Just a few days ago I wrote about how unacceptable it was that Shelley Browning, an amateur Dressage rider, was allowed to complete not one but two rides at a show the weekend before. Her ride was not upsetting because she simply lacked skill, it was upsetting because of the mistreatment and abuse she doled out to her horse both during and after the test.
Now, this is not my first “rodeo”, so I was not surprised or offended when the first criticisms included some variation of, “this isn't abuse!” That's fine, not everyone recognizes abuse when it's quite plain to see to others, especially if they are engaging in similar behavior themselves or are so often exposed to that kind of behavior that they've become blinded to it.
In fact, none of the other reactions that came are a big surprise. We've seen this all before in slightly different tones and mechanics during the great Rollkur debate (which is now the great LDR / deep stretching debate).
I'm the bully, I'm the monster, I'm the enemy for having pointed out the obvious that so many others recognized at the same time. How many people commented that this behavior by Shelley Browning was wrong and harmful in the very moment of the ride when it was being live streamed on Facebook? We won't know how many now that the video has been censored from Facebook, with no reasons given publicly.
I don't care if you call me a bully, but I do disagree with the judgment. Rather, I'm the sharp pain that tells you you've gone and broken your hip and chosen to ignore it rather than treat it.
Dressage has been broken for a long time. Far longer than I've been around writing about what I see.
I get it, I'm a much easier target to point at and express anger towards than to look at an organization as a whole, at the problems with judging, at the riders who use the horse as a vehicle to success and money at all costs, or even at ourselves for our complicity in the broken system.
As long as there are problems that interfere with the well-being of the horse within that system, there will be someone to show you the pain points. It may not be me, it may not be all of the other brave individuals who have chosen to risk ridicule, criticism, blacklisting, and threats of violence or legal suits… but it will be someone.
Personal Responsibility
Some have expressed outrage that my article is damaging to the sport and that it is damaging to the rider.
Sorry, but these ideas I do not accept.
There is this amazing thing called personal responsibility, which the judges and the rider failed to execute. This may not have been the first time, as it seems to be a deep-rooted habit accepted by the Dressage community.
I didn't force the rider to compete and subsequently strike her horse with the whip, use her spurs uncontrollably, and yank on her horse's mouth with intention. I didn't force the judges to allow the rider to continue rather than be dismissed where the rules would have allowed them to do so. One has to ask then, how much more obvious does a rider need to be in breaking the rules before they are eliminated from a test?
My personal responsibility is in writing the article. In no way am I responsible for the actions of the rider against her horse, the judges' failure to excuse the rider, or any other individual actively engaged in impropriety within the sport.
Won't You Think of the Amateurs!?
It seems there is a deep misunderstanding of what the term ‘amateur' means in sport, so let's just clear the air.
Amateur refers to anyone competing who is not a professional.
That's it, end of story.
Someone can be a very experienced, highly skilled and capable rider, and still be an amateur. Likewise, someone can be absolutely miserable on the back of their horse and be a professional in the sport.
The term amateur is NOT synonymous with beginner. Can an amateur be a beginner? Yes! Can an intermediate or experienced rider be an amateur? Also yes!
For those who have argued that the Shelley Browning criticism is only going to be detrimental to all amateurs, you are doing a great disservice to the many non-professional riders who work very hard each and every day, regardless of their current level, to do better and be kind to their horses. The criticism surrounding her ride was NOT that she was a beginner, she is anything but with over a decade of show experience under her belt. It was in regards to her inhumane behavior towards her horse, and blatant unsportsmanlike conduct during and after the test.
The “Blame Game”
There is a long history of silencing critics of the sport. The events surrounding the Shelley Browning incident is only the most recent to highlight that fact, but they are not unique.
First, Eurodressage wrote an opinion piece, later followed by one from HorseNation, both of which put down any individual who has criticized the ride of Shelley Browning publicly.
The problem? We didn't play the game by their rules, we didn't file our complaints through the proper channels. It is somehow the fault of anyone who speaks up against the sport that the reputation of it might be tarnished, embarrassed, or profits and sponsorships jeopardized.
Here's the problem, for years the collective “we” have tried to follow the rules by heart even as they constantly changed. We petitioned the organizations, requested rule changes, and reached out through private channels instead of publicly airing the sport's dirty laundry. No matter what “rule” we follow we are rebuked and given a new set of criteria to meet. In any other scenario this is a sign of manipulation and emotional abuse, how surprising that Dressage would shelter individuals who abuse their horses as well.
Yet here we are still, with the same problems because those rules weren't rules, they were distractions. They allowed Dressage to continue operating as-is, with a positive public image, while permitting riders to perpetuate abuse in various forms.
More Blame Game
If I were younger I might be more surprised at the next round of “blame game”, this time direct from Axel Steiner in a public Facebook post, referring to me and those who agreed with the article as the enemy.
Dressage Lost — Bullies Won
Because of the bullying we all witnessed on FB and other sites, WCDF management has decided NOT to stream video for the show this week. Unfortunately some fine amateur riders did not want to show in the big arena fearing “shredding” by the cyber bullies. These riders would win praise from 99.9% of all viewers, but they are unfortunately scared by the nasty .1%. I can understand their fear of this new enemy in our midst. I personally can't fathom the ugliness displayed in recent days by people supposedly interested in our sport. For this week they have killed the enjoyment of thousands of viewers eagerly awaiting the next streaming videos showcasing our beautiful sport. What is next?
Axel Steiner
Mr. Steiner, even you were audibly groaning over both of Shelley Browning's rides. If you or anyone else has forgotten what your commentary was during her rides, please allow me to refresh your memory.
Shelley Browning Intermediare 2 Test
Shelley Browning riding Voste D, the Intermediare 2 test on Thursday January 18, 2018 at the Adequan West Coast Dressage Festival in Del Mar, California.
Posted by Writing of Riding on Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Shelley Browning Intermediare 2 Test on Friday
Shelley Browning Intermediare 2 Test on Friday at the 2018 Adequan West Coast Dressage Festival in Del Mar, California.
If I've misheard, or misunderstood your commentary during these rides could you please elaborate what you were trying to express?
You watched these rides, we all heard you stop yourself mid-commentary, failing to finish your thoughts.
What was your real opinion on Shelley Browning's performances? Would you agree that certain aspects of her ride were unsportsmanlike?
Additionally, there was no criticism from myself or those in agreement with my opinion from my article towards any other rider at that event. Quite the opposite I might add, as I was surprised that several riders who rode better than Shelley were in receipt of a significantly lower score.
The “enemy” as you put it was one rider who chose to mistreat her horse in the test, and the judges who failed to dismiss her for her actions.
What is surprising is when you later clarified your own post with the official announcement from AWCDF. Instead of correcting it in the original Facebook post though, you shared it in a comment:
Here is the official statement from AWCDF: “Our live stream has quickly become a beacon for our series and for the equestrian community. We chose to stream our large production to Facebook Live in order to give everyone the opportunity to be a part of West Coast Dressage in a way that was also free. We have spent the last two shows trying different techniques to fine tune our live stream in conjunction with scheduling and guidelines of a show this size. AWCDF 1 saw only one day streamed and then we bumped ACWDF 2 to stream all three days.
We have chosen to not stream this week in order to make improvements to the stream for our final show.
We are so happy to see how passionate everyone is about the live stream and how much they love it. We cannot wait to have it back better than ever starting on Thursday, February 15th, 2018 and Friday, February 16th, 2018 with Axel Steiner commentating. We will be streaming the international ring with both national and international levels all through those two days.
Never fear though, we will not leave you completely out of the action this week! We will have our live stream of the FEI jog tomorrow, January 31, 2018 at 4 pm PST and live interviews and videos for you to tune in!
Thank you for all the support of the equine and human competitiors and of course of the festival!”
Axel Steiner
Mr. Steiner I have to ask because I'm a little confused, which is the real cause for the live stream delay this week? Am I to blame, or is it as you quoted above?
Clean Up Your Act
The fact is this “beautiful sport” has been tainted by abusive riding for far too long. This isn't my doing, so those who are angry with me are going to have to come up with a better excuse or, even better, they could choose not to excuse it any longer.
What Can I Do?
It has been suggested by some that we should all run out and submit a rule change proposal.
This seems like a great idea on the surface because it drives us to feel like we're actively participating in improving the sport.
The problem isn't lack of rules, as one already exists that would have allowed the judges to eliminate Shelley Browning from both of her rides. The judges did not lack the authority to act, but rather they chose not to act until after the Friday test was completed and scored.
The solution is making all judges, and abusive riders accountable for their actions or inactions.
I emphasize abusive riders because this is not a matter of criticizing, singling out, or bullying beginners who are working to improve themselves while maintaining fairness and empathy towards their horse and acting with good sportsmanlike behavior.
I will continue to clarify this distinction to any who misunderstand, there is nothing to be demonized in the honest beginner. To make mistakes as a beginner is to be expected.
To intentionally harm your horse, regardless of the reason, is not okay. It is abusive and is not a direct indicator of the rider's level or experience.
The Real Solution
I may not like what I see so often in competition, but I really do love Dressage.
Yet, even as I love the discipline I cannot ignore what is plain to see as major faults and weaknesses of the sport. We are better than this.
Dressage is about improving the horse, lifting him up. Somewhere along the way we lost that vision and reshaped the ideal Dressage horse into a mere vehicle to equestrian success even if we have to degrade him to accomplish it. We are better than this.
Society is changing, evolving, more rapidly than we can even imagine. We are at a point in time in which we should be able to compete at any level without hubris. We must change too, we must evolve. We are better than this.
In so many ways, we look back and wonder at the medieval actions that came before us, while Dressage still clings tightly to outdated traditions, expectations, and secrecy. Time forces change upon us all, we either adapt or we die off. We have the ability to change but have chosen not to embrace it yet. We are better than this.
We are obligated to this sport, to do something really beautiful. To enforce the rules and do justice to the horses, without whom Dressage could not exist.
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Follow the trail of money and you’ll see the “sport” of dressage. To even consider the competition side ,whether from grassroots up to the Olympics, as a honest true sport is laughable. The system isn’t designed to elevate good riders and horses – it isn’t designed to breed the best of the best – it is designed to be a Broadway show for the wealthy. Is humiliating a rider on the internet a worthy pastime, probably not. But is holding a rider, owner, trainer, coach, steward, organizer and judge accountable to a high, universally written down standard, worthy? Absolutly!!! Keep up the work! Obviously the scores and comments and judging and horse reactions didn’t do that for the rider, trainer, steward and judge – perhaps a public push will!
Very well stated Tobi. And thank you Erica for saying what needs to be said. $$$ has caused many involved in dressage (as well as the hunter/jumper world) to turn a blind eye to the horse’s well-being, but in the end, this will end up being detrimental to the sport as a whole.
Thank you Tanya, well said.
Cyber bullying, lol, how ridiculous! Just a way to dismiss the many concerned voices who commented. It’s just another case of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, where we are all expected to sit silently by and agree with the prevailing paradigm.
Could not agree with you more. Dressage needs to clean up its act so as to be above reproach. Giving any animal rights group a toe hold to complain about the treatment of the horse by a rider is absurd. All circuits have rules regarding showmanship, sportsmanship, ethics and protection of the horse. ENFORCE them, crack down on the offenders by TELEVISING these feeds and the problem will correct itself. Rather than calling it “BULLYING” perhaps more “COMPLIANCE” and “ENFORCEMENT” of the existing rules would make the sport more enjoyable and respected by both observers and participants. Do not weaken!!
Erica Franz – you have it 100% right! The only bully in this whole debate is a woman who abused a very good horse who struggled to understand what she was telling it – and was too well mannered to dump her on her head. Heaven help horses belonging to ANYONE who doesn’t recognize bad and abusive riding!
Thanks for keeping their feet to the fire. It is troubling to hear that she scored higher than any rider. With a ride like that she should have disqualified before she finished.
Well done Erica,
This appalling abuse of horses in dressage and other sport, has to stop. The Facebook group FEI Time to Act started by William Micklem, Pammy Hutton and myself, is really forging a path to lobby the FEI to ban rolkur and tight nosebands, with a major breakthrough today from the British Horse Society, offering full support for the campaign. FEI 5star judge Christoph Hess is signing our letter to the FEI in support. Things are moving forward.
But the fact that Shelley Browning has been competing at high levels for at least 13 years and her appalling riding, abusive enough in it’s crudeness even without misuse of the whip, has been overlooked by judges for that entire time.
I hope that the worldwide public outrage- not cyberbullying!!- will shake the USDF into organising some serious judge retraining and alert the FEI to the sheer weight of the court of public opinion.
Keep on campaigning. We are right with you!
Heather Moffett
Thank you Heather, it’s been a long time coming that this has needed to be said. The organizations, the judges, and the riders have all the tools needed to really make this sport beautiful, it is in their hands to collectively turn it around.
Keeping the pressure on right now is absolutely vital. It is so good to see so many real equestrians voicing their support for change. Now is not the time for silence and complicity, it’s the time to continue pressing those responsible for the state of the sport to do their part in ensuring horse welfare and proper rule enforcement.
I appreciate how you highlight that it’s about RESPONSIBILITY, not necessarily fault. As riders, we have responsibilities. And Judges have responsibilities as well. I would like to quote Dr. Gerd Heuschmann from his book ‘Balancing Act’ in the chapter titled ‘Ethics in Horse Sports and the Role of the Judge’
“Competition riders play an ever-larger and more important role. They are the most important authority, the one that can insist on animal welfare. For this reason, judges should assure riders that training methods that disregard horse welfare will be eliminated from competition grounds.”
“Without strong, independent judges, ethical principles and animal protection cannot be defended against increasing economic pressures. If not the judges, then who will see to it that these principles are upheld? In my opinion, this is their most important job.”
What disappoints me is the fact that this particular issue has become very sided. Judges (or what seems like the collective officials of US Dressage) are up in arms and calling “Bully”, and anyone who questions the situation is thrown in the same boat. Why is there such an unwillingness to have a discussion? It seems like concerns in the past have fallen on deaf ears, and now they are just outright dismissive and unwilling to hear objections to the current state of affairs?
Thank you, Rachael.
A great quote too from Heuschmann.
It is a very sad state that the sport has been in for a long time. The actions towards those who’ve criticized what happened are normal, they’re quite used to it at this point. 🙁
Three cheers for Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Thank you for the quote.
Very well said!
Thank you, Dorothy.
I hated watching those rides, hated how she treated the horse, and was appalled by the tantrum with the whip, but the frenzy of hatred toward the rider also bothered me. That was not the fault of your original article but your considered position opened the door for the feral element to pursue another human being without consideration of her personal circumstances and how she may be able to deal with the extraordinary criticism. I too want a sport that is true to the tradition of harmony of horse and rider, and do think we should speak out when we see abuse of any sort. I also agree that the judges (who will always be wrong in some eyes) had an opportunity to call an end to the test but I can’t say that I would have , I too would have probably waited and then conferred with the other judge before eliminating her. Appreciate your work, just my thoughts on the issue. Let’s try and work together to get answers to these difficult problems.
Thanks for standing up for what is right!
Thank you Brenda, and please continue to share. 🙂 The more people who support proper enforcement of the rules and better welfare of the horse in the sport, the more likely we are to see real change.
As a fellow writer, photographer and former pro groom for high performance horses in Canada, USA and Germany – I struggle with ‘performances’ like this. However, calling it out makes it a teachable moment. It’s important we need to advocate for the one who cant speak for them self in this scenario. The horse. If we dont – the public will and what we will see is a removal of the sport from the Olympics, a migration of sponsors who dont want to be associated with a sport that has negative perceptions, and our sport will die. I’ve been excited to see riders like Charlotte and Carl and their training approach becoming more widely admired and adopted. They exemplify the kind of riding that is both the future, and the very root of our sport.
Horse centric, balanced and built on relationship.
If the hoopla serves to makes a few rider stop and think, before overfacing themselves, and taking out the frustration of a bad ride on their horse – then the arrows are worth the end result.
Thank you for taking this on. I know that the backlash cant have been very nice. Isnt it interesting that the very people hurling accusations of bullying are often themselves the very worst bullies?
Glad to have you here Lizzie. 🙂
Yes, it can be ironic that those crying “bully” also stoop to behaving as bullies. I don’t mind it coming at me, I’d rather that if it meant the horses stop getting bullied in the sport.
If this isn’t properly self-regulated, as you said someone else will step in to “regulate” it and it will undoubtedly be in a way that nobody likes.
I would be interested to know the specific rule that would have allowed the judges to eliminate the combination from completing their test……
See the original article for reference. She was eliminated from the second ride for taking the reins in one hand to tap her horse with the whip. She did the same thing during the Thursday ride but wasn’t eliminated there.
I believe the cyber bully argument was a deflection because they can’t explain the scores that the judges gave to SB. I am still waiting to hear an explanation.
I’m in complete agreement with you Ann.
I can’t even watch these horrific acts of “legalised torture “
It’s sadly a huge epidemic though and my heart goes out to so many horses ridden and treated so cruelty:((
First: I love you for having the courage to address this so publicly. Thank you.
Second: I hate that we live in a world where it is considered ‘courageous’ to publicly call out those who abuse animals.
I agree with you that the most curious thing about the entire debacle was Mr. Steiner’s walking back his comments on the livecast. I had the pleasure (and it was a distinct pleasure) of scribing for him a number of times during the years I was involved in the local dressage shows and found him to be a tireless advocate for the horse. I was frankly shocked to hear him back down in this case.
Again, thank you, and please go on telling it like it is.
Well I spent the entire video cringing at the rider, cooing at the awsome horse and laughing at the very honest judge! Who was being as diplomatic as one can be, regarding some pretty agricultural riding. I think his live honest commentary was probably enough of a rider bashing though!
Here is my reasoning, my back ground is in working with youngsters, x race horses and long suffering horses dubbed “problem horses” Over my 25 years experience I have seen some very abused horses. For many we are their last chance and we’ve always come out good. My methods are passive and I’m honest with clients, I can fix most horses but that doesn’t mean they can stay with their owners. Some are in to much pain and retirement is the only good solution.
So whilst I agree her riding is not sympathetic to the horse is it abusive? Perspective is a personal thing and whilst Dressage and some training methods along with the brutalities of some Show Jumping and Racing for sure needs to be challenged. This in my opinion has been blown a littleout of proportion.
Yes she is kicking & pulling and touches him with the whip with a lack of good timing…. However, its her first National if I understand correctly, he is a very established school master and I suspect extended and sitting trot is a little like trying to sit to a Kango hammer!
Nerves and tension certainly don’t help a rider and having competed at a International competition myself and worked for good and bad professional international riders. I also know that anxiety is only made worse when your on a mount that is known to be a school master. It should be easy, which only increases the pressure knowing that you look even worse if it goes wrong!!
I personally never had the privilege of competing a school master instead I had to super glue myself to the discarded as cyco quirky types!!
My point is what quantifies a riders actions as abusive, for me a lack of control of temper which doesn’t seem to be the case here. Deliberate aggression misuse or neglect of a horse for sure. But after that it starts getting tricky every riding school, most trekking centres and a large proportion of general horse owners could be judged as abusing their horses. Not through bad intention but through a lack of skill or knowledge, ill health, financial difficulties the list goes on and its a mind field.
So for me its a bit about the horse and how they are coping with their owner/rider. The pony that is loved to pieces over feed and spoilt rotten – well his health is compromised by his adoring family but he is happy as Larry and gets cuddles and carrots every day…. do we judge them for their abuse putting their pony at risk of potentially fatal laminitous?
How about the retired race horse that doesn’t really have a sound leg, if you know very much. But his teenage owner doesn’t know much about bi laterally lame horses. So she hacks and hunts him. Now he is a busy horse and she bought him because his racing owners said no way he would retire. They tried he just paces up and down and they had decided to put him down, even though he is a very happy horse in good condition and loves people. The teenage girl took him instead, do we judge her for riding a lamish horse?
So for me whilst as I said at the beginning its not a pleasure to watch this horse, when she over steps the mark he lets her know. His ears are forward he isn’t stupid and as the judge expresses he knows how to protect himself from; in my opinion a very nervous and slightly panicking tense rider. Who has perhaps put herself under too much pressure and unfortunately taken it out on her generous but I think holding his own mount!!!
In perspective their are charities trying to educate Eastern European Romany family’s because they think beating a horse round the head with a plank is ok. Let’s try and put a stop to the big stuff, challenge welfare issues in our disciplines and support the little people to get better at the smaller stuff 🙂
This woman, whom it is very easy to immediately think, “Oh the poor thing, she is a beginner, a learner, devoid of balance, co-ordination, and clueless about position altogether and unable to manage her hands.
The truth is, when you go to her “Shelley Browning Dressage” page on Sookbook, she has been riding competitively for MANY YEARS, even at Prix St George level!
The more I researched, the more disheartened I became at what has become of Dressage.
I relate extremely well to her riding inability, as I suffer much the same as a result of my own disabilities and limitations. HOWEVER, the difference being self-aware and ensuring you do nothing to jar, injure or damage the horse, and thinking you’re “ok” and that it’s fine to commit this level of abuse on any living animal because YOU are inept in every respect are obviously worlds apart in her case.
Her performance makes more than a mockery of her, a high falooting attorney, her trainer and every last person involved who allowed her to continue that train-wreck, the same one she’s been committing for over 10 years in competition!!!