“It is appalling,” she told dressage-news.com at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. “I think all of us in the equestrian community are feeling the same way. Our federation has put everything into motion to investigate thoroughly.”
No ,the USEF did not. The videos were apparently provided to them and they sat on their hands and did nothing, until the videos were posted on the internet and the FEI took action.
This is so repulsive to me. That people watched this while drinking Champagne as though animal abuse was civilised entertainment for people who think they are classy and cool.
I hope the spectators are identified along with the assistants and riders. They ALL have something to answer for. Every one of them.
That caught my eye too. I was hoping I read it wrong, because I just cannot fathom that USEF would do nothing with that evidence.
Unfortunately I didn’t read it wrong. Like WT actual F. They have some serious explaining to do, but I doubt they will do any of it. They hope this will all brush over and we carry on as if nothing happens until the next $h!t storm gets leaked. It’s beyond discouraging.
So Traurig called him out last years and they did nothing…wow. They also need some accountability.
perhaps we need to rethink who runs the organization
Meh, USEF is kind of a joke. Especially in comparison to other national federations (outside of the US), in my experience. Or, maybe it just “operates differently” to put it more politely.
I did have plans to compete this year, but lately I just haven’t felt like giving USEF and USDF my money. So while I have a cool opportunity (not my horse), I may decline and just enjoy bringing my young horse along. I’ve just become so disenchanted by it all.
This is my hobby, and I don’t view competition as a necessity. Especially because I think the drive for competing too easily allows us to lose sight on what’s best for the horse, or the horse in general. I know that this hobby/sport is a selfish one, but I’ve just been thinking more about it lately.
I haven’t been a member of USEF for ages so can’t access the bylaws. What language is in there that addresses horse abuse and does it specify how the board must proceed regarding allegations of abuse? Does it spell out specific examples of what is considered abuse? Does it discuss sanctions or other punitive actions and how and when they can be enforced?
For that matter, does USEF have a committee etc. whose sole concern is horse welfare? Does the organization have an investigative arm? If not, why not? And if so, how much power do those people have? Do they have adequate budget to fully investigate and pursue allegations of horse abuse? Are their findings and recommendations taken seriously by the board?
I’m thinking that USEF is scared of being sued by Parra and TPTB were waiting for advice from legal counsel as to what actions it could take vis-à-vis its own bylaws. Meanwhile, FEI issued its provisional suspension and USEF glommed onto that with a big “Whew! Now we don’t have to do anything.”
USEF leaders need to grow a set.
This picture of Parra says it all. Does not seem the least bit concerned about the abuse allegations. Hope someone wipes that smile off his face.
If you go to the Facebook search bar, just type in “Gerd Heuschmann letter” and you will see multiple posts where people have shared his letter, which was written in 2009.
Despite the smile, he looks stressed. Apparently the strain is taking a toll on him - good!
What you have is not what they give at the L Program anymore. Now Basics IS the #1 thing in the judging methodology.
nah, he just looks like a creepy old man with dyed hair. I don’t think someone like him could feel stress. I hope he goes to jail and that every time he is in public, he is a scarlet letter and a HORRIBLE ABUSER OF HORSES and god knows what else.
Here is the fairly recent code of conduct. attachment-b—code-of-conduct.pdf (61.7 KB)
It says all the right things, but other than Safe Sport, where there was no choice, things seem to slide. See particularly the second page re reporting.
They have money for investigations. They dont have specifics re abuse. Only one bullet halfway thru page 1 re health and welfare of horse above all else…
Thanks for posting that!
Just a quick scan looks as though he likely violated AT LEAST the provisions highlighted below.
What is the Sportsman’s Charter referred to in bullet point 2?
And apparently the CEO didn’t feel the issue warranted an immediate suspension and was waiting for advice of counsel, who was probably arguing that they had to hold a hearing first. What does Bylaw 702 say?
Here is that link. I’m between conf. call on my day job 
so dont have time to read the thing.
https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/wncxC9gIuP4/bylaws
so there’s an interview out with Steffen-Smienk, in German. https://www.reiterrevue.de/news/nachrichten/adam-steffens-smienk-die-oeffentlichkeit-hat-noch-nicht-einmal-zehn-prozent-von-dem-gesehen-was-tatsaechlich-passiert-ist-13586837.html?fbclid=IwAR1yGSXChpo_ZWkYIJqOyoAD2rH89kZHNEpVMsHWSmp3IgCH31ws5DGyWKQ
I translated part of it. So there’s a lot more evidence to come. “Adam Steffen-Smienk: “We will not be able to publish more until a criminal complaint has been filed against Cesar Parra. This is currently being worked on and we hope that the American federation will do something about it by next week. Then we are ready to talk about anything. We hired a lawyer to cancel Sven’s non-disclosure agreement, which he had to sign when he worked for Cesar Parra. Then we can disclose everything. The public hasn’t even seen 10 percent of what actually happened. We want to draw attention to these grievances.””
In a way at first I figured that this, however horrible and cruel his abusive practices are, would not affect me since I do not ride dressage and I most definitely do not compete in dressage classes.
Then I reflected some. I ride lesson horses, and while these lesson horses may have never even seem Cesar Parra there IS a chance that they may have run into, been ridden or “trained” by someone who studied under Parra.
I told my main riding teacher last week that I HAVE TO KNOW if a lesson horse they put me up on EVER had training for competitive dressage classes. This is just so that I am prepared if a new-to-me lesson horse freaks out from my aids and my riding. If I ever get put up on such a horse I probably would have to change the way I ride temporarily until I got the horse calmed down and then train the horse in my aids and my Forward Seat riding.
These poor, poor horses. I would not be totally surprised if someday or somehow some could be sold on, given up on, and end up as lesson horses. I would basically have to restart these horses from the beginning stages of Forward Seat riding. That I can do, especially if I am forewarned.
These poor horses who never did anything in their lives to merit even a mild level of abuse, much less this active torture that some (not all) dressage competition riders seem to think is necessary so they can win a cheap ribbon.
I am completely horrified.
Robert Dover made some damning comments on Twitter (X), but he DIDN’T NAME NAMES. Chickensh$t.
Way back in the mid 90’s several riders from my local dressage club took a horsey trip to see a couple of big name trainers’ clinics. Every one of them came back with angry words about Dovers rough (abusive) riding. He literally made several horses bleed from spur jabs while correcting students’ horses.
The audited clinic with Lendon was fantastic. They took lots of notes to share at our next dressage meeting.
Who knows when that photo was taken? Possibly a good time prior to his being publicly exposed as a monster.
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