You aren’t reading for comprehension.
I said you can’t suspend someone if he isn’t a member of a club to suspend. Because at the end of the day, horse organizations are clubs. You can tell members they aren’t allowed to ride with him, there is a mechanism in the US at least to do that. But that doesn’t change the fact that there are ways around that.
As well, I said he could attend a clinic or learning environment. Not the as the teacher.
Not me not reading for comprehension. I said suspend him and then members cannot clinic with him. Nor be instructed by him.
He won’t be permitted on the grounds at any sanctioned event including clinics.
I’m good starting with that but if you think it’s ineffective I’m more than happy to add to that as well.
I think what you’re missing here is that Mark Todd has retired from eventing. He is focusing on his new career as a race horse trainer. In his native New Zealand.
The video that caused the controversy is two years old. I have no idea if he gave clinics after that time, I don’t think it’s likely, because, you know, he went back to New Zealand and is training race horses.
The British Horseracing Authority temporarily suspended his racing license, pending an investigation, because the clinic the controversial video was taken at was in the UK.
He voluntarily resigned from his board position.
So I’m not sure how what you’re proposing is an effective sanction. The USEA could ban him, sure. Not sure that would have any effect on him whatsoever. His own National Federation could ban him, and that wouldn’t have much effect, either - because he’s not competing any more.
I suppose you could ask the New Zealand racing authority, whatever that is, to suspend his license, but I suspect they would conclude what happened at an eventing clinic in the UK two years ago is not within their purview.
I know what happened to him and about the racing etc.
Suspending from racing for now is good. Keeping him from doing anything else WHILE he’s suspended from racing is good too.
How? What means of enforcement are you suggesting? What overseeing body has the jurisdiction to do what you’re suggesting?
I mean even Andy Kocher’s punishment didn’t say “he can’t own horses or be near them or anything” even if that’s what should happen because there is literally no means to enforce it. The only thing they could do is ban him from USEF/FEI, and from attending USEF/FEI sponsored shows, even as a spectator (he can technically still go/compete at unaffiliated local shows). If he goes home and runs his barn and trains horses and sells them to people who don’t care about his past, there’s literally nothing to stop him. What are you gonna do? Call the police?
Short of keel-hauling him, some folks won’t be satisfied.
Ah I see the problem here: I’m expected to cure the situation. I’m saying there needs to be more punishment. I’m not saying exactly HOW but rather offering up examples… I’m sorry I’m not that versed on the rules and regulations with governing bodies on the other side of the world.
But yeah, he needs more punishment.
Uhm k. Now what is keel hauling?
Or maybe some of us think the horse comes first.
I, too – am guilty of swatting two horses in the butt with a tree branch to get them to cross water on a hunter pace. We were well over time (as in the last ones on course) as far away from the start as could possibly be, and all other methods (and many were tried) were not working. Ideally owners of said horses would have patiently trained them to deal with water beforehand – but alas, that was not to happen prior to this ride. What is my punishment?
This is all silly. We have all determined that this was poor horsemanship. I thought the general consensus was that this was a teachable moment, and that we all needed to “do better.”
This is all about public relations. One I’m sorry just isn’t good enough.
This isn’t just between horse people any more. You aren’t realizing that horse sport is in danger.
From Wikipedia:
" Keel-Hauling, a punishment inflicted for various offences in the Dutch Navy . It is performed by plunging the delinquent repeatedly under the ship’s bottom on one side, and hoisting him up on the other, after having passed under the keel."
Despite Wikipedia’s use of the present tense, I don’t think that the Dutch Navy still uses it as a punishment. 
Maybe not but it works for me
Hmm, well it just seems a bit trite and appears to be nothing more than virtue signaling if you’re going to sit there squawking that we’re not doing enough, but not willing to be a part of the solution.
So for public relations you want to do what, ban him from owning horses forever? From one singular incident 2 years ago that you don’t think he’s sorry enough for?
From the Horse & Hound:
“The rider said she was happy when the horse jumped in, but this was because she had not realised “the situation around why he had jumped in”, and did not know he had been hit until she watched the video later.”
Let me repeat that:
“THE RIDER DID NOT KNOW THE HORSE HAD BEEN HIT UNTIL SHE WATCHED THE VIDEO LATER.”
So WHILE she was sitting on the horse it was “beaten,” “whipped,” “abused,” “terrorized,” “emotionally damaged” subjected to “cruelty,” “violence” and “$hitty training,” and of course the crowd favorite: “raped.”
And the rider didn’t even know this terrible thing was happening while she was actually sitting on the horse.
Wow. Just, wow. Ya’ll ought to be proud of yourselves.
Keel hauling gets especially sporty when the sharp barnacles on the ship’s hull start ripping the person to shreds.
Which, in the case of Mark Todd, has already been done.
Todd has apologized. Unlike the many on here and on social media, he did not defend his actions and admitted being wrong. He’s stepped down from a welfare organization, had a British license suspended, and been vilified online. He will be remembered by this generation not for his accomplishments, but for this abusive tirade that will live forever on the internet.
@Knights_Mom, I have spent hours trying to convince others online that Todd’s actions were abusive and uncalled for. I am shocked and appalled that people see no issue with what he did or even attempt to defend him. But I’m finding that demanding more punishment is just as tedious. It’s also completely missing the point.
We can’t go back and change what happened in the past. However, we can use this outrage and anger and turn them into productive energy. Donate to a local horse welfare organization. Volunteer. Educate those outside the horse industry what good, compassionate horsemanship looks like.
I’m horrified by those genuinely defending Todd’s actions in that video, but as someone who has worked at horse rescue and welfare groups and seen longterm abuse and neglect, I’m begging for people to take action for the horses we can help now.
Yeah I’m done with trying to apply logic in clearly bias situations.
For me, the horse always comes first.
@GoneAway I agree with everything you said. It’s possible to think that something the man did was wrong and ineffective, yet not act like it was the worst thing to ever happen in the history of horsemanship or as if this blots out his entire career. He’s suffered consequences for it to his reputation. His very long and complex career has had many low lows as well as high highs (somewhat ironic wording, I know).
The important thing is to move forward and to discuss how to better approach situations like this in clinics and elsewhere. It’s not a “the most outraged person wins/is the best horse person” situation.
Sadly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the only result of all of this is banning cellphones at clinics.
Yes, and perhaps even prohibiting having your clinic session videoed for future reference. 
Interesting thought about one persons bias versus another’s logic.
Yes of course the horse comes first, and the overwhelming agreement is that MT was in the wrong.
On the evidence we have this was a one off, I have not seen a whole host of “MT beat my horse” posts anywhere. Was it poor judgement? Oh heck yes. Should the behaviour be condoned? Oh heck no, BUT.
BUT, MT apologized, agreed he was in the wrong, and will for sure be under scrutiny from every angle going forward. I guess my roots are far enough back, and I was poor enough, and redneck enough that we often broke twigs off trees to use as sticks if needed…not because we were beating horses the whole time, but it was in an age where a swift swat with a twig was considered normal…picture kids on hungry hairy native type ponies. The fact he used a branch doesn’t worry me, the way it was ultimately used, does.
Again, in a long life of riding I am embarrassed at what I didn’t know, at the methods I used, that I now know were wrong, at losing my temper, when I know you never should. I don’t believe the perfect being exists, and in so many areas I think the term abuse is over used. Still not sure I would call this abuse, but it sure wasn’t right, but that is just personal semantics.
Let’s say that MT lived and learned, but if more evidence arises that this was not an isolated incident but a long running training approach,then we can keel haul him.
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