Unsportsmanlike conduct at Hampton Classic

[Glyphica]

I’m not sure why other people’s bad behavior should have any bearing upon this case. So there are worse horse people in the world – it doesn’t mean that this rider should go free for this behavior. That’s like saying a drunk driver who kills someone should be let go because hey, he’s still not as bad as Ted Bundy.

This rider went way beyond the line and should be held accountable. The officials who did nothing should also be held accountable for not upholding USEF horse welfare standards, which the USEF has been so vocal about recently. Her AA status, money, age, the actions of others, her horse’s possibly “dirty” behavior (didn’t see that at all, but then I’m DQ and really don’t know what I’m looking at in a jumper ring), whatever-other-variable-you-pick should have nothing to do with it.

[Ponyhalter]

@Jealoushe

Is that why you need an alter to post this?

I’ll be honest, I use an alter because I don’t currently have the energy to deal with putting this stuff in my real name. Backlash in this industry is a real thing and I wish I was big enough to not care. Alas, I am not. It’s hard to be the one that doesn’t want to join in the pile on. I’ll also admit to not being perfect. I work on being a better person and a better horseman every day, but unlike many here it seems, I’m still working on it.

[Ponyhalter]

@mvp

Well, ok. But people bitching on social media didn’t get here by themselves. And whether or not they have committed the same sin or worse under cover of anonymity isn’t the point. Rather, the point is that this rider in a very public space and the governing body of the sport didn’t to establish a bright line about what none of us should be doing to horses…whether anyone is watching or not.

Had that been done, I’ll bet this would have gone away quietly.

Although I agree that this is definitely an offense that warranted steward intervention and discipline, I don’t agree that, that is the only reason it has blown up. It blew up to where it is now because right or wrong the Chronicle chose to publish an article and the video. Maybe they wouldn’t have done so if the rider had been punished properly. Who knows?

[Bellathemustang]

@Ponyhalter

I’ll be honest, I use an alter because I don’t currently have the energy to deal with putting this stuff in my real name. Backlash in this industry is a real thing and I wish I was big enough to not care. Alas, I am not. It’s hard to be the one that doesn’t want to join in the pile on. I’ll also admit to not being perfect. I work on being a better person and a better horseman every day, but unlike many here it seems, I’m still working on it.

I’m confused, are you judging us for judging someone? Or judging us for sharing in a popular opinion?

I am upset about 2 things:

1. Her behavior (striking an animal is not ok)
2. The lack of disciplinary action.

Which one of those is wrong of me?

[Millergirl5]

@ilovetheadd27

I can’t believe there’s not a thread on this yet. Thoughts on the incident? Thoughts on outing this rider? Definitely not appropriate at a show or at home. I’ll just leave this here for discussion.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/…ampton-classic

P.s.- not trying to be a **** stirrer, i just think it’s something that we should discuss in this forum.

I’m SUPER embarrassed for her. Can you imagine??? I think it was definately poor sportsmanship and nothing I would want myself or my daughter to exhibit at a show or anywhere. When I was a young teenage rider I threw some fits myself and I’m sure I was an embarrassment at a couple shows…but she IS 36 and she looked ridiculous. I would think she would have wanted to excuse herself from that competition out of shear humility, however, I’m leaning towards her thinking she did nothing wrong so nothing will change.

[Millergirl5]

@Bellathemustang

She was literally dragging him. I expect better horse handling from my totally non horsey husband.

If you can’t control your emotions, horseback riding is not the sport for you. Maybe running would be good? She could throw as many tantrums as she wanted and not risk hurting anyone or anything but herself.

I agree, I honestly could handle her fit of leg flaring more than the dragging of the horse by the bridle, it just got more and more ridiculous.

[Millergirl5]

I did google her and watch some of her rides, she apparently has a very embedded theory on horse handling.

[Ponyhalter]

@Bellathemustang

I’m confused, are you judging us for judging someone? Or judging us for sharing in a popular opinion?

I am upset about 2 things:

1. Her behavior (striking an animal is not ok)
2. The lack of disciplinary action.

Which one of those is wrong of me?

Well, since I don’t think I know you, I wasn’t judging you at all. I was talking about people that I know in my own life and here on the forums who are piling on that do that and worse in their own barn and at shows. I am upset about both of those things you listed as well. But I’m seeing people that are talking about it and sharing the article, helping to whip up the frenzy, that have gotten away with the same type of thing or worse at horse shows.

[Bellathemustang]

@Ponyhalter

Well, since I don’t think I know you, I wasn’t judging you at all. I was talking about people that I know in my own life and here on the forums who are piling on that do that and worse in their own barn and at shows. I am upset about both of those things you listed as well. But I’m seeing people that are talking about it and sharing the article, helping to whip up the frenzy, that have gotten away with the same type of thing or worse at horse shows.

Ah, got it. I can be “overzealous” with my animal rights activism. But I understand now your comment was addressing hypocrisy, not the legitimate opinions that many of us share.

[Moesha]

@Glyphica

I’m not sure why other people’s bad behavior should have any bearing upon this case. So there are worse horse people in the world – it doesn’t mean that this rider should go free for this behavior. That’s like saying a drunk driver who kills someone should be let go because hey, he’s still not as bad as Ted Bundy.

This rider went way beyond the line and should be held accountable. The officials who did nothing should also be held accountable for not upholding USEF horse welfare standards, which the USEF has been so vocal about recently. Her AA status, money, age, the actions of others, her horse’s possibly “dirty” behavior (didn’t see that at all, but then I’m DQ and really don’t know what I’m looking at in a jumper ring), whatever-other-variable-you-pick should have nothing to do with it.

Of course everything is relative- I think what many people are saying is not in defense of bad behavior- clearly this is and uncalled for and she has to face the music for it- but many of us are seeing hypocrisy in many people “wringing their hands and clutching their pearls” over this- I think that deserves discussion as well -like I said earlier- it is not someone else’s bad behavior- or even defending an individuals bad behavior- it is when you pick and choose who to blast and who to be so offended by and make an example of. Again not defending anything we all have to be accountable for our actions- but personally when I see people defend or not have issue with someone for horrible behavior that is documented - then go after this situation - to me it shows a strange moral double standard- not that one “crime” being less means to ignore it. Just be even - don’t turn a blind eye to one thing and then go on the warpath over another.

[APirateLooksAtForty]

@staceymc

As of the other day, it was for sale on Big Eq so I would assume she’s already trying to.

No. Riders at this level have the option of just ceasing to show the horse if they detest it so much, as she clearly does. She has the resources to either pay a professional to campaign it in the performance hunters and get it sold, or to donate it to a reputable high school
program, or give it away. There is no excuse for her continuing to ride and show a horse that she is going to treat this way. This is my biggest issue with her conduct, I think. Why is she even showing a horse that she clearly doesn’t enjoy and can’t even bring herself to treat fairly? Having it for sale on bigeq is zero consolation.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

@Jealoushe

Maybe the horse doesn’t want to jump because it gets beat at home.

Maybe its sore.

Maybe its gut hurts from being booted all the time.

Maybe it was drugged.

I do not blame a horse whatsoever for a simple “look” and a little crow hop, its a horse not a robot. The RIDER needs to investigate the horses behavior in the best way possible, not jump off ready to boot it like a football.

Makes me think of the showjumper who got dumped in the ring. Stands up and helps the jump crew put the fences back up. Thats what a TRUE horseman do.

The horseman that I believe you are thinking about is actually an Event rider from Brazil named Ruy Fonseca. It was actually in the damn Olympics after a great xc round the day before. Horse stops in show jumping phase (last phase) he falls off, horse takes off and Ruy helps reset the jump. He is not just a good horseman…but also just a super nice guy. That particular horse can stop in SJ but is a total xc super star. Ruy loves that horse but knows that he will occasionally eat dirt and instead of blaming the horse, just keeps working to be better and deal with the disappointment. And I suspect the disappointment of falling in the Olympics (in your own country) is greater than a pop off at Hampton.

My personal view…is lets spend more time celebrating people like Ruy…and less on bad. Show kids that THIS is what we all should aspire too. And it runs deeper than just horsemanship.

eta: here is a link to Ruy’s very different response. Note how he sees his horse is fine first then just picks up the pole like a true horseman. http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/rid…se-stops-short

[JenEM]

I believe stewards at any USEF show can issue yellow cards. Although I think they are more widely used in eventing (and maybe have more “teeth”?), but I do know someone who got a yellow card for very unsafe golf cart driving at a USEF show.

From the USEF general rules:
GR1036 Yellow Warning Card - Stewards and Technical Delegates

1. A Yellow Warning Card may be issued by a Steward, Technical Delegate, or Competition Official working in any of these capacities at the competition to any competitor, spectator or participant for improper conduct, or for noncompliance with the rules, provided the issuer considers the conduct not severe enough to cause the issuer to file formal Charges pursuant to GR604.

Thank you for the correction, @Applecore ! I honestly had no idea, as I have never seen/heard this applied to a regular hunter/jumper show. Since this is a mechanism that is already in place, I’ll stand by my point that this is something that perhaps needs to be used more often in cases of poor sportsmanship like this.

[Dressagelvr]

How long will it be before we realize that there isn’t any such thing as a “dirty stopper”? That stoppers are made by bad riders, a use, undiagnosed physical pain, over work or environmental factors.

These are living, breathing creatures, not machines…as others have said.

Reprehensible behavior from rider, stewards, and USEF.

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[worldclass777]

@ilovetheadd27

I can’t believe there’s not a thread on this yet. Thoughts on the incident? Thoughts on outing this rider? Definitely not appropriate at a show or at home. I’ll just leave this here for discussion.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/…ampton-classic

P.s.- not trying to be a **** stirrer, i just think it’s something that we should discuss in this forum.

I think that Chronicle of the Horse is horribly off base for humiliating this poor gal. YES, she was off base. To be honest I think the gal should sue COTH for the FB post. She made a mistake for sure for sure…but public humiliation in front of the whole horse show world. Here is what should have happened. Let Hampton’s Horse Show Steward discipline her …verses public humiliation on a large scale. Shame on COTH!!!

[chai]

Her behavior is disgraceful. The Chronicle of the Horse didn’t humiliate this ‘poor gal’. She humiliated herself by abusing her horse in a fit of anger at a public event.

[bitranchy]

Sue COTH :lol:

Unless I’m missing something here, all that COTH has done is publish an article on the event. She’s a grown woman, she should be able to handle herself accordingly. So you’ve fallen off? That’s a bummer. Brush yourself off and excuse yourself politely. Plenty of horsemen and women have had upsets in the ring in front of thousands, and handled it gracefully. No excuse.

[worldclass777]

@bitranchy

Sue COTH :lol:

Unless I’m missing something here, all that COTH has done is publish an article on the event. She’s a grown woman, she should be able to handle herself accordingly. So you’ve fallen off? That’s a bummer. Brush yourself off and excuse yourself politely. Plenty of horsemen and women have had upsets in the ring in front of thousands, and handled it gracefully. No excuse.

COTH posted the video on FB to “tar and feather” her and to shame her. This was a direct attack. Again, I think what the gal did was disgraceful. Posting on FB to humiliate her with the wide audience that COTH has in the horse show world was ruthless.

[bitranchy]

Online horse news and publication sites like COTH, Noelle Floyd, Quarter Horse News, and the endless list of others, write a variety of articles on the good, the bad, the ugly, and the boring. They’re often linked through FB. Plenty of riders who’ve behaved similarly, regardless of discipline, have also been the topic of speculation. I don’t think this is exclusive to Jazz, and I don’t think it was a smear campaign. If someone chooses to misbehave publicly, there are often consequences for that.

Disagree with them, maybe. But there’s really no grounds for COTH to be sued here.

[mvp]

@Ponyhalter

And that thought pattern is pretty much what is wrong with social media in a case like this. You can say whatever you want about whatever you want despite the way you are actually treating real life animals and people. And many people I see wagging their virtual finger at this woman are guilty of being just as crappy to the animals and people in their lives.

If you want to imply that I’m one of those people who is wagging my virtual finger (which I am) while being guilty of doing crappy things, that have the DECENCY to do that under your own user name. I posted what I did under mine. You are welcome to research the snot out of what I post here. I think I’m owed the same amount of transparency from someone who would, from some kind of moral high ground, make an accusation.