Happy New Year to everyone!
This newsletter is a little long, but it contains some important information.
It’s the time of year when many of us are getting started on our goals for the new year. This is especially challenging with horses, as we often end up taking a few steps back or sideways before we can go forward again. Eventing is a tough sport. Right about the time we think we’ve got it all together and everything is clicking perfectly, something goes wrong – sometimes terribly wrong.
As with many other sports and activities, eventing has an element of risk that sometimes results in catastrophic injuries to horses and riders. Unfortunately, we’ve experienced some of these situations in our area. But when we have, our area has come together to support our members who have been affected.
The safety of the horse and rider and rider responsibility are and have been center stage topics for some time. From frangible pin technology to helmets, safety vests and more, there is a lot that has been and continues to be done to mitigate the risks and increase the safety for horses and riders. But the risks cannot be completely eradicated.
Be informed – read articles from reliable and scientific sources. The USEA and USEF websites are good about providing updated information on scientific studies and rules. I encourage everyone to be aware and informed. As riders, owners, organizers and parents, it is our responsibility to be informed about the rules, safety and so much more.
Please be sure that if you are required to complete the on-line Safe Sport training that you do so sooner rather than later. Even if you are not required to take the training, everyone should be aware of this very important program because it does affect all of us. There are a number of videos and educational resources on the USEF website about Safe Sport that are designed for parents, owners, youth and others who may not be formally required to take the online training, but who should be aware of Safe Sport and how it impacts everyone. This is the link to the USEF Safe Sport resources page that contains extensive information and links to everything you need to know about Safe Sport: https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/safe-sport
Rider responsibility was a focus topic at the USEA Convention in December, 2019. Rider responsibility is a broad subject. I want to take this opportunity to talk about rider responsibility as it relates to behavior and the image that we convey to others about us and our sport.
Every one of us – riders of all ages, coaches, trainers, owners – each of us is a representative of the sport of eventing to our fellow competitors, organizers, spectators and the general public. How we behave and how we treat our horses, whether we are competing, watching, in the barn or out and about in any way, is noticed by people and can have a positive or negative impact on the public’s perception of us and our sport.
Note that word – perception. Perception is reality. How others perceive us is how they think of us and the sport we represent.
One of the good things about eventing is that we tend to police ourselves. If someone behaves badly or exhibits poor sportsmanship or horsemanship, or cheats in any way,typically someone who has seen or heard about or knows about this behavior is going to say something about it – usually directly to our faces. If we’ve behaved inappropriately, we should be called out for it and then we need to apologize and/or take appropriate corrective action. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. We are accountable not only to our federation, our area and our team, but to ourselves.
Sometimes inappropriate behavior is bad enough that an event official gets involved, and/or a concern may go directly to the USEA or the USEF. When this happens, the repercussions can be quite serious. “The United States Equestrian Federation is a member driven organization based on the interests of fair play, horse welfare, and the enjoyment of equestrian sport.As the National Governing Body of equestrian sport, the Federation is tasked with maintaining fair play and horse welfare throughout its community of members.”
Appropriate behavior is especially important if we are on a team – any team – be it an Adult Rider Team, a Young Rider Team or a National Team – such as a team at the AEC’s or at the NAYC.
Simply being a good athlete may not be enough to be selected to be on a team. How we conduct ourselves and thus how we represent our team and our sport – i.e. how we behave and whether or not we are “team players” are very important and can be the final deciding factor in whether or not we are selected for, or perhaps kicked off, a team.
From the 2020 Olympic Selection Procedures: “Behavior of athlete and people associated with the athlete (including without limitation, owners, coaches and grooms) that may have an impact on creating a positive team environment. Athletes will be informed of any concerns regarding behavior prior to the Selectors making their selection decision.”
Sometimes when we are on a team, we may also be required to sign a code of conduct. When we do this, we acknowledge our obligation to uphold and adhere to the highest standards of horsemanship, sportsmanship, and citizenship whenever we are representing our team, area or country, whether as a team member, individual competitor, or horse owner, and whether during actual competition or not. Failure to comply
could be grounds for suspension from a team or other appropriate disciplinary action.
It is a privilege to be named to a team, and it is expected that every individual serving on a team will be a positive representative of themselves, the Federation and the sport.
That said, we in Area VII can and should be very proud of our reputation within the organization as a whole. Our culture is one of inclusiveness and support. When one of us falls down –literally or figuratively – someone else in our community is always there to help us to our feet and get us back on the correct path. Our culture is not just one of the things that makes our sport so rewarding, but it is perhaps the single strongest aspect of our sport and why we see such a variety of people and horses competing and participating in eventing throughout their lives.
As members – adults, youth, professionals, amateurs, organizers, riders and owners - we shouldn't be afraid to speak up or be shamed by others for speaking up. If someone calls you out on your behavior with or without your horse, think for a minute and ask yourself what you can do differently so the wrong message isn't being conveyed or perceived. Just by taking some ownership and being accountable, a lot can be resolved and an uncomfortable or problematic situation then may not escalate into something worse. This includes everything from excessive whipping, yanking on a horse’s mouth or over-aggressive treatment of a horse that could be perceived as abuse, to smack-talk about another rider to abuse of drugs (human or equine) or alcohol or any other inappropriate or even illegal behavior.
If you see something, say something. If you’re afraid or uncomfortable to approach the person directly or the person treats you in an abusive manner, even if that person is a coach, trainer or an official, take your concern to another official or a person you trust. How would you feel if you didn’t say something and then later something worse happens that might have been prevented had you only said something to someone
about your experience or what you heard or saw?
If you want to remain anonymous in reporting something you have heard or observed, that is ok and your anonymity will be respected. Some things that are seen and reported need to be kept confidential pending further investigation. Officials throughout the organization respect the need for confidentiality. Additionally, depending on the age of the person(s) involved, confidentiality may be required and names never released.
Our Area VII community is strong thanks to the generosity and support of our volunteers, donors, sponsors, organizers, owners and riders who in many cases are the same person or people just wearing different hats. We are generally courteous, thankful, supportive of each other and our sport and we play by the rules. We in Area VII are all fortunate to be and should be proud of being a part of this community and it is our responsibility to continue to do everything we can to keep it this way.
So please – be aware, be informed, be accountable, be responsible. If you see something, say something.
Wishing everyone and their equine partners a safe and healthy New Year and a fun and successful 2020 eventing season!
Best Regards,
Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair