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

[Janet]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

As for people not posting negative reviews on her Facebook, but posting on COTH instead? You have a fair point. But that’s how it works with horses and plenty of other competitive sports. People and parents share concerning information via in person chats, private messages, etc… but people are hesitant to call someone out publicly. It is what it is.

But the COTH forums are just as “public” as Facebook (though maybe with a smaller audience). Especially THIS thread, as it was mentioned in the Washingtom Post article.

[OverandOnward]

True but, there don’t seem to be many / any random strangers parachuting in to chat. Although they may be reading silently.

Years ago when this thread was first discovered by the gp, there were posts by just-registered’s "do you know what she does for a living ??? " They were told that, yes, everyone knows, no one cares, this is a horse welfare thread, and that is the only topic of interest. They disappeared. I guess horse welfare wasn’t that interesting to them.

[cristalle]

@OverandOnward

Years ago when this thread was first discovered by the gp, there were posts by just-registered’s "do you know what she does for a living ??? " They were told that, yes, everyone knows, no one cares, this is a horse welfare thread, and that is the only topic of interest. They disappeared. I guess horse welfare wasn’t that interesting to them.

That’s interesting. Back then, when those snide references to Stormy’s job were being made by new posters, in an attempt to discredit her, I didn’t think they were from the general public, but rather from friends/supporters of EDH.
But your last point still applies: maybe horse welfare wasn’t that interesting or important to them. Or, maybe they found out for themselves.

[Bensmom]

@Ghazzu

@Bluey

I thought it was illegal for anyone but a properly certified veterinarian to treat other’s horses?

The precise wording varies by state (sometimes, IIRC, it requires money changing hands) but typically it isn’t on any radar until an owner complains to the state board.

(Pardon the deviation into my area of specialty)

@ghazzu is correct. In Florida, for instance, it doesn’t require $ to change hands, but that is often the way it can be proven, if a complaint was filed. In Florida, it includes “the determination of the health, fitness, or soundness of any animal.”

Therefore, having your trainer watch your horse trot up could be the illegal practice of veterinary medicine. Fortunately, there is a good bit of common sense used in evaluating claims of the unlicensed practice. But, it doesn’t require a complaint by an owner to have a case opened in Florida. If the Department sees unlicensed activity (ULA) a case can be originated.

There is, though, a total exemption for things any owner does to their own horse. Except for the treatment or vaccination of four things (rabies, brucellosis, TB, and EEE) any owner can do anything to their own horses. Except you could run afoul of animal cruelty laws on the County level, but other than those four things, it isn’t the practice of veterinary medicine if you own the animal.

But to additionally qualify, a trainer should not be “diagnosing” (or not) on a horse that belongs to a client. The Department, who prosecutes on behalf of the Vet Board, might not know about those incidents, but should a client decide to complain if there was an adverse impact, it can cause a huge problem. In Florida, ULA is criminal as well as prosecutable by the Department.

[Moderator_1]

We removed a recent inappropriate post (and responses to it) and addressed it with the poster.

[jvanrens]

Thank you. I was getting sensitive about my bad manicure, scared up fingers and man hands that tend to happen when you work with horses long enough.

[SonnysMom]

I can see where that is a tough call. Horse/pony is trotted for trainer to determine if a vet needs to be called since the owner is a non-horse person adult owner of a their child’s pony. Or owner is a novice/beginner adult. In either case unless the horse is 5/5 or maybe 4/5 lame the owner would not recognize the horse is lame and needs to see a vet. They need another educated horse person’s opinion on whether a vet needs to be called.

[Whoaovergo]

Looks like EDH has gotten married and updated her name on social media to Ellen Sebanc, just posting for people who may find this thread or be new that they are the same person.

[Salty]

Just bumping this thread because the information on Ellen Doughty -Whoever should be kept readily available.

[Jo]

@Salty

Just bumping this thread because the information on Ellen Doughty -Whoever should be kept readily available

Ellen Doughty
Ellen Doughty-Hume
Ellen Sebanc

[OverandOnward]

@Jo

Ellen Sebanc

Is Ellen dropping the other last names, so no hyphen or Doughty in other form? Just Ellen Sebanc? I’ve seen it that way elsewhere as well, just checking.

[Jo]

@OverandOnward

Is Ellen dropping the other last names, so no hyphen or Doughty in other form? Just Ellen Sebanc?

I have no idea. I was just listing the names I know of her as to respond to Salty’s “Ellen Doughty Whoever” comment.

[DancingJumper]

Worker and trainer change yet again, only there around 2.5 months. How does that place stay open with the constant turn around.

[DGEventing]

Yikes. I guess I better go weed out the corners of my arena by this logic.

[pony_grandma]

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/usef-expands-its-authority-to-police-horse-welfare-beyond-the-show-grounds/

[Angela_Freda]

Stormy will be on RMS on MSNBC tomorrow night at 9