USEF Code of Ethics - are behavior expectations of our Licensed Officials enforced?

[Halfhalting]

I recently had a USEF Judge deliver her horse to me (paid) for a month-to-month lease, with his supplements. After some time we discovered that the Judge/Owner’s joint supplement was actually bute (not joint supplement!) that she was tricking us in to giving the horse daily (along with provided and labeled Previcox). We stopped feeding the bute as soon as we discovered the trick, and the horse went significantly lame shortly thereafter.

I followed up with USEF since the Owner is a Licensed Judge. They have a Licensed Officials Code of Ethics. It states, in part:

“As a licensed official of the United States Equestrian Federation, I will conduct my duties with the highest level of integrity. My primary concern is the welfare of the horse while giving full attention to exhibitors and respect to my colleagues… My personal behavior will reflect my integrity, character and respect for the sport and the United States Equestrian Federation, including my use of Social Media.”

USEF is noting this situation in the Judge’s files, but I am awaiting additional response. Has anybody else had experience with USEF enforcing the Code of Ethics (including personal behavior reflecting integrity, character and respect for the sport) as it relates to Judges/Licensed Officials?

[SCI]

I have no experience with USEF Code of Ethics, but I’d be interested to hear what the judge said when you confronted her with your discovery.

[MtnDrmz]

Have you even contacted the Owner/Judge to ask about the bute? I get the frustration that they didn’t disclose as thoughoughly as they could, but I wouldn’t say the are “tricking you” until I had spoken with them. I would have gone there first to give them a chance to explain or provide feedback before notifying the USEF. A lot of serviceably sound horses go on one bute a day. Is it ideal? maybe not, but it depends on the horse. Remeber, one/day is an allowable level and depending on the horse’s records, age, and wear and tear, that is not a super alarming dose. Hopefully you aren’t doing major things with it, but if you are just doing lower level shows, smaller fences, and not a ton of rated shows every week, I wouldn’t be as worried. I also can’t imagine one bute a day would cover up a significant lamness, so I feel like there is more going on here?

You said the lease was month to month, so I totally get if you don’t want to continue with the horse, but I would definitely try to hear someone out first in this situation.

[Halfhalting]

This was discussed at length with the Owner/Judge. Their response was not of value. They got caught. Horse was returned. I count myself lucky that we figured out that the daily big scoop of “joint supplement” was actually bute -versus the alternative - the horse could have tested positive at a USEF A show (which was the purpose of the lease) and we would have had no clue where the NSAID was coming from… Testing positive can impact riders, trainers, horses, etc.

I would like to go back to the question about USEF Code of Ethics. If anybody has experience or knowledge… Thanks!

[vxf111]

Holy crap, that astounds me and I am pretty jaundiced, I think.

I don’t know anything about the code of ethics but that sounds like fraud/misrepresentation to me if the horse was represented pre-lease as SOUND and you relied upon that representation in leasing the horse.

[SlamDunk]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8712964]
Holy crap, that astounds me and I am pretty jaundiced, I think.

I don’t know anything about the code of ethics but that sounds like fraud/misrepresentation to me if the horse was represented pre-lease as SOUND and you relied upon that representation in leasing the horse.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully you are jaded, and not jaundiced

But I can’t believe they tried to pull this off on a horse you intended to show! (well at all really). It’s certainly unethical in terms of horse welfare as well as showing a complete lack of regard to whether or not the horse would drug test positive and the impact that would have on you and your trainer. I have no experience with enforcement, but it certainly sounds like an ethical breach.

[vxf111]

I meant jaundiced as in “jaundiced eyes.” slang for looking at something bitterly/negatively. Which is how I view a lot of what goes on in the hunter world these days http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/jaundiced

[Pennywell_Bay]

Wow. How did you discover it was bute? No experience here on the issue. What do they mean “noted in file”, is there a query that can be done when hiring officials? NOT someone I would want to hire.

[Daventry]

I am just taking a stab at this, so bear in mind this is my own “theory” on the situation. I am guessing that, because there isn’t 100% proof in regards to the situation, no court decision, no admittance or pleading guilty by the judge, etc., that the matter becomes a “he said, she said” situation. As a result, maybe this is why USEF stated they would only make a note of it in the officials’ file.

As a USEF official myself, I do not take my roll with USEF lightly and try and always remember that my actions, whether as an official, breeder, trainer, horse owner, etc., can directly reflect back on the USEF.

USEF official Jimmy Torano was fined $500 two years ago after making negative remarks on social media in regards to the Pre-Green Incentive Program after judging the competition. http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/usef-censures-fines-torano-facebook-post
Off-hand, I don’t know of any others.

[SlamDunk]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8712995]
I meant jaundiced as in “jaundiced eyes.” slang for looking at something bitterly/negatively. Which is how I view a lot of what goes on in the hunter world these days http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/jaundiced[/QUOTE]

Cool I’d never heard the word used that way before!

[Halfhalting]

Thanks Daventry, that is interesting. I remember that event with Jimmy now that you mention it. It was an interesting example of USEF enforcing the code of ethics.

We do actually have texts, Facebook posts, vet records, and the retained bute which supports our concerns. :-). But I see your point also. I am thankful that USEF found enough warrant to keep record of it and to provide formal response stating as such. I am still awaiting additional response from them.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=Halfhalting;8713169]
Thanks Daventry, that is interesting. I remember that event with Jimmy now that you mention it. It was an interesting example of USEF enforcing the code of ethics.

We do actually have texts, Facebook posts, vet records, and the retained bute which supports our concerns. :-). But I see your point also. I am thankful that USEF found enough warrant to keep record of it and to provide formal response stating as such. I am still awaiting additional response from them.[/QUOTE]

I think it’s a big deal because I don’t think you can stack bute and Previcox. So USEF judge was putting you at risk for a drugging violation?

I find that Codes of Ethics can really be seen as an “ought” statement than an “is” statement about the world. And they seem loose or even frustatinging ironic: IME, no one writes one of these until there’s a critical mass of people behaving unethically.

But in your case-- and if you have proof-- I’d absolutely follow up with the USEF, perhaps citing the section of the Code you did here and naming the name. I mean, sheee-it: What has the USEF done to protect unsound horses from being asked to compete, late-ly?

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=SlamDunk;8713168]
Cool I’d never heard the word used that way before![/QUOTE]

I’m Canadian. So sometimes my English is a little odd

Seriously though, what did the judge say when confronted?! Did she just admit trying to dupe the OP?!

[Limerick]

I really hope USEF does more than “put a note on her file.” At least send her a strongly worded letter with the rules that were violated. I know USEF can’t do a lot in terms of proving guilt or innocence but they have rules and they can remind the members and officials of the rules… Jimmy Torano and ( and wasn’t Don Stewart involved?) is an excellent example of an official’s behavior away from the horse showgrounds being deemed against USEF rules. At least their behavior would not have directly hurt a horse or a trainer’s reputation in the case of a positive test.

Poor horse.

[hoopoe]

I dont know how much you have to stand on here.

You didnt take the horse to a show and get caught, therefore no show rule was violated.

the judges behavior as $&!tty as it was, did not in any way show the USEF in bad light as she was acting for herself, not as a federation official or representative.

Compare this to the reprimand for Torano where he ranked on a show management and class that was ongoing ( second day)

Other judges have been called out for bad behavior but it usually occurs on show grounds or during the running span of a show dates ( while out in the evening)

It basically comes down to a person being dishonest

If judges were held accountable for their behavior outside the duties at shows we would probably have a lot less judges to choose from.

[Forgetmenot]

I have nothing to say other than wow , that is disgusting. Sad for these horses

[Halfhalting]

Mvp gets it- stacked NSAIDs will likely test positive. That is a huge deal on many levels.

The Code of Ethics does not require the breach of ethical behavior to occur at a show. And though I certainly respect hoopoe’s opinion, I don’t share it on this point. I think situations like this puts USEF in a bad light. It gives the sport a black eye when licensed officials disregard the health and well being of the horses, or cheat/drug/etc… We should expect our licensed officials to behave in the most ethical manner and to set the highest of standards.

[Daventry]

[QUOTE=Halfhalting;8713357]

The Code of Ethics does not require the breach of ethical behavior to occur at a show. And though I certainly respect hoopoe’s opinion, I don’t share it on this point. I think situations like this puts USEF in a bad light. It gives the sport a black eye when licensed officials disregard the health and well being of the horses, or cheat/drug/etc… We should expect our licensed officials to behave in the most ethical manner and to set the highest of standards.[/QUOTE]

I couldn’t agree more! In my opinion, USEF Officials need to be held to a higher standard than the rest, as we are in a position of knowledge, experience, power and trust, required to uphold animal welfare and safety issues, show integrity and help improve our sport! An official who disregards these important factors sheds a bad light on other officials and the USEF as a whole.

[BeeHoney]

I’m disgusted that someone would do what you describe. It’s very disturbing that a licensed official would do such a thing. I completely agree with Daventry and the OP that this kind of thing casts a very nasty shadow on our sport.

Nonetheless, I think it is difficult for the USEF to police judges in their private transactions or their private lives far away from any horse show. I know you have proof, but I think without an official investigation confirming the validity of your proof, the USEF would be overreaching to penalize the judge in some manner. Now, if the judge had committed a crime for which there was a police report, etc. or if there was a lawsuit with official documentation of what happened, I think that would make it easier for the USEF to act on the information.

Right now–even though you have a container of bute in your hand–for all the USEF knows, either party’s groom could have accidentally switched the supplement powder with some bute powder, etc. There would have to be some level of investigation to confirm what happened before the USEF could actively punish the official, and I’m not sure it’s the USEF’s place to be spending money to conduct investigations into private transactions that have no direct connections with a USEF event.

I think things are as they should be–you filed a complaint against a licensed official and it was noted in their file. I would make sure that your complaint is as complete as possible, including photographs of the “supplement” and a statement by your veterinarian, as well as copies of any documents relating to the lease.

[gottagrey]

Not saying this is correct but in my view the Code of Ethics applies to while a judge is under USEF jurisdiction or in relation to a USEF competition - which is how Torano got hit - his comments on FB were during the competition. In the OPs situation, they leased a horse from a private individual who is also a licensed USEF judge. The lease transaction doesn’t fall under any USEF jurisdiction. Now if they handed you the container of bute tainted supplements AT a USEF competition then I think the OP would have more a of a leg to stand on. Was the Lessor/USEF Judge unscrupulous in their apparent hiding of the bute in the supplement. Absolutely but I don’t think this falls under USEF violation since it falls outside their jurisdictional area.

I too would like to know how the bute was discovered in the supplements? did you do a lab test, Was the bute in a container of say “flex free” and was instead bute? that would also have much more bearing on your complaint.