According to a USEF email today, starting next year, all adults with a competing membership will be required to take the online safe sport training in order to participate in horse shows in any way. If it’s the same required training that licensed officials have taken for the last few years, it’s fairly quick and easy.
It may not solve all the problems under the sun, but at least it’s a step towards getting everyone on the same page.
Maybe I’m overly cynical, and I have I haven’t taken the training yet so I guess it’s possible it will turn out to be life-changingly important and newly equip me to protect a person from abuse … but as someone who has spent a lot of time working in hospitals, this reminds me a bit too much of the innumerable “online training modules” we have to do every year — which are invariably nothing but box-checking exercises to allow the hospital to tell the Joint Commision, “look, all our employees received training.”
This “mandatory training for all participants” will cost the Federation next to nothing (especially since, unlike hospitals, they don’t even have to compensate us for our time) while allowing them to tell their lawyers and SafeSport “Hey look, we did something.”
Please don’t interpret this as me saying abuse isn’t a problem or I don’t care to do my part in trying to eliminate it from equestrian sport… I’d gladly take an all-day course if I thought it would truly help me help a victim of abuse. But as someone who already has to complete hours of mandatory “training” of dubious usefulness every year just so that the accreditation agencies can check a box, I can’t help but feel that the only one being helped by this requirement is the Federation itself.
I doubt it. This is a good way to alienate people, especially ones that are already having a hard time justifying the cost of rated showing. Looks like another nail in the coffin to me.
The safe sport training is free if you’re already a member. You just log in and go to your member page and there’s now a button for Safe Sport in it.
I think every sports org in the country has to comply. A friend’s husband volunteered to help with Ultimate Frisbee World Championships and was required to do the training to participate.
Being a hospital worker, you have obviously had a lot of training that probably discusses some of the issues Safe Sport is designed to cover. But most people in the horse show world have no idea what some of the issues are. Many don’t know what “grooming” looks like except as it pertains to getting their horse clean. Many couldn’t define predatory behavior. This is what the initiative is designed to combat - ignorance is not an excuse anymore.
Will some just check the box and be done with it and not bother to listen and learn? Probably many. But if this training saves one child from having to go through HELL because of a predator, it is worth it to me.
I really don’t understand why so many people are anti-Safe Sport (not pointing this at the OP or anyone who has replied above - just something I’ve been hearing all over FB) . I realize that the training might not be perfect at this time, but it’s better than not having any and a child being abused. And this is not something USEF or USHJA can control - it is mandated by the federal government. So what if you aren’t at the elite levels of the sport - learn something that might save a child and be happy it is being given to you for free. This training doesn’t just pertain to sports - you might learn something that helps a child in your community or your children’s school. I just wish everyone would go into this with an open mind and not knock it before they’ve tried it. And yes, I have already taken the training module as a licensed official.
Licensed officials have been required to take the Safe Sport Training for the last 4 yrs. I know I have taken it twice. I am not anti Safe Sport, I am glad it exists.
While it now encompasses more people in the USEF membership, it doesn’t still take into account the remainder of non USEF adults that are at the horse shows and maybe not members, possibly announcers, jump crew, grooms etc. The list could be even longer… Food staff? EMT? Where does it stop?
This is a huge issue - kids spend a lot of time at the in gate with the show staff. Maybe good show managers will require their entire staff to take the training and then market that as a plus for their shows. I can always hope…
You have to start someplace and this might increase the feeling it is ok to say something if you see something. I’ll take it in the next week or so. I’m doing sone CBT for work right now I have to finish. Including a module on Human Trafficking, thought I knew more then I did when I started that one. There are some alarming similarities.
@Sticky Situation, I hear you. As a government employee, I have taken innumerable online trainings that that tell me not to sexually harass people. I have always kind of figured that if an adult needs an online training to tell them not to grope the person in the next cubicle over, we have a much larger issue. However, I also work in a field where a common refrain is “I didn’t know!” or “I didn’t see it happening!,” or (much worse) “but I trusted them!,” so to that end, if these kinds of trainings open the eyes of even one person, I will happily sit my backside down at the computer and join the rest of the membership in taking it.
I also take training on this annually for my corporate job. Sadly, the corporate training is significantly more thorough than the SafeSport version, which is sad as there are no children involved - we are all adults.
I did take all the SafeSport training modules and got the little certificates. But the training has a lot of gaps as it focuses on team sports and team play, and it outlaws things that are pretty common in the horse world. For example, we have a working student living with a trainer right now. According to safe sport, that’s wrong. Trainer is playing the role of guardian so it’s not really wrong. Also, I’ve driven kids all over the region to shows without another adult in the car, but according to that training I shouldn’t be in the car alone with a child. Do I turn myself in for having violated this in the past? Some of the training points are a little ridiculous while they gloss over more pertinent topics. But overall, if you grew up in a closet and don’t know that you should call the authorities when you suspect someone is abusing or molesting a child, then I guess it’s good training.
I did like that SafeSport covers bullying. But then I think about the rule they have about leaving someone out of practice or not including them, and I shake my head again because in this sport, you do get left out if your horse is lame, or on rehab, or you are between horses. The trainer can’t always provide a horse. Also, if you can’t pay, you don’t get the same amount of lessons as another. This isn’t a team sport with single fee for each competitor. So again, some of the rules don’t really work for this sport. SafeSport is clearly designed for programmed or team sports with single fee and team or program equipment.
I’ve taken the Safe Sport training a couple of times as a licensed official. While the training itself might not stop a predator in his tracks, it may open the eyes of others who could be more aware of how to spot the signs around them. And it would certainly be a good idea for parents to take the course for the same reason.
If it helps prevent trauma for even one kid, it’s worth it. This issue is long overdue for some attention. In the horse world, and everywhere.
I started to complain about this yesterday. But put my foot in my mouth and took the course. My idea is that I would let it run and click the buttons while working.
I got sucked it. It’s informative and very well done. Took me a half hour. I actually learned a lot. And it made me stop and think, has this ever happened to me? Or as a former pro, I should not have put myself in ___ situation.
Everyone needs to quit complaining about it (don’t see complaints here, mainly social media) and just do it. Remember, you are not REQUIRED to be a member of the USEF. It limits your ability to participate in some shows, but this is a luxury.
I haven’t looked at FB lately but condemning SS feeds into the undercurrent of disassociating from any regulating body whose rules USEF is required to follow. Said it before, say it again, watch for a new HJ association emerging, one far from USOC and FEI baggage. Only a matter of time, some don’t want any fences around their playground.
It is only free if you have internet access. And as crazy as it may seem to some of you, there are still people who do not have internet access at home. With a limited data plan a half hour program would probably get expensive on a phone.
Though I suppose the library is an option, or work during lunch.
I am simply pointing out that not everyone has unlimited access to the internet.
