My horrible experiences with Texas horse trainer/instructor Ellen Doughty-Hume

I just read an update by Allie who has been there to support Stormy. I am fairly certain that the jury is never going to be able to get some of the pictures of these incidents out of their minds. Is Ellen on the USEF banned list? If not, why the hell not??? Also, we need to rally behind those being targeted by EDH. There is a libel/defamation case pending in the Shannon Eckel situation as well.

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No, Ellen is actually listed an an EPC instructor on the USEA site. Link

Listed as “Sebanc, Ellen (Level IV) Certified in 2014” (new married name)

:exploding_head::exploding_head::exploding_head:
Ellen won big per this post. IMO we have a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE problem in protecting those speaking up against abuse if, per the courtroom observers opinion (hopefully linked below), Erin has to pay $600k for privately telling USEA (when she answers a USEA request for information!!!) that her dressage scores went down and Ellen taught her to ride front to back. It sounds like the case was all about Ellen losing her ICP certification. Stormy lost too but the details of the judgement against her are not in the post.

Ellen wins against Erin and Stormy

I hope we see a detailed story on this from The Chronicle ASAP. :exploding_head::exploding_head::exploding_head:

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$1,500,000!!! That’s what Allie is reporting as the verdict against Stormy. Add to the $600,000 judgement reported against Erin. Thats a $2,200,000 windfall for Ellen.

My head has exploded.

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More of the details about the verdict on Stormy are in the comments, but it’s absolutely insane to me. If it’s not a biased jury, I’m betting they got instructions like “this is not about if Ellen is a good person. It’s not about the instances of abuse that were documented. It’s only about these three specific statements”

The truth will out. Hopefully the appeal goes better. This is absolutely absurd.

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Danny Warrington has some explaining to do.

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Unbelievable. and yes, absurd and unfair.
A horse abuser gets rewarded, and those who are speaking out get punished. :frowning:

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I am especially confused about the Erin Walker case.

If I’m following correctly, she emailed concerns to USEA. The email resulted in a temporary removal of Ellen’s ICP credentials (which were reinstated well before the trial), but now she has to pay $600k?

So the precedent is now if you voice a private concern about a person, you are monetarily responsible for that person’s lost income???

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I cannot wrap my head around this either. The precedent being set is awful. Quoting from Allie’s FB post:

“Erin was found responsible for defaming and causing damage/malice and ordered to pay $600,000 to Ellen for stating the following—that her dressage scores got worse while riding with Ellen and that Ellen taught her to ride front to back. (Paraphrased) This was a PRIVATE EMAIL. To the USEA.”

So if a governing organization asks you privately for feedback you can be made to pay for privately reporting your experience and opinion??? How does anybody report ANYTHING??? How does SafeSport even begin to investigate ANY claim?

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USEA is going to get counter sued into oblivion on this!

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WTAF?!?! :scream: :rage:

This is beyond belief.

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If I was ever thinking of doing business with someone based in Texas I sure won’t now.

I would love to see what USEA promised in terms of confidentiality when they recruited comments on this business.

Also COTH should probably nuke this entire board from space and throw the backups in the ocean over the weekend, lol.

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Click here for Ellen’s FB post about winning this case after 8 years in court

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I personally know of another person who is facing a civil suit over privately reported concerns to a national federation (not sharing details since it is in active litigation.)

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And now there’s talk of a book :roll_eyes:

What an incredible, disgusting travesty.
No fair trial in Texas for the woman who had the courage to stand up to HRH.
And a horse abuser gets rewarded.

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Wow this made zero sense to me until I saw a comment mentioning the maga of it all. Not trying to get political but reason # infinity that I don’t say a word to anyone one about anything around here.

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Is this Texas ? If so. Understandable. And gross

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Did Ms. Conrad mean to write that Stormy & Erin’s claims were refuted (disproven) or that they were ignored by the jury?

From where I sit, in the cheap seats, it appears their claims had basis in fact and the jury simply turned their heads.

I don’t have access to the info - did Ms. Walker’s dressage scores drop while being trained by Ellen (surname du jour)? It certainly sounds like it.

As for USEA - as a non-member I can loudly state that they SUCK. They ASKED FOR someone’s experience then shared the name so they wouldn’t be named in a lawsuit? What craven cowardice. They can ban me for life as I have no interest in being a member.

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I think that she didn’t mean “refuted,” but that the claims were disregarded by the jury.

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