New USEF Safe Sport Requirement

[2bayboys]

@MHM

Just curious. Where are people seeing complaints about this on social media?

It’s free, it’s fairly quick and easy, it might help someone. It’s also required by law. What the problem??

I’m seeing quite a bit of complaining about it on FB, and some of the loudest complainers are prominent professionals.

I have a wealthy friend who is relocating his family to Charlottesville, Virginia. His daughter, who is just entering 9th grade, rides in jumpers and eq. She’s talented and wants to pursue the sport seriously. They are the kind of wealthy who can support multiple horses and fly the daughter every weekend down to Florida to compete.

My friend asked me for recommendations for trainers to check out in the area. One of those recommended names is loudly and proudly speaking against SafeSport on social media. My friend said no way. He won’t even consider putting his daughter into that program because of that trainer’s objections to SS.

Rather short sighted of horse professionals to have that view, no?

[MHM]

@2bayboys

I’m seeing quite a bit of complaining about it on FB, and some of the loudest complainers are prominent professionals.

I have a wealthy friend who is relocating his family to Charlottesville, Virginia. His daughter, who is just entering 9th grade, rides in jumpers and eq. She’s talented and wants to pursue the sport seriously. They are the kind of wealthy who can support multiple horses and fly the daughter every weekend down to Florida to compete.

My friend asked me for recommendations for trainers to check out in the area. One of those recommended names is loudly and proudly speaking against SafeSport on social media. My friend said no way. He won’t even consider putting his daughter into that program because of that trainer’s objections to SS.

Rather short sighted of horse professionals to have that view, no?

Huh. Very short sighted, I would think.

I feel like people who object probably have not actually tried to take the course. As others have said, it’s not difficult. And it is educational, even if it’s not specifically tailored to the horse world.

If they’re objecting for more nefarious reasons, they probably should get left behind.

[gottagrey]

@Sticky Situation

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.

Put me in the same category as you Sticky. Many of us in the corporate world have to take “mandatory harassment” training which emphasizes the company’s “zero tolerance” policies on harassment. I’m not sure about Sticky, but having witnessed at least 2 or 3 incidents falling under the Zero tolerance policy which got 1 victim fired, another feeling she had no other alternative other than to resign, and another occasion where the perpetrator (the office head muckety muck) was given the heads up to resign or head would roll (completely against the “zero tolerance policy” In that case, fortunately a C-level woman executive reported the other female staff member’s complaints - had the staff members reported it I’m sure they would’ve fallen under the “we’re growing in another direction and you’re no longer a good fit” category. So yeah, I’m a bit cynical about these training modules as well.

For USEF, is an adult rider reports a someone for sleazy behavior - is it going to be similar to reporting that Shamateur? where every knows they are violating the rule yet are fearful of some sort of backlash/retaliation so they don’t file a protest or complaint.

I’ll also ask you to please not interpret my comments as not saying there isn’t abuse -I do, i’ve experienced some sort of harassment personally myself, so I do care but some of us have come to realize that taking these courses doesn’t end the abuse or harassment sadly and unfortunately.

[Highflyer]

@trubandloki

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.

McDonald’s and Starbucks have free Wi-Fi. I doubt there are too many people who can afford a USEF membership and afford to compete who can’t figure something out.

[vxf111]

@Highflyer

McDonald’s and Starbucks have free Wi-Fi. I doubt there are too many people who can afford a USEF membership and afford to compete who can’t figure something out.

Especially with plenty of notice. I suspect there are even computers available at some USEF events if someone had no other way to get on the internet. But given the costs of showing, it would seem unusual that someone could afford to show and not find SOME way of getting half an hour of internet access.

[Tackpud]

@MHM

Just curious. Where are people seeing complaints about this on social media?

It’s free, it’s fairly quick and easy, it might help someone. It’s also required by law. What’s the problem??

Some of the comments I’ve seen (names removed):

I don’t have to do this to earn a paycheck, why do I have to do special training to participate in a hobby?

Seriously- it’s a hobby, I might compete twice a year- I want to support usef- I am not a professional, I dont have working students, I don’t have anyone depending on me for a job- I just don’t think there is a serious problem with sexual assault among hobbyists- further- most of us have had to take these programs in the workplace- where frankly they were ridiculous and useless. USEF perhaps needs to take a look at professionals versus amateurs. and Further- does anyone really think that making everyone take harassment training will rid the organization of sexual predators? This is a cya move.

Complete BS! This is what happens when parents drop their kids off at the barn and leave. Thank goodness my parents stayed with me the entire time. It’s time parents step up and stop rushing to do things - enjoy time with your kids. And the best way to stop this - .38 Special!

In my opinion, all Safe Sport does is give predators better ideas on how to do the things

"safe Sport " rule will do nothing and impact those of us who self care at shows and sign as our own trainer.

This would be annoying to me. I often sign as my own trainer when I do my own care. I’m an amateur.

[MHM]

Wow. Interesting. Thanks, Tackpud.

Talk about short sighted. And not seeing the forest for the trees.

Again, it’s half an hour online that might make it easier to help yourself or someone else. Lots of people could probably complete the course in less time than they’ve already spent complaining about it.

And again, it’s not something USEF invented. It’s a legal requirement now for many sports.

[lmlacross]

I saw a lot of griping about it on FB earlier today (I believe on a publication’s announcement of the new requirement). The idea that this is somehow more onerous to a member than the value of even ONE potentially detected or prevented case of abuse is truly ridiculous. This and other online training modules may not be perfect, but as a public school teacher, I’ve been taking them for years. Working in an environment in which children are almost exclusively in the company of adults operating in loco parentis, I can see the similarities in horse showing. Kids without parents, lots of adults, adults they trust who are in positions of power, etc.

IMO, a person has to be a special kind of self important to gripe about pouring a glass of wine and clicking through half an hour of online training on this topic. And there was griping aplenty on FB, per usual. (The quotes TackPud pulled are the ones I saw.)

[amb]

@social media (as relayed by Tackpud)

"safe Sport " rule will do nothing and impact those of us who self care at shows and sign as our own trainer.

This would be annoying to me. I often sign as my own trainer when I do my own care. I’m an amateur.

What am I missing that this makes a difference either way to people signing as their own trainer? Is there some requirement other than the training itself coming out of it that I missed?

I don’t mind (and generally approve of) the training, but if it’s going to add annoyance to my already-long show days I’d like to be prepared.

[TooManyBays]

Does anyone know what will happen to those people who show up to shows with no USEF membership? I’m thinking the 30 day grace period mentioned applies but it wasn’t exactly clear.
Do they get turned away from the show office because they don’t have a membership? At some shows (mainly C rated) in my area maybe 10-25% of people registering have not paid their USEF fees yet and do it on the spot at the show.

[MHM]

@amb

What am I missing that this makes a difference either way to people signing as their own trainer? Is there some requirement other than the training itself coming out of it that I missed?

I don’t mind (and generally approve of) the training, but if it’s going to add annoyance to my already-long show days I’d like to be prepared.

I don’t think it will make a difference to anyone who signs as their own trainer, other than that at some point between December 1st and the next USEF show they attend, they need to spend about half an hour online to complete the safe sport course.

And even if the training doesn’t apply to your own particular situation as a hobbyist or an amateur or what have you, it might apply to the kid who has the stall next to you at that next horse show. And the knowledge from that safe sport course might enable you to notice something with that kid that you would have completely missed otherwise.

[MHM]

@TooManyBays

Does anyone know what will happen to those people who show up to shows with no USEF membership? I’m thinking the 30 day grace period mentioned applies but it wasn’t exactly clear.
Do they get turned away from the show office because they don’t have a membership? At some shows (mainly C rated) in my area maybe 10-25% of people registering have not paid their USEF fees yet and do it on the spot at the show.

I think that would be when the grace period kicks in, although I do not know that for a fact. I asked a similar question at the USHJA meeting last year about microchips, and I believe the grace period also applies to that rule.

[supershorty628]

@MHM

I think that would be when the grace period kicks in, although I do not know that for a fact. I asked a similar question at the USHJA meeting last year about microchips, and I believe the grace period also applies to that rule.

USEF confirmed this on their Facebook page.

[MHM]

@supershorty628

USEF confirmed this on their Facebook page.

Thanks.

I hope people will be willing to see the big picture on this issue and recognize that the possibility of a tiny bit of inconvenience is outweighed by the possibility of protecting kids. And adults as well.

[Tackpud]

@TooManyBays

Does anyone know what will happen to those people who show up to shows with no USEF membership? I’m thinking the 30 day grace period mentioned applies but it wasn’t exactly clear.
Do they get turned away from the show office because they don’t have a membership? At some shows (mainly C rated) in my area maybe 10-25% of people registering have not paid their USEF fees yet and do it on the spot at the show.

There is a 30 day grace period for anyone joining at a show. For everyone who is a current multiple year member, a current life member, or who renews their membership before December 1st, the grace period is until January 1, 2019.

[MintHillFarm]

I still don’t understand how non-members who are at the horse shows are exempt from this.

Jump crew, EMT, food vendors etc.

[dags]

Strong FB commentary out there today that definitely rings in the ‘new governing body’ corner. I am just sitting here contemplating how that even happens… what are the logistics of that? Do you just throw an 8 week pop up show next door to WEF? If you’re a big player that makes a living selling high end horses, you can’t just walk away from winters in Wellington. Summers in NY. Devon… Indoors…

I’m sure the potential new PTB are tossing these ideas around and I would love to be a fly on those walls. I can’t even begin the mental agility this kerfuffle requires.

Anyhoo, super interesting article on Deadspin of all places, which is actually what I came here to share. I’m only about halfway through but lets just say we are not the only sport questioning the USOC and SafeSport: https://deadspin.com/safesport-the-u…-se-1826279217

[ynl063w]

@MintHillFarm

I still don’t understand how non-members who are at the horse shows are exempt from this.

Jump crew, EMT, food vendors etc.

If they aren’t members of USE, USE can’t require them to follow their rules. Seriously, is that really that difficult to understand?

[trubandloki]

@ynl063w

If they aren’t members of USE, USE can’t require them to follow their rules. Seriously, is that really that difficult to understand?

It is not hard to understand. I think the point being made is that there are lots of people at horse shows that are not members and since they are not members they will not be taking this course. Nothing more.

[Saskatoonian]

Non-members could be required to take the course as a condition of employment on the show grounds, just not by USEF. So if I were running a show and hiring vendors, I could include in the contract a requirement that all people working on the grounds have taken the training. Same goes for jump crew, grooms, etc. Whether that’s likely to happen or particularly enforceable is another question, obviously.

Seems to me though that the relationships those people have with kids is different from the relationship trainers have.