— Isabell Werth
= those who criticize don’t always know their boundaries and aren’t humble.
Language matters when arguing about the authenticity/validity/applicability of the Helgstrand findings through video footage.
So, let’s look at language. Thanks for your statement, Isabell.
Her statement lacks a direct and unquestionable, full condemnation of the specific abuse pictured at Andreas Helgstrand’s mega barn. Her statement attempts to provide context: when I was there I never saw anything like it, believe me.
= I believe her. She is a flagship client who will NOT see the bottom-drawer ugliness of a flagship dressage barn. Why would they be so stupid to show her anything but peace and perfection? As with any client. Same goes for Parra.
Allegations / evidence of abuse do not usually come from colleagues at the same level. Allegations and evidence of abuse gets collected by the nobodies of the hierarchy. Easiest way to dismiss the allegations? Is to say they were nobodies with no clue of anything. Or to say AI altered the otherwise peaceful arena scenes.
In the sixth paragraph Werth reveals why she issued the statement now: she is worried about her own track record with Bella Rose.
Well, the world will never be pre-cell phones again. So if the art of riding isn’t the actual inspiration to ride correctly and well then maybe the rider’s fear of cell phones will help our dear horses suffer less. Because the warmup rings will remain public and the competition is actually FOR THE AUDIENCE. The public matters and has an ongoing, public right to discuss and speak up in their myriad voices — #forthehorse.
This is an unrushed interview by St.Georg, oldest equestrian publication founded in 1900, with the Danish person who went undercover to follow written tips of abuse to film the abuse. It’s in English:
