in 2018 at LRK3DE because it would show me that the officials HAVE and DO have the best interest of the horse and the sport at heart.
Personally, I feel ML is a problem and has shown a pattern of behavior that is damaging to the sport and harmful to her horses. But this pattern has clearly displayed a larger and more alarming pattern— that the people we are trusting to protect the horses and integrity of the sport are failing us all.
Anyone else catch the NBC broadcast? The dichotomy between watching the groom rub the bloody mouth while the announcers were singing her praising was shocking.
Why can’t the officials seem to do anything about this?
I want you all to understand how much I appreciate the kind things that have been messaged to us, and to understand the time may come that I very much need the support of this community.
I’m not afraid to go to court. While some choices my daughter made are regrettable, we all have done things at 18 that we would prefer to do differently or not at all. None of us make it through our teen years without some mistakes and some difficult moments. Most of us are glad those things are never discussed in a court room, but that public record cuts both ways. While my daughter is a confident and poised young woman who is not afraid to rehash a difficult time in her life in front of the court, the other side has sins they likely do not want on the record themselves. None of us are immaculate in the eyes of the law, no matter how we may try to be. Tests of character come, and forged in that fire are the truly strong.
When it comes to further comment on Ms. Little’s behavior in private or public, I am not posting more at this point simply because I’ve not yet had a chance to discuss my options with any lawyer experienced in litigation issues. My family attorney has helped with our wills and my DNR, etc., and has had some insight but isn’t the resource we need for this matter. I have not taken down any prior posts here, however.
I do appreciate how entertaining it would be for everyone to read the frankly bloviating cease and desist with all of it’s threats and cage rattling, but that will have to come after. It’s not appropriate for me to share that at this moment, however should the moderators want proof that one did in fact come, I’m happy to make that document available to those who are protecting the legal rights of the Chronicle.
And so I am clear, I’ve come to understand why the moderator edited my post, and want to reassure you all that I now understand that action and am satisfied. Hopefully you will all let that part be and forgive my anger at what I perceived to be taking the side of the Littles.
Last, I agree with those of you who have pointed out that by over reacting to my post, they have simply driven the issue further into the public eye. My OP was way back on page 16(?), and had largely been passed over just a few hours later. I didn’t write emails to her sponsors, and sending that letter with the threat of shaming a teenager that literally gave them her blood, sweat and tears “on the record” just poured gasoline on the fire.
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