Horse sports are always under the scrutiny of animal welfare groups and the non-horse public. With today’s world we are more connected than ever before and that means cameras are everywhere.
When we work with horses we must always be putting the horse first. We must always consider their welfare first and foremost. Obviously, we love horses so why would anyone ever do otherwise?
I know I’m diving into polarized waters, but here I go.
If you’ve been in the industry long enough, chances are you realize that sometimes that isn’t always what HAPPENS. Miscommunications happen, someone gets stuck, frustrated, and emotions rise; Tempers flare. Sometimes that emotion gets the better of an otherwise loving, caring, gentle individual.
It happens more than you think.
“Frustration begins where knowledge ends.”
-Clinton Anderson
Another situation; someone grows up with a trainer who might not have the most appropriate training program. The trainer themself is hot headed. The impressionable student learns this program and it becomes engrained into their normal behaviors without ever realizing there could be something better. Maybe not realizing how their actions are perceived.
Take a moment to think about it. Have you ever been in that situation? Nobody is asking you to share, so be honest with yourself. Have you ever done something you regretted? Lost your temper? Maybe you even subscribed to a method that you no longer believe in because that’s how you were initially taught?
Nobody is perfect.
Nobody.
I have been there…on a number of occasions…and as I confessed to others my regrets, I learned I’m not alone.
I’m not a professional, nor am I a public figure…the consequences were not publicized but I have my conscience…and I hate the version of myself who acted badly those times.
If you’ve done something you regretted, imagine if you were a public figure. Cameras abound. Someone caught you. Reported you. Now the world has seen what you did in that moment and the public is not very nice. Besides the fines and suspensions, you lose clients and sponsors. The consequences are steep…and rightfully so. But then you start getting hate mail…maybe even death threats (like I said the world is not nice).
It seems that every month there is a new trainer under the spotlight being ousted for abusive behavior, reckless riding, improper training methods.
My stomach churns watching some of the videos. Of course there needs to be consequences.
But hate mail? DEATH THREATS?!
At some point we must acknowledge that these people are still human…we must understand they are not perfect. We must treat them with compassion. Consequences…YES. Fair consequences…but compassion for them to grow from their situation.
We need a better system.
I recently listened to a podcast episode from In Stride (I’ll paste the link) where Sinead Halpin Maynard interviewed Matt Brown and Cecily Clark. I really enjoyed this conversation because they mentioned how our system is not working.
In a perfect world, we work with our horses and remain mindful. We present them with questions they can answer. We are patient, humble, and kind. But when we run into a situation where we run out of ideas in our knowledge bank how do we move forward?
What’s the way forward after finding a gap in your knowledge?
What’s the way forward for a professional (or amateur) who have done wrong in their training…lost their temper…trained a bit to0 hard.
What’s the way forward for a professional trainer who has gained success using a training program once accepted but is now outdated and perceived as abusive?
Is a fine and suspension enough? Lost clients and sponsors?
In the podcast they question this process and suggest a more compassionate angle. Rehabilitaion. What would that look like?
It’s never been done, and it might be a case-by-case basis. What training would be necessary? What work would be required?
For example, would it help if the accused is put through anger management? Learn new lifestyle skills? Work with other trainers to learn new methods and approaches to their horsemanship?
Historically, horse training was extremely abusive activity many years ago. They literally BROKE the horse’s spirit. Today we strive for partnership and aim to be as gentle as we can. We know better now. We’re doing better not. To the rest of the world horse sports haven’t progressed fast enough. Some harsh methods still remain and they are methods some professionals passionately hold onto whether for tradition, or they see nothing wrong with them, or they are afraid of change (or afraid of being vulnerable).
The latest sensation has been Charlotte Dujardin of course. She withdrew from Paris 2024 Olympics after a video surfaced just days before the event. In the last week or so we learned she’d been fined and given a one-year suspension. Some folks are expressing satisfaction, others still want more blood. Even now people are so polarized about her story.
Also surfacing this year was Andrew McConnon…the videos I watched were far more egregious (in my opinion) and were clearly separate days. I haven’t yet seen rulings for him but I’m interested to know what is done about it…and IF/how he can be rehabilitated (big IF).
There are many, many more…and many who still train professionally who probably shouldn’t be training at all.
Our system won’t make everyone happy…ever. But what can WE do to improve it? Can we talk about it more? Talk to others? Push for better standards? Get involved? Are horse sports doomed?
Becoming a keyboard warrior will not improve anything. We first must act with compassion…for both the horse AND the human. Believe in the system to react fairly…or don’t…but make your contributions appropriate, thoughtful, and constructive.
Even if we are the smallest fish in the pond…we have zero control over professionals, FEI, or USEF, we can do our part.
- We can refrain from flame wars and arguments on the internet.
- We can treat each other with compassion.
- We can work with our horses mindfully and compassionately in both private and public spaces.
- We can act as good stewards of our disciplines (even if you’re a hobby rider) for the public.
- We can act as good role models for our next generation.
- We can always be asking “is there a better way?” and never stop seeking knowledge.
- We can always be improving ourselves and learning new strategies to create a calm mind and positive mindset.
- We can regularly check in with ourselves. How are you feeling today? Is there anything going on that might interfere with your session with your horse? What baggage are you bringing to the barn or are you leaving that in the car?
- We can join groups and associations that help the progress of changing the horse world for the better.
And finally…don’t save the compassion just for horses and others.
Allow yourself compassion.
If you have acted in a way that doesn’t align with your values and you did something you regret…have the compassion to forgive yourself and acknowledge that you are no longer that person.
Accepting your past self and doing better is important if you are truly going to move forward. Make amends, get the knowledge and resources you need, and do better.
The world needs more compassion, so if we each choose compassion, we are already making the world a little better.
And if you’re wondering where I stand on the latest outrage, I think the consequences for Chalotte were fair and justified. I still believe in her as a trainer and dressage rider and hope that it was indeed an isolated incident. I hope that she rises from this and does better. As for Andrew…I just don’t know…I’m still quite bothered by that situation and hope he stays away from horses until he gets the emotional tools he needs.
The Green Horseman 
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