Marilyn Little's horse bleeds yet again. Red rag to a groom.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

@Lori T

I believe it is time that a letter campaign needs to be started, with the USEA, USEF and FEI receiving many angry letters. They need to know that the majority of their membership is not going to put up with this blatant excuse. Do we really want ML representing us at WEG? Because that could be a very real possibility.
And I too am disgusted at those who continue to support ML. When I see photos of her on IG or FB, I deliberately do not like that photo. Those are the times that I wish IG had a dislike button!
I found it interesting that Roxy and Nobilis 18 were held this morning, due to “concern over their well being.” Really? I wasn’t there, so maybe it was justifiable, but how can they overlook tight nosebands and bleeding?
And one last thing, this is a really good article about ML:
http://www.grandprix-replay.com/us/article/4062/marilyn-little-legitimate-questions-or-witch-hunt-

I am in for a letter/email writing campaign. After today, I think that is our best hope for keeping her off the WEG team.

I found the linked article interesting but feel compelled to point out that it is in an editorial and is plainly identified as such. It is also from a few years back. I don’t disagree with it, but I think anyone following the link should be aware of those two things.

[JER]

Public pressure counts for something. Ringing Bros circus had to give up their animals and then shuttered their doors.

I suggest we refer to ML as Bloody Marilyn from now on. This is too many times with too many horses and if she’s even one-hundredth of the horseperson her supporters claim she is, surely she can find a way to ride without blood.

[subk]

Hmm…who should I sent these to? Is Bobby Costello still the chair of the section committee? https://smile.amazon.com/Towels-Commercial-Washcloth-Washable-Cleaning/dp/B078W63KNF/ref=sr_1_37_m?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1525031964&sr=1-37&keywords=red+washcloths&refinements=p_n_srvg_2947266011%3A2972994011

[KO1]

U people need to back off. She cares so much for that horse. I know her personally and have watched her train on that horse numerous times.

Bit she used was legal. Some horses bite themselves all the time. I have CDI GP Dressage horse that has done it. It happens!!!

She is a great rider who deserves a bit more respect.

[Jealoushe]

@KO

U people need to back off. She cares so much for that horse. I know her personally and have watched her train on that horse numerous times.

Bit she used was legal. Some horses bite themselves all the time. I have CDI GP Dressage horse that has done it. It happens!!!

She is a great rider who deserves a bit more respect.

Oh a friend, great. Can you give us any insight why this and her horses constantly end up with bloody mouths?

if it wasn’t expected, can you explain why her groom was literally SPRINTING to the horses face to wipe it before the hors even came to a walk!???

[WNT]

KO, respect is earned. Multiple bloody mouths on multiple horses at multiple competitions is not respectable​​​, no matter how many accolades she wins.

[Bartleby]

Letter writing, hand wringing, social media outrage are not going to do a damn thing. As long as the coffers are full it will be business as usual. All of those high profile take downs from public outrage? They happened because money dried up, nothing more and nothing less. As long as people buy tickets, pay dues, attend events, watch the coverage and bring in monetary support for the sport there is literally no reason for them to change anything in regards to Marilyn Little.

[Skippity]

What about writing letters to her sponsors?

[ladyj79]

@KO

U people need to back off. She cares so much for that horse. I know her personally and have watched her train on that horse numerous times.

Bit she used was legal. Some horses bite themselves all the time. I have CDI GP Dressage horse that has done it. It happens!!!

She is a great rider who deserves a bit more respect.

It is not true that this happens all the time, except to Marilyn.

Is the reason you have this cdi gp horse because he bites his mouth bloody? Because there is no tolerance for bloody mouths in FEI dressage or Show Jumping, only running cross country.

Your claims are not fact, other than the fact that Marilyn isn’t breaking the rules as currently written and enforced. It is my own personal hope that the zero tolerance for bloody mouths is extended to CCIs. The only person it will really impact is Marilyn.

[DrHB]

It is my understanding that Jackie Mars is no longer an owner on any of Little’s horses, including RF Scandalous.

[DrHB]

I am one of many who wish that ML would just go away. So the below is in NO way in support of her or her mother (Gawd, if you knew the latter you can see what spawned the former).

Question: if this was another rider, would it have been noticed? Jump Judges and Ground Juries do not and should not take the identity of a rider into account.

Also, where are the pictures? There is a picture earlier on this thread showing a horrid bitting set up and use of rein, but I cannot see the blood.

[DrHB]

@DrHB

I am one of many who wish that ML would just go away. So the below is in NO way in support of her or her mother (Gawd, if you knew the latter you can see what spawned the former).

Question: if this was another rider, would it have been noticed? Jump Judges and Ground Juries do not and should not take the identity of a rider into account.

Also, where are the pictures? There is a picture earlier on this thread showing a horrid bitting set up and use of rein, but I cannot see the blood.

[Jealoushe]

And for what it’s worth, every picture I have seen I have been examining the mouths of all the horses and riders and have yet to see anyone else with anything whatsoever on their horses.

[SolarFlare]

ML responds: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/marilyn-little-responds-to-blood-incident-at-land-rover-kentucky

[Simba27]

@SolarFlare

ML responds: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/marilyn-little-responds-to-blood-incident-at-land-rover-kentucky

Wish she would issue a formal response explaining why 3 of her horses on more than one occasion have had blood in the mouth incidents on cross country when no one else seems to have this problem.

[DrHB]

@Jealoushe

You may have to zoom into the last one.

yes ML and KOC are still close. She coaches her and ML rides one of KOCs horses in showjumping.

Pictures show blood for sure, on the lower lip.

ML and KOC have a distant professional relationship but they do not socialize. Karen occasionally coaches ML, but not at all regularly. I am not sure if she walked the XC course with her or not, but I would not be surprised if she did. I am very surprised about ML riding for Karen. Thanks for the inside scoop, Jealoushe.

[DrHB]

@Simba27

Wish she would issue a formal response explaining why 3 of her horses on more than one occasion have had blood in the mouth incidents on cross country when no one else seems to have this problem.

My little theory is that she cranks the cavesson so tight that horses bite their tongues.

[bip]

This morning, the COTH headline was something like “Little makes her mark on eventing”. I cringed. I don’t see it now.

[Jealoushe]

US Eventing posted on FB:

At all phases of competition Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous were cleared to compete: by the stewards for dressage and the official vet and Ground Jury for cross-country. Prior to their cross-country test, Little asked that the official vet examine the horse and she was cleared to compete and re-checked upon completion on the grounds of FEI rule 526.4.

[MNEventer]

@"ML"

Little described the backlash over this incident and having her horsemanship being repeatedly called into question as “frustrating, because I care so much for my horses, and I couldn’t love her any more,” she said. “Of course we try to take the best care of them that we can. We’ve been working so hard to make sure that everything presents well and plays in a way that everybody can understand—that everything is super transparent. And I’m really devastated that it happened, but I’m glad that the people were there to get it checked out.”

People who love their horses don’t repeatedly injure them to the point of bleeding, and do nothing to improve it. People who love their horses don’t tighten their nosebands so severely that flesh is popping out on both sides of the strap. People who love their horses don’t pull a “poor little me” whining act when people ask why they continue to injure and mistreat their horses. She knows nothing of loving horses.