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

[Badger]

Allie Conrad has posted info on how the trial is going on FB (I couldn’t get link to work):

“ Today I listened to testimony against one of the other people charged in this case. They NEVER SAID A WORD PUBLICLY.
Know what they did do? She emailed the USEA about what her experience was. (If you want to hear Ellen insinuate that Jon Holling and the board of USEA called untrustworthy and out for personal vendettas, have I got a transcript for you!)

Those emails were subpoenaed and entered into the court record and this rider—with MULTIPLE complaints against her for lack of care, bad decisions, horse injuries, dui’s, allegedly giving alcohol to minors—gets to bring a huge case against these women who simply tried to report their own personal experiences privately to the USEA.”

[trubandloki]

@Badger

Allie Conrad has posted info on how the trial is going on FB (I couldn’t get link to work):

Is her FB profile locked down so not friends can not see it? That might be why a link will not work.

[Amberley]

“Why don’t people report abuse when they see it??!?” /s

[leighbo009]

@Badger

allegedly giving alcohol to minors

Why is this not a SafeSport investigation as well? (Especially if this in particular was brought to USEA).

No, not sexual abuse, but looks like it could still fall within SafeSport jurisdiction.

According to the SafeSport code (Page 19-20)

2. Physical Misconduct
   Physical Misconduct is any intentional contact or non-contact behavior that causes, or reasonably threatens to cause, physical harm to another person.
   Physical Misconduct does not include conduct reasonably accepted as part of sport or conduct reasonably accepted as part of Participant’s participation. For example, hitting, punching, and kicking are well-regulated forms of contact in combat sports, but have no place in non-combat sports such as swimming.
   Physical Misconduct may include, without limitation:
   a. Contact violations
   Punching, beating, biting, striking, strangling, or slapping another; intentionally hitting another with objects, such as sporting equipment; encouraging or knowingly permitting an Athlete to return to play prematurely following a serious injury (e.g., a concussion) and without the clearance of a medical professional.
   b. Noncontact violations
   Isolating a person in a confined space, such as locking an Athlete in a small space; forcing an Athlete to assume a painful stance or position for no athletic purpose (e.g.,requiring an athlete to kneel on a harmful surface); withholding, recommending against, or denying adequate hydration, nutrition, medical attention or sleep; providing alcohol to a person under the legal drinking age; providing illegal drugs or non-prescribed medications to another.
   c. Criminal Conduct
   Physical Misconduct includes any act or conduct described as physical abuse or misconduct under federal or state law (e.g., child abuse, child neglect, assault).

Bolding is mine

[HarryWithers]

Who is Allie? Can we ask her to share here?

[leighbo009]

Or a screenshot of what has been shared?

[mellsmom]

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.

[leighbo009]

@mellsmom

Is Ellen on the USEF banned list? If not, why the hell not???

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)

[Badger]

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.

[Badger]

$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.

[caffeinated]

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.

[Jealoushe]

Danny Warrington has some explaining to do.

[cristalle]

@caffeinated

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

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

[Texarkana]

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???

[Badger]

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?

[Jealoushe]

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

[Dr_Doolittle]

WTAF?!?!

This is beyond belief.

[Amberley]

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.

[Badger]

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

[Arzny]

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.)