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

[TMares]

Before anyone suggests that the mare was shaking her head at flies, there were no flies. It was close to freezing overnight each night. Not a fly to be found.

[wannabedvm]

@dani0303

I could easily see it happening from a flash that’s too tight and if yesterday is any indication then that’s the norm for her. In my 25 years of riding (10+ on the H/J circuit) I’ve never had a horse bite their tongue and bleed. Seems to happen to ML at every event.

I’m not an eventer, either, but watching the ML fiasco with interest. I’ve seen several say they’ve never seen a mouth bleed, and I just have to say that last year, my 4 y/o dressage horse that I showed at INTRO level had his mouth bleed two or three times while U/S, once at home and once as I was leaving the show ring. Regular cavesson not at all tight, no flash, D-ring snaffle (a different one each time, I believe!). Could it have been because he/I was pulling? Maybe; he is a young stallion that can get strong. But I certainly wasn’t yanking or being abusive, FFS, I was doing a demo ride during one and a test at a show during the other! I ended up moving his noseband higher (higher than conventional wisdom; it was at about two fingers below the cheek bone, and I moved it to one finger), and we haven’t had an issue again (moved it back down recently, all good so far). So, it can happen in innocuous situations, even repeat times.

Honestly, given my experience above, if it were one horse that had this issue, I might not be too concerned as long as the tack/equipment wasn’t absurd/abusive. I can believe that some horses are predisposed physically to cuts, whether due to anatomy, vices, or quirks. But it just can’t be coincidental that three (if I remember right–THREE!!!) of her horses have had this issue.

That’s all; just wanted to say that it’s happened to me.:ambivalence: I hope USEA/USEF does something to address the ML bleeding issue AND that some fellow competitors/coaches approach her about her riding. I don’t like what I’ve seen of her see-sawing a few strides before a jump to try to bring her horse back/balance it. I’ve heard it’s a regular thing with her, and that should be an issue by itself, even if there weren’t any bleeding mouths.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

@DrHB

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

In the USEA article on the top 3 Kentucky finishers (published today), it says RF Scandalous is owned by Marilyn, Jacqueline Mars and Pheobe and Michael Manders.
http://useventing.com/news/townend-a…hree-day-event

[Jealoushe]

@wannabedvm

I’m not an eventer, either, but watching the ML fiasco with interest. I’ve seen several say they’ve never seen a mouth bleed, and I just have to say that last year, my 4 y/o dressage horse that I showed at INTRO level had his mouth bleed two or three times while U/S, once at home and once as I was leaving the show ring. Regular cavesson not at all tight, no flash, D-ring snaffle (a different one each time, I believe!). Could it have been because he/I was pulling? Maybe; he is a young stallion that can get strong. But I certainly wasn’t yanking or being abusive, FFS, I was doing a demo ride during one and a test at a show during the other! I ended up moving his noseband higher (higher than conventional wisdom; it was at about two fingers below the cheek bone, and I moved it to one finger), and we haven’t had an issue again (moved it back down recently, all good so far). So, it can happen in innocuous situations, even repeat times.

Honestly, given my experience above, if it were one horse that had this issue, I might not be too concerned as long as the tack/equipment wasn’t absurd/abusive. I can believe that some horses are predisposed physically to cuts, whether due to anatomy, vices, or quirks. But it just can’t be coincidental that three (if I remember right–THREE!!!) of her horses have had this issue.

That’s all; just wanted to say that it’s happened to me.:ambivalence: I hope USEA/USEF does something to address the ML bleeding issue AND that some fellow competitors/coaches approach her about her riding. I don’t like what I’ve seen of her see-sawing a few strides before a jump to try to bring her horse back/balance it. I’ve heard it’s a regular thing with her, and that should be an issue by itself, even if there weren’t any bleeding mouths.

6 or 7 times on three different horses. No excuses.

@subk I agree with you completely

[mg]

@LadyB

Is It worth the risk of her at a big event for her team to be eliminated because of blood when its a GJ that isn’t sweeping it under the rug?

Wasn’t Sinead left off a team one year because there was a fear of Tate having a nosebleed and getting eliminated because of it? Or perhaps that was just a conspiracy theory that I’m remembering as fact.

[weixiao]

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/…rover-kentucky

A rider who has had multiple horses bleed at multiple events over multiple years SHOULD be under a microscope. The only question is why is she not under the microscope of the stewards/officials? #notmynationalchampion

[FitToBeTied]

@weixiao

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/…rover-kentucky

Apparently she seems to think it is unfair that she is “under a microscope.”

Way to misrepresent what she said. Here is the exact quote from the article “I do feel I am under a microscope, and that’s fair.”

She did everything she was supposed to do and finished third. Congratulations to her.

[NCRider]

She sure did everything she needed to do but it certainly wasn’t fair to her poor horse(s). The ground jury and duvander should be ashamed of themselves for looking the other way.

[weixiao]

@FitToBeTied

Way to misrepresent what she said. Here is the exact quote from the article “I do feel I am under a microscope, and that’s fair.”

She did everything she was supposed to do and finished third. Congratulations to her.

I stand corrected, I misread the article this morning, and I have edited my post.

However, this is still 100% a problem and she doesn’t have a right, in my opinion, to be frustrated by the fact that there are many people that find this problematic.

[HorsesNStuff]

Honestly, this whole…rather these several reoccurring situations with ML just have me hot under the collar to the point of bursting. On my previous IG account, I was told by a person they would not “bash” ML unless she killed a horse or is pictured kicking a puppy. Apparently, that’s the bar now. Killing horses and kicking puppies.

Speaking of dressage, and handling elimination over blood, recall Steffen Peter’s response to being eliminated for blood on the side of Legolas: "“It is clearly my fault,” Peters said. “At the end of the day, I rode the horse, and I am responsible for the welfare of this horse. I am very embarrassed about it. I’m the one who feels guilty.” " http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/…orld-cup-final

In comparison to Little’s comments on every “controversy”, Peter’s takes responsibility. It seems to me, Little’s responses come nothing short of an “oh well, guess I’ll carry on”.

From what I’ve read, blood on mouth incidents have occurred with West Indie and Scandalous, the later mount multiple times. It’s frustrating to see this happen again and again. It’s frustrating to see photos where the flash is visibly constrictive, to the point there’s no way my tiny fingers could slip through, and still see people defending and congratulating ML.

When a horse turns up lame, we look into it. We don’t say “oh hey, he’s a little off on the right…but send him on through the course!” The horse gets pulled. I don’t see the difference with blood in the mouth as the cause should be identified. And while horses can grind and bite their lips like people…there’s too many instances and questionable photos of Little’s tack to say that it’s a bite time and time again.

It’s also not a safety net to hide behind a questionable ruling, Fittobetied. Just because a competitor followed the current rules, doesn’t make those rulings or rules fit for the future of the event or sport. Period. Just because the blood is a case by case basis in Eventing, doesn’t make it acceptable.

At this point, I want these photos out to a bigger audience. Even to the far out people that may decry the sport entirely. We need to get these out to those beyond the horse community. There needs to be a spotlight on this issue.

I don’t know if that can or will ever happen…but…if Anky can be exposed, so can ML.

[ABitDrafty]

@Skippity

What about writing letters to her sponsors?

Would be better than nothing. I don’t know when it happened but when asked about her, Topline Leather pointed out that she is no longer listed as a sponsored rider on their website even though she has yet to remove them from her list of sponsors.

[JER]

1. Has there been any serious attempt by any GJ or officials to ascertain exactly what is going on in the mouths of Bloody Marilyn’s horses?

To date, all the checks seem rather perfunctory and the officials seems to take Marilyn’s word for what happened.

2. Has anyone complied a concise history of the infamy of Bloody Marilyn? Which horses, where, if there’s photographic evidence, etc. It would be helpful to have the exact info and stats, especially if writing sponsors and orgs.

[LadyB]

I commented on MDC Stirrups account on Instagram yesterday. Today USEF posted the national champion photo of her, MDC an hour ago posted congratulations to their sponsored rider.

Looks like MDC Stirrups is a huge fan of poor horsemanship.

Still so many kool-aid drinkers defending Marilyn, wonder when the mare will be defended by them, The mare never is.

[LadyB]

@DrHB

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

I wanted to see for myself for RF Scandalous, under the USEA she is owned by Raylyn Farms. Not sure about her other horses, but that’s rather interesting that Ms.Mars no longer is part owner.

[lmlacross]

Mars was announced as the horse’s part owner several times throughout the competition.

[Jealoushe]

@JER

1. Has there been any serious attempt by any GJ or officials to ascertain exactly what is going on in the mouths of Bloody Marilyn’s horses?

To date, all the checks seem rather perfunctory and the officials seems to take Marilyn’s word for what happened.

2. Has anyone complied a concise history of the infamy of Bloody Marilyn? Which horses, where, if there’s photographic evidence, etc. It would be helpful to have the exact info and stats, especially if writing sponsors and orgs.

I will see if I can compile a list of incidents.

[bizbachfan]

@mg

Wasn’t Sinead left off a team one year because there was a fear of Tate having a nosebleed and getting eliminated because of it? Or perhaps that was just a conspiracy theory that I’m remembering as fact.

yes Tate had a nose bleed because they didn’t steam his hay like they normally do so they decided to not have her go with him just in case he had another nose bleed

[LadyB]

Just pulled up the Yellow Card list, ML has never been yellow carded in eventing as per the spreadsheet… isn’t that interesting.

[wannabedvm]

@Jealoushe

6 or 7 times on three different horses. No excuses.

@subk I agree with you completely

I know. If you read my whole comment, you’d see that I’m not arguing against you.

[NotaPonyDoc]

@LadyB

I wanted to see for myself for RF Scandalous, under the USEA she is owned by Raylyn Farms. Not sure about her other horses, but that’s rather interesting that Ms.Mars no longer is part owner.

But on USEF and FEI both- Mrs. Mars is the owner, along with the Manders and Robin Parsky. I’d think USEF is more current than USEA.