My very first direct experience with this was when I did a little horse show as a kid, and the local newspaper put in a picture that was identified as me on my horse. But it wasn’t.
To make it even more ridiculous, my horse was a chestnut, and the horse in the picture was a leopard Appaloosa. So it was a pretty obvious error.
Then I had to spend the next couple of weeks explaining to everybody who commented on it in school that it was not me in the picture, and the newspaper had made a mistake.
Does this make bad reporting OK?
Some resemblance is OK?
The pictures are a moot point. They don’t demonstrate everyone’s standard of care or maintenance; nor do they prove neglect or show anything specifically wrong. And there could be plenty explanations-- a horse that’s new to the program, etc. Nitpicking the pictures detracts from the actual stories of real neglect/danger by making it all look like sour grapes. And as the article drives people here to read the thread, making it look like sour grapes only supports the article’s conclusion. If you keep the focus on facts, people see the truth.
Those ads are tailored to you. The ads I saw were for Big Dee’s Tack, because I ordered things from them yesterday.
My daughter had a similar experience. The local paper did an article on her and the picture they chose was basically looking up from the horse’s nostril. 🤦
But was it the right horse? Lol.
With the pictures, I could see those being pictures coming out of a good, conscientious program - particular horses new or with special needs, weeds on the edge of the arena aren’t my priority over the horses’ needs - but they’re also not evidence of a good program.
It remains remarkable to me that they footed the expense to send a reporter and a photographer out to Texas for this story and didn’t manage to contact (or I should say report on the contact of) any of the people who had complaints against EDH. Not even our OP.
Our OP is Stormy.
It’s definitely weird.
Some of the issues in the pics though cost $0 to remedy, regardless of who owns the place.
Railroad ties sticking up, kid leading two horses at once both with lead ropes around necks rather than held properly… hazards that are easily remedied, for $0
These are safety issues.
Sound like from other comments this place puts kids safety very low…
Those speak volumes to me. 🤷
Yes! But It was a ridiculous picture.
I have to say I am very disappointed with this article. The blatant bias doesn’t seem to me to be good reporting. How did WaPo even latch on to this story at this moment? Except to discredit Ms. Daniels on the eve of trial. Blech.
As to the farm, it definitely seems to have a lot of neglect and clutter. I had a dressage arena with rr ties, so I can’t say much about that. And I expect fit event horses to look a little thin to me. But the footing looks awful and the lack of just upkeep seems very careless. I get operating on a thin margin,but weed whacking, sweeping barn aisles…those are pretty easy to do.
I’m aware. Don’t you think it’s interesting that she wasn’t contacted for comment? Not like they don’t know where to find her.
The “I don’t use vets, I treat the horses myself” is a long-standing ED mantra. Refusing to take a horse to a vet, even if the owner wants that. It has led to a long series of very bad, escalating health situations for various horses. Including an SD horse or two, as seen in the early thread. It doesn’t change.
Why a vet gave her an endorsement is a story I’d like to hear more about.
Didn’t the article state that both Stormy and her attorney declined to comment?
I thought it was illegal for anyone but a properly certified veterinarian to treat other’s horses?
Even those under your care need to be diagnosed and following a treatment designated by an attending veterinarian in place, and then, if instructed, you can treat someone else’s horse legally?
Correct.
I don’t know about the treatment legalities In Texas. But if so, someone would have to make a case, and the prosecutor would have to decide it was worth following up.
Plus “helping” treat other peoples horses goes on all the time here.
It’s not exactly California where ED lives.
That doesn’t make it any less of a terrible idea, regardless of the legalities of the situation.
Especially from the sounds of her past results.
This needs to be repeated. This is why there was a reporter flown to Texas for this article at this time.
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