No, she’s just met Courtney. 
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I’ve stated multiple times that I dont feel his reaction was professional.
My issue is with lengths to which people have gone to explain why a course owner wasn’t paid.
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Wrong. I have no direct evidence of Courtney doing the same. If I see it, I’ll call it out.
I’m not discussing Courtney at all when I say, stop normalising Boyd refusing to regulate his emotions in his professional comms. Period. No mention of Courtney or anyone else.
I’m focused on the behaviour of the professional that I can see through his own written words via text and facebook. It was not right or okay. You are defending it and I’m genuinely surprised you would be okay with the way he texted her and the SM posts, regardless of who they target.
SMH
If you have an issue with CC that makes you excuse BM’s behaviour b/c you don’t like her personally, that’s not cool either. She may be a nightmare, but two wrongs don’t make a right. He needs to be professional. Period.
Again:
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Indeed.
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What i mean is there’s an assumption he’s been cool until he wasn’t. That he’s been letting it slide. That he’s never said a word to anyone.
I accept at face value that Courtney is as she has been described.
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No excuse
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What does this whole “normalizing” accusation even mean?
I’ve said multiple times Boyd’s Facebook posts were a poor choice.
But why should Courtney be exempt from any criticism? By her own admission, she schooled and left without paying. Until hours later. After texts were sent apparently.
You seem to have very strong opinions on this situation, despite the fact that you don’t even live in the US from what I can tell (your posts mention euros), don’t ride or compete in this area, don’t know the people involved (some of us do), and don’t seem to have any awareness of the concerns many of us have when it comes to the sustainability of eventing in general. Because venues like Windurra are hard to come by, and are essential to the sport.
Boyd is certainly not a perfect human. Or a perfect professional. Who is? I think you will be hard pressed to find a perfect professional who is also a world class rider. In any discipline. But regardless of his personal shortcomings, he has built a world class venue at Windurra and opened it to the public. Many people appreciate this. Perhaps not you, because you don’t live here. But multiple other professionals in the immediate area are certainly very grateful for it. It’s helped their businesses. Consequently, many of them have zero challenge meeting his payment terms.
Just some things for people such as yourself to consider before piling on.
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Just speaking for myself, when I state that there are adjustment to the policy or wording that could reduce the number of people who have to be chased after, I’m not coming from a place of defending the people who do not pay promptly.
I’m coming from a place of - it must be inefficient and unpleasant for Boyd to have to personally police every fee and recognize every rider and count their horses. Some changes to the handling the payments could improve his quality of life so he doesn’t have to be so vigilant. By no means is that excusing people who have not paid for the use of his property. At all! Two separate topics.
The public shaming of a well known client might be enough to keep people in line. He sounded entirely out of patience.
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They just had their big camp this past week as well.
Even paying a subscription to come in has to be policed because you know someone will buy 5 trips this month for one horse on the galloping track…then pop over some fences for kicks.
I am not excusing him. I am seeing how it happened.
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Hey everyone, I’ve actually been thinking about this and wonder if the split on how people are viewing this isn’t in part due to cultural differences, especially between American and European ways of handling conflict and professional communication.
Having grown up in Europe, I can tell you that in most places, there’s a strong emphasis on keeping disputes private, showing emotional restraint, and avoiding public shaming - especially when there’s a clear power and gender imbalance, like a big-name guy calling out a woman. Publicly calling someone out like that can feel like bullying and is often seen as crossing a line (regardless of who the person being called out actually is like - I get that some local folks don’t seem to have the best opinion of Courtney…).
There tend to be stricter social rules about what you can say and what’s considered offensive, so professionals usually tread very carefully in how they communicate. Public shaming, in particular, is often viewed as inappropriate and can even lead to legal trouble like defamation claims.
On the other hand, US culture feels a lot more individualistic. There’s a strong expectation that people take personal responsibility and are held accountable. So when business owners like Boyd get direct (even public) about enforcing rules and protecting their interests, it’s often seen as standing up for their business rather than shaming someone. As a Euro expat, I have to admit I find that kind of public calling out “way out there”. But then again, I also find it cringey when I see the local sheriff posting about people’s convictions on Facebook here: so I guess every culture has its own way of handling public shaming…
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Both parties are wrong in this case, IMHO, not that anyone cares about my opinion 
But there’s clearly a solution - you can book all the other types of schooling as per his site (dressage, indoor, jumping, etc). Just make it bookable online and everyone has to do it that way with prepayment. Anyone seen on site without having booked is suspended immediately.
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I think that the way he texted her was seen as unnecessarily abrasive. Boyd is famous as an affable athlete hero type. People root for him. What he posted was nothing unforgivable on its own. Her text receipts make him look fed up, to me.
While there is a power imbalance because he is a big name rider and he is male, the client has a huge (in my opinion) import sales business. She’s not seen as a scrappy aspiring rider who had to scrape $80 together by eating top ramen all week. I think most people are thinking “She’ll be ok.”
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Interesting points, worthy of consideration. A wild card is that Boyd is an Aussie. My personal experience with many lovely people from Australia is that they can be blunt, and also place less emphasis on the importance of emotional restraint than other cultures do. YMMV.
I honestly don’t understand your point about gender imbalance. As far as this continuing reference to some sort of power imbalance between Boyd and Courtney… again… I think the use of that term in this context is a step too far. It immediately brings SafeSport to
mind. Both Boyd and Courtney are professionals. Neither is a minor. One is not the employee of the other. They are both professionals engaging in commerce. He has the right to tell her to leave his property if he feels the need to do so. She has the right to discontinue doing business with him, and to publicize the reasons for her choice.
They each have power in this situation.
Boyd’s large social media footprint is a double edged sword, in my opinion. He certainly has his fans. He also has detractors who are waiting with baited breath ready to criticize when he makes a mistake… like he did in this situation ( just my opinion).
Anyway… it is a bit of a mess. Looks like they both are trying to play cleanup on aisle 9 now. Courtney has just taken down her public FB post. Perhaps she saw this thread? (Hi Courtney!).
If I were inclined to wager on this situation, I would put money on her returning to Windurra to school following her one month ban. And I would put money on Boyd welcoming her back.
A tempest in a teapot. Or so they say in the UK.
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Per her own texts, there was no ramen involved. Neal was going to pay her fees for her, after he got off his business calls that evening. As per usual.
Sorry not sorry. She posted that mess. 
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You assume a lot. A LOT a lot.
Since you mentioned my post in which I talked about paying my 650 euro bill in arears, you might have also, before your condescending post to me, asked yourself: why doesn’t she pay at the time? Oh, if I read the rest of the post, I see she mentions when ‘I land’, ergo, she must not live there full time. Think outside the box. We don’t all live in one place all the time nor do we all currently live where we grew up. C’mon, surely you can do better than that. Not that I owe you any info, but where I’m currently sitting I could haul into Windurra in (checks google maps) 46 mins and there is more than one poster here who can confirm that for you if you need.
So, we can dispense with most of your presumptive post right there.
I do care about the sport which is why I believe the leaders, people at the absolute pinnacle of the sport, need to do better than this. A lot better.
I also care about the global slide of civility and professionism across a wide range - if not all - fields. I’m a professional in a field infamous for bad bosses.
I’m not having it. I’m not excusing immoderate, emotional professionals any more and I’ll take every chance that comes up in my sphere of interest to discuss that issue and push for a bright line rule that this behaviour is not okay. Not from anyone, regardless of their status, gender, or what resources they can gate keep.
It’s time to admit this kind of thing is unprofessional, ridiculous, and demonstrably injurious to the reputation of the profession and the sport.
If you think it’s cool to excuse what you yourself describe as ‘poor choice[s]’ b/c someone gives access to land and you don’t personally like the target, you do you, but that is selling yourself, the rest of us, and the sport, short.
He opens it not out of the kindness of his heart. By his own admission, fees for use are a big part of his cash flow. While it’s absolutely admirable that he does so, it is a two way street: users benefit from the access and he benefits from the cash. That’s a great arrangement. Let’s not act like he’s giving it for free (and nor should he - I just want to acknowledge the arrangement is mutually beneficial b/c people like you keep acting like the benefit flows only one way and that disingenuous).
So, please, stop trying to silence my voice in this discussion because of your ignorant assumptions of my role and involvement in the sport and the area, my geographical location, and my personal connection to the actors.
A principle is universal b/c it applies no matter who you are and where you are. Expecting people not to behave the way Boyd did over and over again in text and twice on facebook given his stature and professional standing is a universal standard and we all, in this society and in this sport, are qualified to discuss it.
Maybe you don’t know how discussions boards work, but we are all allowed to weigh in with our thoughts, experiences, and POVs regardless of where (you think) we are and/or what (you think) we do. Some of the people backing you up are nowhere near here and have never been but you don’t challenge them. Miss me with your one-sided censorship. It’s not on.
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As I’ve said, I don’t actually know the people involved here, so I’m mostly just trying to understand why folks are reacting the way they are. Coming from a different cultural background, where there’s generally more sensitivity around gender imbalances (especially when an influential man publicly calls out a woman) automatically raised concerns to me (regardless of who she is.)
Boyd’s “Joe Rogan-listening bro” vibe probably adds another layer. That blunt, unfiltered style can make the existing dynamics feel even more obvious.
I get why “power imbalance” usually relates to SafeSport or employee situations, but it’s not just about that. Even between two professionals, differences in platform and visibility create real imbalances that affect how conflicts play out (in general - not just about this situation).
That said, I do totally agree with your “tempest in a teapot” point!
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Well, I revise my original opinion on the whole matter. What’s the saying, his side, her side and the truth somewhere in between.
Now that more information on his clearly posted signs and policies and some perhaps unsubstantiated local color on the personalities involved, I actually have no problem with him tuning her up PRIVATELY about getting paid to use what sounds like a beautiful facility.
What I do continue to have a problem with is that he went to social media. She retaliated, and now we’re all spending way too much time opining on something that should never have been brought to light.
I have lost respect for BM, didn’t have much of an opinion on CC, but they both look like children in this situation
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Does your local police department not post the endless - looking to identify for larceny at whatever local retail establishment posts?
No, people just suck and people steal things all the time at all those named places too.
I give you credit, you are very good at making excuses for not following simple rules, that are fully outlined not only on the other sign (that you seem to pretend does not exist) and in the rules on his website, and in posts on social media.
It is so weird that you feel so strongly that it is the fault of the person with well spelled our rules that people are not following their rules.
You clearly are not the type of person I would like to ever do business with.
On the topic of the frown face, that face and its counter part the smile face have both been around much longer than they have been called emojis. They were around when I was little and that was a long time ago.
You know this how?
Because he called others that night to yell at them too for not paying?
That does not mean it is allowed.
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So I do disagree with you reference a power imbalance. I would say that Boyd has a higher level of social, professional and financial influence then Courtney does in eventing, and one doesnt need to be working for someone for it to be a power imbalance.
I work in a field with extremely rigid social and professional structures. There are absolutely power imbalances amongst what would see as peers based on multiple factors : position, even in opposing or different organizations, gender, charisma, perceived proficiency. To be frank, and not obtuse because I don’t hide it, I am a major in the army. In certain areas, my voice will hold weight. However, if you set me in a room with a combat arms peer, same rank, same overall profession, depending on that members leadership presence, social influence, experience, trade and job, there will be a power imbalance with me, a female supporter. Regardless if I am correct, incorrect, keep my cool or not. Its not because I work for them, its not sexual or inappropriate, its life and inherent power and influence imbalance.
Boyd was world #1. Multiple top level horses. Huge social media following. Numerous FEI wins. Owners. Coaches. Ear of officials and event owners. Sponsors. Charismatic, and yes- male. Courtney has 2 FEI wins, 100 starts on second. Ranked 600 something.
That is absolutely a power or influence imbalance, that I personally don’t believe is safesport reportable, just a fact of the situation.
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What?
I can’t even.
Have a good evening.
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