Roles and jurisdiction

You don’t need permission hun, sorry to let you know it’s legal to video anyone anywhere.

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Well, not ANYwhere. You videoing them on private property wouldn’t go well. It also wouldn’t go well to video them through private property windows, even while standing on public property.

But at a horse show? No reasonable expectation of privacy, unless the specific show has a policy against it you’re liable to be on camera at any time.

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It is a rather noteworthy detail that literally no one at USEA was made aware of this abuse report.

I am slowly starting to understand why USEF didn’t want to take action. I think we can all agree that under the current rules, USEF has no jurisdiction because the incident(s) did not occur at USEF-licensed events (meaning competition, clinic, etc.). And because it has no jurisdiction, it apparently can’t even conduct an investigation. And it can’t take punitive action against the reported party without an investigation, a hearing, etc. Despite the language in its charter, it appears that its hands are tied. IOW, no jurisdiction means no investigation or hearing, which means no punitive action. To do otherwise would open itself up to a lawsuit - which costs $$$$$$.

Dec. 1 cannot get here soon enough.

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yeah that wasn’t really my plan :rofl:

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I didn’t think so! Just wanted to clarify for anyone out there who takes things totally literally! :joy:

there’s always some :laughing:

So they could say they didn’t have a leg to stand on since it didn’t happen at a horse show.

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Because no one made a big enough stink before now. Thank God for SM and cellphone video - otherwise abusers would just continue to do what they do without any fear of reprisals.

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Shock! That is outrageous to charge a fee? To ostensibly keep down false claims?

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Apparently to minimize “frivolous” claims.

My assumption is that… in practice… a $200 fee would minimize any claims coming from people who have limited cash flow. Such as:

  1. lower paid barn staff
  2. working students
  3. grooms
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For most of its existence, USEF was the American Horse Shows Association. It was founded 100 years ago as a network of shows - there were no written rules for the first decade.

It’s a horse show organization, not a horse welfare organization. They exist to run shows in the States and get US riders to important shows overseas. That’s why their jurisdiction has always been limited to shows only and why the current suggestion from USEF if you see abuse happening outside of a show is to contact law enforcement or the Humane Society. USEF’s just here to run the horse shows. Horse abuse somewhere else? Not their problem, good luck!

Of course they have to have rules so they can kick out someone who is beating their horse at a show they’re running… but I cannot imagine they ever wanted or planned for the VERY broad oversight the extraordinary rule change will give them. They’re being pushed into it because times are changing. And probably because they’re worried the IOC will drop us all from The Biggest Show Of All if we don’t get our act together.

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I’m not talking about horse shows. Video and phots without permission is a problem. Like Karen’s posting pictures of other peoples minor children outside playing without masks during covid in an attempt to “shame” their parents. Or people stopping on the road to take pictures of your private property, or you while riding/training your horse on your private property. This is not ok.

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While yes, this is correct, I think most everyone’s grievance is the USEF needs to take more initiative to prevent those from abusing horses from participating in their shows.

It is understood that that the USEF cannot prosecute someone for animal cruelty (although they do have various ties is congress) there’s no excuse they can’t be like “hey we don’t like the videos of how you treat horses, we don’t want you here”

It isn’t very nice, but it isn’t illegal. If you can be seen from the street, photos and videos are permissible, and not an invasion of privacy. Someone can’t trespass to take photos, but if they are otherwise invited onto the property or it can be seen from the street, you can’t prevent them from taking photos or video. You can always request that someone not do so, and if someone is going to use the images in a money-making endeavor, that is different, but I’m not up enough on that law to explain exactly what must be done there.

But, if someone can see you riding from the street and stops to take photos or videos, that is permissible. Creepy, maybe, but not an invasion of privacy under the law.

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I’ve seen one, and heard of others, barns putting up signage stating who can take video, what can be posted, and controlling rights to it all. I wonder if that is actually enforceable, especially since in some cases, the barns are leased not owned, or even shared spaces at a clinic

Lauren Sprieser just instituted this rule for her facility and any media shared has to be approved by her personally.

I was just going to comment this. Not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I understand not wanting to be ripped apart by the internet mob over a single “bad” moment screenshotted from a video. On the other hand, I feel that if you don’t have anything to hide, then this rule just makes it look like you might. If you’re going to be a horse trainer with a social media presence, reading the dumb comments from the uneducated is just part of that I think. And I’m really not sure how she can enforce this rule, unless of course she just bans anyone who posts without permission.

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I have only heard good things about Lauren but this makes me sad. I’m guessing she will carry the same policy to her clinics?

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AFAIK it is also not illegal for someone to fly a drone up to windows of your home and record videos/ take pics. Laws have NOT kept up with technology.