One of the puzzling aspects of the attack, Vicky says, is that
Campbell was not a top contender at the show and was not even the top horse Hyperion Stud had brought to the event. “He’s just starting to compete in the meter 45s,” she says of her young stallion. “He’s climbing the educational ladder of the sport and doing well, but he’s really just starting out. We’re really confused about why they chose this particular horse.” She is relieved, of course, that Campbell did not suffer any
permanent damage and is hopeful that he has two successful careers ahead of him: in the show ring and the breeding pen. (The stallion was KWPN approved before he was imported from Europe.) Fortunately, Campbell is still able to compete, although with a much shorter tail. “I let it grow out for two weeks, and then trimmed it to remove the blunt ends,” Vicky explains. “It doesn’t look too bad!” Vicky’s questions remain unanswered, however, and only
lead her to more questions. She has been told that white tail hair, like Campbell’s, is the most in demand and therefore the most expensive when it is sold. But then why was his tail left in the stall? And why, she asks, would an attacker choose just one horse? And why that horse?
Push for Better Security In the end, she says, she hopes that incidents like this one will push horse show and facility managers, as well as the USEF, to review their security policies. “If someone can do this to Campbell, what else can they do? What else has been done? And, since no one wants to talk about these things, who really knows?” In addition to her push for better show security, she also wants to break down that taboo and encourage people to talk more openly about such incidents. “For so many of us who are competing regularly, we’re
travelling around to all these shows and it’s not like we can sleep in the stalls with our horses every night. So what’s the alternative—hire your own security guards? I’m considering it. But how many competitors can do that?” “I feel a deep sense of disappointment that this would
happen. This is a sport we’re involved in. I’m disappointed in the horse show and I’m incredibly disappointed in the person who did this. Things like this should never happen. It’s so childish and unsportsmanlike to hurt a horse in this way. I think we need to spread the message that it’s simply not acceptable. And the only way we can do that is by encouraging people to talk about these things!”
H.M. Queen Elizabeth II Jabez Cliff & Co. Saddler & Loriner
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Warmbloods Today 77 09/08/2012 07:36
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