AT to 'not appeal' the FEI decision

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seansheep

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Case of abuse at CCI4* Lexington (USA): Amy Tryon accepts the decision of FEI Tribunal
The FEI has received official notification of Amy Tryon’s acceptance of FEI Tribunal’s decision and waiving her right to appeal. Consequently, Amy Tryon’s suspension commences immediately and will run from 20 July through 19 September 2007 inclusive.

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Hadn't seen this posted.

As for 'accepting the FEI decision' I should think she'd be d**n well celebrating getting off so lightly - the H&H poll is already up to 43% for a lifetime ban. Wish a few of us had been on that FEI tribunal !!
 
Here is my email I sent to the FEI...if we all email them to show our disgust, is it possible they will review it?

"I would like to complain regarding the penalty given to Amy Tryon re her case of horse abuse. No doubt you will be aware of the massive public opinion on this case, seem on internet sites across the world. It is clear that horse abuse is taken far more seriously by the average horse owner then it is by the FEI.
The penalty of just 2 months is simply an insult and gives Eventing a very poor image. Much is said about the welfare of the horse and yet it doesnt appear to be important to those in charge.

The process itself was flawed..the witnesses in support of Amy were either friends, trainers or owners. The independent witnesses all stated that it was inconceivable that Amy did not know about the injury before she pulled up. Quite frankly, any horse person who is experienced would know.

The decision is a disgrace and the FEI have lost a huge amount of credability from a lot of people as a result (see Horse and Hound Forum for a view on the strength of feelings on this matter).

A minimum of 1 year ban would have shown how serious this offence is. It would not have been career threatening, yet would have meant that she would have some punishment as she deserved. As it is, she will be back competing very soon and no doubt back to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Your decision is certainly a sad day in the sport.'
 
I found something interesting in the outcome of another FEI case that was appealed to the court of arbitration...

". The rider had appealed the decision arguing that the strict liability approach and presumption of fault was contrary to the presumption of innocence applicable in criminal settings. "

i.e. the FEI rules that the rider is strictly liable

So if AT was found by the FEI to be guilty of abuse then **under their own rules** she was "strictly liable" and therefore her defence of 'not knowing' (in a similar manner to in a prohibited substance case the rider can try to claim the 'didn't know' how the substance got into the horse is not accepted, as shown in the cutting above) should have been thrown out and she should have had a proper penalty.

I have used the FEI own rulings in comparison in my letter.
Sorry it's a bit long

"I draw your attention to the two cases listed at the end of this email, taken from the FEI website. In the first ‘merely’ hitting a horse resulted in a fine of 3000 Swiss francs. In the second two riders were suspended for 3 months and 8 months for administering prohibited substances to their horses.

In comparison with these two examples I wish to protest at the ridiculously lenient sentence recently passed by the FEI on Amy Tryon in regard to her abuse of her horse, Le Samurai, which resulted in the DEATH of the horse.

It appears from the Tribunal transcript that all veterinary and expert evidence, e.g. that of Christian Landolt, was virtually ignored and the ‘statements of support’ of friends of Amy Tryon were given precedence. The result? A paltry suspension of 2 months and a trivial fine of a mere 1000 Swiss francs, less then the meat money value of the carcass of Le Samurai.

I find the blatant lack of consistency in the FEI decisions to be something that merits serious attention at the highest level within the organisation in order to avoid a total loss of all credibility within the equine community.

The actual penalties imposed on Amy Tryon have in fact left the FEI open to ridicule and hostility within the worldwide equestrian community as it has allowed a rider acknowledged to have abused her horse to continue to compete and perhaps appear at next years Olympics. In fact the transcript even implies that this case was only necessary because Rolex was such a public event and that nothing much would have been done in regard to a similar occurrence at a lower profile, untelevised, competition. Abuse should be dealt with whether or not it takes place in front of the TV cameras and the public and the FEI MUST be seen to deal harshly with those that abuse the generosity of their equine partners.

At the very least Amy Tryon should have been suspended for 2 years (preferably longer) and a substantial fine in the region of 20000 Swiss francs imposed. There is NO doubt that this rider WILL have felt the horse go lame and in fact the full video of the event shows the horse labouring and being whipped on after many of the previous 6 fences prior to the point where it broke down. Experts such as Christian Landolt and Wayne Roycroft are truly impartial in regard to Amy Tryon and therefore great credence should have been given to their evidence.

In contrast, no account seems to have been taken of the fact that the testimony of Capt. Phillips and the O’Connors was hardly unbiased. Capt. Phillips is the USA Team Trainer and the O’Connors leading USA event riders. Amy Tryon has previously competed for the USA International team and it is apparently intended that she would be in their 2008 Olympic team. Therefore the testimony of these witnesses could not help but be influenced by a desire to ensure Amy Tryon was available for the 2008 USA Olympic team in order to boost the USA medal chances.

Amy Tryon appears to have 'gotten off' by saying that she didn't realise the horse was as badly injured as it in fact was. Yet the second case below clearly cites that the rider has strict liability and a presumption of fault under FEI rules and the video evidence of Amy Tryon clearly shows her kicking on and riding on a horse that many times was trying to stop.

Finally, giving such a lenient penalty in the case where it has been acknowledged that a generous horse was seriously abused is sending out the wrong message to competing riders at all levels within equestrian sports.

Comparing these 3 cases, the FEI appear to be saying that it is ‘more or less OK’ to abuse your horse by riding it to its death; ‘not very nice’ to hit it too hard and ‘really unacceptable’ to give it unapproved medication, even accidentally.

Please can you review the Amy Tryon case and reconvene the tribunal to increase both the period of suspension and the fine imposed on Amy Tryon. If this is not possible then please can you make sure that such a miscarriage of justice cannot take place ever again."

It concludes with clippings from their own website.
 
The only way I can see is to go to the Court of Arbitration in Sport - that's where Bettina Hoy went and lost -but it's usually the 'punished rider' that goes there and not the FEI - and the FEI is hardly likely to goto the CAS to get it's own stupid ruling changed - that really would make them look like muppets

tbh the only way I can see to 'get' AT now is for an individual to bring a private action against her or for one of the welfare organisations to prosecute her - but that would have to be under the jurisdiction in which the offence occured - i.e. under USA law and USA courts and so far no-one has reported any success with the American Humane Society and the ILPH has no presence in the USA, nor does the RSPCA.
 
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