Ellen Doughty-Hume has requested a public apology regarding my reaction to her comment about the passing of my husband’s draftcross gelding Danger Mouse. I’m sorry that I believed the comment Ellen made was meant to be negative. I was wrong. In reciprocation, I would like a public apology from her as well, for the following occurrences in which she is verifiably at fault for:
- My horses were turned out in a field known to flood in the past, after repeatedly asking for them not to be down there, resulting in my Irish Draught gelding Bailey drowning and other gelding, Mouse, spending a week in the hospital with water in his lungs. (In full disclosure, I was paid HALF of Bailey’s value by Ellen’s insurance company). Unfortunately, no lessons were learned from my horse’s death, since horses are still being turned out in this same pasture.
- Ellen waited over 8 hours to notify me that my daughter’s pony, Fella, was colicking. Instead Ellen chose to leave him in a stall to thrash while she went home, forbidding the staff/working students from calling me, the horse’s owner. I’m grateful to the one working student who disobeyed Ellen’s cruelty. Thankfully, my friend arrived with her horse trailer in time to get Fella to the clinic for colic surgery in the middle of the night.
- My Oldenburg gelding, Ziggy, was turned out in a hail storm which resulted in a career ending injury. (All area horse owners knew that storm was coming, in fact Ellen had time to stop and photograph the clouds rolling in to the barn, and post them on social media.)
- I was not informed that my Thoroughbred gelding, Buzz, was non weight-bearing with cellulitis for 2 days, and no vet was called. Ellen chose to diagnose and treat him herself without giving me the option of veterinary care.
- I found out Buzz had been colicky via a Banamine charge on my bill almost THREE WEEKS after the fact.
- Ellen allowed other people to ride my horses without my permission, including taking one over state lines to go cross country schooling without my approval or my requested written agreement from the rider. (Found this out via photos online, and confirmed by asking the rider who had no idea I hadn’t given permission.)
- Changing my horses’ farrier without asking me.
- Changing my horses’ feed without asking or telling me.
- Running out of alfalfa numerous times without telling boarders (but still charging alfalfa fee for those days).
- Feeding low-quality hay that most of my horses refused to eat.
- Galli, my older Hanoverian who had been at a good weight previously, lost over 200lbs in the span of a few months, leaving him with a skeletal appearance.
- Billing for coaching at shows but usually hardly receiving any (common complaint from others).
- Not being welcome at local Area 5 show venues due to Ellen’s previous behavior at said venues.
- Ellen’s students (including myself) were threatened with eliminaion at Fleur de Leap Horse Trials because she argued with a Technical Delegate about her dogs being on a “verbal invisible leash.” Her loose dogs at show venues is also a common compliant.
- Ellen entered the dressage ring in Florida on Buzz when he was head bobbing lame, which later required surgery, resulting in that he now has an elimination on his USEA record…in DRESSAGE.
- Leaving the barn of 60+ horses in the care eight-year-old child, to do all morning chores by herself. (Although a fantastic kid, it is wildly inappropriate to leave her alone to go in stalls with no adult present.)
- Overworking / jumping my 3 year old higher than I had given permission for when I wasn’t there, causing stress in his joints that required treatment and 4 months off. He was also taken to a show (I was not present) and competed while sore.
- Myself and other students were kicked off a cross country course for jumping after the course was closed…then Ellen argued with the owner, almost resulting in us being banned from showing the next day in the schooling show.
These are just my personal experiences. I travel regularly for work, and entrusted Ellen to care for and train my horses as a professional. Unfortunately, her poor decision making regularly came at the expense of the horses in her care. I cannot even begin to list how many other people I saw get ripped off or screwed over in addition to myself. Hopefully this post encourages them to speak up. By keeping quiet, they are enabling Ellen to continue being a negligent and dangerous disgrace to horses, riders (mostly with parents who don’t know any better), and the entire sport of eventing. I could keep going, but I don’t think I need to. In ONE year I had 1 horse die, 1 horse permanently crippled, and 5 horses require surgery/hospital stays.
Sharing your personal experiences publicly is NOT slander if it is TRUE. I have photos, videos, vet statements, witnesses, etc to back up EVERY SINGLE CLAIM.
I wanted to ride off in the sunset and be happy with my ponies, but my conscience would not let me. I’m taking a stand for those who don’t have a voice. My only regret is that I waited so long.
