Good news on the AHSA website, New york Supreme Court affirms AHSA ban of Barney Ward. Great Job AHSA!! Check it out at www.ahsa.org
I thought about Ward, the son, just today and wondered about the accusations of mistreatment to jumping horses in his care. Great to hear that the AHSA will prevail in preventing the father, Barney, admitted/convicted horse killer from being involved in any way with sanctioned horseshows.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gladstone:
First off if every rider who has ever tried to gain an advantage by prepairing thier showjumper, either by bamboo or other we will have to ban just about everyone in G.P. jumping. They all do it, so wake up people. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My parents always taught me that “everyone does it” is not a valid defense.
I feel I must add to this thread. I was stabled the entire winter in the same aisle as McLain Ward two years ago. I have to say, the horses were well taken care of, impeccably turned out, and MW seemed to be very on top of managing his string. In addition, I have probably never seen such a good, competent staff, from top to bottom.
Now I am not a big MW fan, in fact there are probably 4-5 riders I would prefer to see win on any given day (for no other reason than I am a fan of those riders, in much the same way as I prefer to see the Florida Gators beat just about any team on this planet 
), but his horses are well turned out, very fit, and he is a very effective rider. The primary argument against him seems to be that he is BW’s son. Weak, I should think…
Just a legal FYI for clarification – In New York, their “Supreme Court” is the trial court, the first level of the judicial process. That would be the same as what in other states and in the federal system are called the district courts or superior courts. (New York historically called the trial court the Supreme Court because they wanted to emphasize the importance of trial by jury.) After the NY Supreme Court come the intermediate courts of appeal and then the final court of appeal (the proper name of which I can’t remember), which is the equivalent of the Supreme Court in the other states and the federal system.
So, the ruling of the Supreme Court (trial court) granting the permanent injunction is subject to appeal if B. Ward chooses to pursue it.
You can not compare Pete Rose to Barney Ward!
Pete Rose did not murder his teammates for insurance money! If he did, I wouldn’t want him in the stands next to me either!
I don’t know either of the Ward’s personally, however, I do have definite opinions about the insurance fraud horse killings and the type of punishment I feel fits the crime. But because I am not in the position to impose punishment, etc., my personal opinions aren’t really relevant. What is relevant though is the fact that as a member of the AHSA, B.Ward fell under the same umbrella of rules and regulations as the rest of us. He knew what the rules were and that if he CHOSE to operate outside of those rules, there would be consequences if he was caught. Justice Braun stated it best when he said that Ward “should have considered the consequences of his actions before he put himself in the position in which he is now.” B.Ward may not like the sanctions imposed upon him, but he knew what he was doing was wrong and that to be caught would carry penalties - too bad for him, he chose to do what he did of his own free will. You do what you do and you get what you get.
And, yes, it’s too bad that so many other members of society in general are able to “get away with” breaking the rules and seemingly never have to answer for it. If participants/members of the horse industry want to see a change within the industry (whether it be showing, racing, or whatever) it must start with each one of us taking responsibility to “police” the industry for the benefit of our children,horses, and ourselves. Don’t look the other way when you are witness to illegal drug use or any other violation of the rules. Don’t support trainers with questionable ethics just because you want to win. There are plenty of honest horsemen who will help you achieve your goals in an ethical fashion.
Okay - stepping down from soapbox…
I hope I’m not the one in trouble! 
I thought it had been proven in court that B. Ward himself had killed three horses?!
I didn’t say I thought the AHSA was trying to prevent B. Ward from merely seeing his son; that’s unprofessional. But I think horses are safer with him off the showgrounds.
About McLain… Is there trustworthy evidence that he did NOT put chips in his horse’s boot, or do you think he is just making up a lot of excuses for himself? Just curious.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bertie:
According to an interview with McLain Ward on the Towerheads site, a steward found the chips in the grass near the horse after removing the boot. There were no marks on the horse’s leg. http://www.towerheads.com/stories/mclainward20000704.asp <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey Bertie, thanks for the link. I read it,very interesting. Ya just don’t know what to think. I like to give people the bennefit of the doubt,but, if you do the crime–pay the time.
Amazing, for the longest time I was wholly unaware that anything had gone on with the Wards! I had no idea M. Ward had put plastic chips in his horse’s boots a SECOND time (the first time, I read about it in an equestrian newspaper which seemed to be saying he was innocent! Imagine!), and it took me quite a while to realize that B. Ward had actually murdered three horses! Anyway, I am REALLY glad he is totally banned once and for all!! I hope his son is, too. I hope that someday, neither of them will ever be able to be near a horse again!!
I agree fully that the “my parents did it” excuse is no good, but that is not what I am saying. I am saying that the prepairing of jumpers is as common as flatwork in the sport. The truth be known riders of yester years did far more to prepare horses than the ones of today. With more attention being paid to stewarding the sport has become much cleaner. I just think one should realize that M.Ward if giulty is not alone. I also don’t believe he (if giulty) was trying to hurt any horse. I would even go a step further in saying I would bet that his horse care is as good or better than anyone’s in the world. Mclain has a reputation of keeping horses sounder and healthier than most of his piers, and for a far longer period of time.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Inverness:
[B] Concerning the McLain Ward situation, I’ve not read anything that definitively establishes that he or his groom were responsible for putting the plastic chips in his horse’s boots.
I’m willing to give McLain the benefit of the doubt in the absence of clear evidence that he actually committed the offense. Given the fact that his father’s transgressions were well known . . . .
Moreover, I believe that the “sins of the father” argument went out with primogeniture.[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hear, hear, Inverness!
While I believe that the common level should be one without training “tricks and treats”, it is the hard truth that almost all competitive riders at the GP level employ some kind of artificial “trick” to make their horses jump better and cleaner, not all of which are illegal but probably would be if their presence became widely known. And all of these people are good horsemen and horsewomen. I wish it were black and white, but it’s not. There is a natural tendency to focus on whoever’s on top, as McLain is and has been.
Rather than casting abject comments, I think we should ask our top riders to set a good example, which McLain has clearly worked very hard to do. The positive comments on this board reflect that.
I hate to see anybody degraded by association when s/he has worked so hard to overcome the reputation of the family. For some, it may never be good enough, but Mclain has earned my respect.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Janet:
Miser? What misery. I was not under the impression thast any of the horses that were fraudulently killed to collect insurance proceeds were in any misery.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Janet…the quote said “other horses” where the word other means OTHER and not the three horses in question. I believe perhaps you misinterpreted the point of the posting…and I wasn’t too clear, sorry. 
[This message has been edited by MAZ (edited 11-13-2000).]
Janet, so anyone who has comitted a felony should be banned from the A.H.S.A. ? It seems that is what you are saying. Lets see, do you know how many people at shows would fall under this situation. A LOT!! A felony conviction should have nothing to do with this. He has served his time for his felony. The fact that horse shows don’t place huge walls between the stands and the ring is not B. wards fault, and the rules should be the same as in other sports as far as allowing B. Ward to be a spectator. As far as horse deals, the ahsa should be concerned with enforcing thier rules for compitition not stoping one from making a living. Everyone can sell horses from home.
you know, growing up, doing the a circuit in NY (old salem and HITS at roseview, anyone?) i grew up worshiping GM and B Ward. as an adult, my childhood idolatry has been destroyed by obnoxious, meritless comments and criticisms and the heartless crimes commited against defenseless creatures that tried thier hardest for thier human partners. it rather depresses me. sigh oh well. my new hero is a 3 yr old boy who has the nerve to get on my BIG and HOT tb event mare and make her LISTEN to him. he’s so cool.
Checkers, MCW is innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around! The question you just asked is bound to lead us into trouble – I’m pretty sure that is what Erin is emphasizing above. 
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Checkers324:
Pleaded GUILTY? To me that sounds like he was yelling, “I did it! I did it! Ban me! Ban me!” I don’t think so…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don’t remember the exact details, and none of those articles are on the web, but Barney Ward pleaded guilty to the counts levied against him by the federal government. I believe they were mail/wire fraud charges, the same as were levied against George Lindemann and Marion Hulick.
Essentially, it’s a federal offense to use the mail or telephone to arrange a crime, or something like that. (Help, lawyers?) To the best of my recollection, those are the kind of charges Barney pleaded guilty to – basically using the mail and telephone to help arrange for horses to be killed for insurance purposes.
Barney has, all along, maintained that he was not involved in killing horses himself.
Beyond the tragedy of those beautiful horses suffering a horrible death, I often think of all the deserving, yet financially strapped, young riders out there who would’ve taken such wonderful care of those “unwanted” horses. How they would have treasured them. But rather than sell them inexpensively or (gasp!) give them away, their owners saved face and money by having them murdered for insurance money. How could Ward, and his cohorts, ever consider themselves horsemen? Or horse lovers? I almost relish the bad karma they’ve all stored up. It will, indeed, eventually come back to haunt them–here or someplace else.
Who are the horses that B ward Murdered?
Has M. Ward ever had any public comment or comdenation about his father’s admitted actions?
