The muck hit the stall fan. Now all of us have to determine the right way to deal with it. Amanda Uechi Ronan takes a second to debate the right way to transfer ahead following the drama surrounding Charlotte Dujardin.
Let me begin this by saying this isn’t an insightful, well-balanced article. In order for you that, head on over to Gwyneth McPherson’s piece posted final month. That is straight up one lady’s opinion and rant.
So let’s rip the bandage off rapidly. I don’t really feel pity for Charlotte Dujardin.
At first, admittedly, I didn’t need to watch the video. I averted it for daaaays. However then the temptation was an excessive amount of, and, after watching, to place it frivolously, I used to be horrified. Largely on the quiet, relaxed environment wherein the abuse was taking place.
And I disagree with commentators that say the incident was a “weak second” or “a foul day.”
Each equestrian has had a foul day. I actually have. I’ve smacked a horse… greater than as soon as in my lifetime. However there are three huge variations.
First, I’ve by no means used an object. It was all the time, all the time with the flat of my hand on the barrel. Which, regardless of my years of arm-specific yoga, has barely extra emotional influence than a gnat however lower than a bot fly. Second, it was often a fast overreaction. The horse tried to chunk me. The horse tried to kick me. The horse tried to tug me, squash me, or pin me. Third, I all the time felt like an absolute human stain afterward. Like, I do know Maximus virtually ripped off my face, however why did I react like an imbecile?!? He deserves double carrots tomorrow.
In distinction, the video I watched of Dujardin confirmed a really calm lady in a really calm environment calmly and repeatedly whipping the again legs of a horse. It didn’t appear to be a break up second response. It appeared like an on a regular basis affair.
So, yeah, Dujardin made her mattress. Now she has to lie in it.
I additionally don’t bemoan the timing.
Perhaps the whistleblower didn’t perceive what they filmed was abuse till now? Perhaps they did and tried to say one thing sooner, however, not being an Olympic yr, no one cared? Perhaps they only held onto a grudge till they noticed a chance. I can assure if I came upon just a few individuals within the horse world have been certified for the Olympics… I might be digging via the laborious drives on the lookout for previous screenshots and emails.
I’m a petty boss mare. I’ll chunk somebody on the ass in the event that they want shifting. I don’t care if their head is face deep in a trough of candy, yummy oats. Metaphorically talking.
So, all that being mentioned, the place can we go from right here?
Some have known as for an finish to equestrian sports activities on the Olympics all collectively.
I believe that’s arms down the unsuitable response.
As a result of having horses on the Olympics offers us not solely a grand world stage to be good ambassadors for our sport but additionally to convey mild to scandals. What would have occurred to Dujardin if this was solely reported to the FEI and never the mainstream media? My cynical coronary heart says little or no.
And we will’t ban a complete sport due to one dangerous [horribly rotten] apple. Ought to now we have banned determine skating after the 2022 Kamila Valieva scandal? Ought to now we have banned gymnastics after Nassar pleaded responsible in 2018? Ought to we ban swimming due to the most recent suspicions surrounding China’s group?
No, as a result of that punishes everybody, not simply the responsible.
What we want is absolute transparency.
Britain equestrian rider Carl Hester, who mentioned he was shocked by the video of Dujardin to Euro Information, has an open coaching yard with the aim of being clear about his day by day coaching.
“Everyone is welcome to my yard,” Hester mentioned. “Individuals are available in my yard every single day. I’ve pleasure [in] the truth that our yard reveals horse welfare to be its highest by the best way I hold my horses.”
What we want are extra individuals like — dare I say it? — Snoop Dogg, who might be doing as a lot for equestrians proper now as anybody. He’s humanizing the game that so many on the earth view as a bygone custom reserved just for the tremendous wealthy.
We’d like extra behind-the-scenes pictures of Boyd Martin sharing bananas with Bruno.
We’d like excursions of the air-conditioned stables at Versailles. That’s proper, I mentioned air-conditioned. The horses have been the one group of athletes assured that luxurious on the Video games this yr.
So let’s punish wrongdoers. Completely. However let’s additionally not fly off the deal with. There’s a spot for horses on the Olympics. They’ve been there since 1900, debuting in Paris no much less.
*Some might have observed I failed to say the Pentathlon, which I don’t contemplate an equestrian sport. I watched the drama unfold in Tokyo and I agree with critics that say the present leaping portion is outdated. Pentathlon riders don’t personal the horses they’re using. They’re assigned on the competitors, which modifications the whole lot. Being solely 20% of the occasion, the athletes additionally aren’t essentially centered on changing into glorious riders. From what I watched in 2021, only a few had a very good seat and even fewer had delicate arms. Truthfully, I want the ban had been made efficient instantly reasonably than ready for 2028.
Go using.
Amanda Uechi Ronan is an creator, equestrian, and wannabe race automotive driver. Comply with her on Instagram @amanda_uechi_ronan.
