Reporting Abuse at Horse Shows:
Taken from an AP article on The Horse.com
The FEI Tribunal has released its decision in the case of alleged horse abuse committed by Amy Tryon while participating in the cross-country phase of the 2007 Rolex Lexington Kentucky 4-Star Event, held April 28. Tryon's mount, Le Samurai, was injured during the event and was subsequently euthanatized.
The case involved the riding of an apparently lame horse in the final moments of the course, as well as the state of the horse when the last fence was jumped. A hearing was held June 25.
The dilemma which the Tribunal had to resolve was a very difficult one. The main issues to be decided were whether the competitor committed an "abuse" as this term is defined under the applicable rules (see below) and, if an abuse was committed, whether it was an intentional act or an unfortunate omission to take action and stop the horse, as signals of discomfort were not correctly perceived by the competitor.
The Tribunal came to the conclusion that the competitor's behavior at the end of the cross-country phase of the event constitutes abuse according to the applicable FEI regulation. The competitor continued to ride after the horse was objectively lame and injured. Conversely, the competitor omitted to act, by failing to pull up the horse when she could have. This caused, or was likely to cause, pain or discomfort to the horse.
The Tribunal expressed its opinion that "abuse of horses constitutes an offence that violates the most fundamental rules of the equestrian sport and is, as such, highly reprehensible from a moral point of view." The Tribunal determined that, had "the competitor intended to ride a lame or injured horse, a suspension for life would not have been an inappropriate or a too severe penalty."
The Tribunal's decision indicates, there was a "significant disconnect between what Tryon felt and what was actually occurring." While Tryon was negligent in not stopping the horse, the Tribunal determined that she did not understand that the horse had been injured until just as she pulled him up.
I printed this article NOT to discuss lameness in particular but discuss cases of abuse as they are experienced or seen at horse shows. As a competitor, if you feel that you are witnessing cases of abuse, it is your responsibility to report what you have seen to the Technical Delegate as well as Competition Management. DO NOT approach the offender on your own, you have no clout and will only make the situation more unpleasant. TD's are trained for situations such as this as well as in conflict management.
Steps you SHOULD take:
1. Note the competitor's number
2. Approach the TD and state you are "uncomfortable with a situation taking place in the ______(warm-up arena, parking lot, barn etc.) with competitor number _______."
3. Tell the TD whether or not you would like this to be an anonymous notation or whether you are comfortable being called as a witness.
4. Return to your stall/trailer and jot a few notes. Write down what you saw, the location and any other details that may be important for you to remember further down the road.
5. Go about your business and let the TD and show management follow up on your complaint.
The show manager is the only one who has the power to eliminate a competitor (outside of the ring) and/or file a complaint/warning card. You cannot do any of the above things, but you can be vigilant and serve as an educated, well-informed witness should you be called to duty.
One of the main goals of the USEF is to provide a fair playing field for all competitors and unfortunately people bend the rules and jeopardize attaining that goal. Because our beloved equine partners cannot speak, it is up to us to be their voices. When we sign our entry forms, we sign on to be an advocate for the horse.
