We have a growing problem within our industry which likes to rear its head in every direction and at every level, and that problem is…. Bullying. 

Equestrian Bullying can take many forms, in person, online – in particular trolling, behind the person’s back and can also be found in any yard, employment or competition, the list goes on. Why is it that our once great sport has turned into a vicious place to achieve goals? Tearing each other down instead of encouraging each other. Unfortunately, I have seen lovely riders targeted by these horrible people and quit the sport due to bullying and THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

I have been in the industry for over 20 years and I have witnessed some amount of pathetic people who think it’s perfectly ok to rip another horse person apart and judge them on everything they do, and I have also seen the effects it has on the victims.

Lately, I have heard it from all directions, from picking on a member for not having the latest gadget or “matchy matchy” set, to someone who is trying their best to achieve their goals while a group of people stand there and make nasty comments. I see it everywhere,”oh look at Joe Bloggs, he can’t even jump a cross pole and he has these dreams of jumping grand prix?” I have witnessed this being said in earshot of the people in question, who were happy with what they had achieved that evening, until they heard those comments. You could clearly see the change in body language and the person was genuinely upset, its awful to see this both as a coach and a rider!

I also see it daily on social media, recently very close to home, my friend was targeted by nothing more than trolls who had nothing better to do but attack a small business trying to make it in this tough industry. It was awful to see my friend so upset and it was completely unnecessary, they hadn’t even read the post, they just jumped in and attacked her, and these were horse people! AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

I see it at shows, Joe Bloggs jumps lower or higher than he normally does for any amount of reasons and 5 or 6 people gathered there either shouting horrid stuff at the rider in the warm up or disrupting their round which can even cause the person to fall. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE 

I see it in the many yards I visit on a weekly basis, from “matchy matchy”, to you must jump big to be a good rider to the spreading of rumors around a yard about a member of the yard.

It is very easy to be a bully online, you have the protection of the computer and can be a keyboard warrior, but when it comes down to it, some people would never say it in person, others, unfortunately, do both to their victims!

What these bullies don’t consider are:

• What’s going on at home for that person?
• What is that person’s mental health like at present?
• What money worries might they have?

The list goes on… imagine, for argument’s sake, if you were the bully that contributed to that person quitting the industry or worse? These bullies are pathetic individuals who ought to take a big look in the mirror and realise the damage they’re causing. Did you know that most bullies are battling their own insecurities and it makes them feel better about themselves? 

I have watched friends, family, colleagues, and followers all be affected by equestrian bullying in some shape or form. Even when I was targeted directly in the past, it really affected me badly, but what I did was, I used it to better myself and now I look back and laugh at those bullies. Those bullies gave me the ammunition to better myself and where are they now? Not where I am! I am extremely lucky to have a great support team who believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.

I’d like to start something new ….can the entire industry be kind and support one another? It doesn’t matter if you have a Grand Prix horse or an ex-school pony, it doesn’t matter if you have a saddle pad from 10 years ago or the latest Le Mieux set, it doesn’t matter if you are hacking down the road or competing on a regular basis. As long as you are having fun with your equine friend and keeping their welfare paramount, YOU ARE A GOOD HORSE PERSON, and that is all that matters!

Next time you are riding at home, at a weekly lesson , or at a show, do something kind for someone. You could build a fence, give someone a leg up, take a video for them, then when they post it on social media let them know that they are AWESOME! Can you imagine the effect this will have? Lets fill the industry with encouragement and love for our horses!

LETS RID THE INDUSTRY OF THESE BULLIES AND FILL IT WITH KINDNESS! ARE YOU WITH ME? WILL YOU JOIN ME?