BHS statement

Shysmum

Shysmum

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"Dear All,

Thank you for your emails to the BHS regarding the recent Parelli demonstration at the Festival of the Horse. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that we have received an extremely large number of emails concerning this and I apologise for the fact that I cannot respond to each one of them individually. I hope that this group email will contain the information that you asked for (please note you have been blind copied in on this so your email address will not be seen by other recipients).

I think I need to make it clear that nobody was officially representing the BHS at the demonstration. This means that we have no first hand knowledge of what went on and are having to rely on accounts from others. I am aware that there is video footage in existence but what I have seen is poor quality and it is quite hard to determine exactly what was going on. What I can tell you is that when a concerned individual made a complaint to a member of BHS staff on our stand at the Festival, that BHS staff member arranged for a vet to inspect Catwalk. As a consequence of this Catwalk was not allowed to take part in any subsequent demos. There is no more that could have been done at the time as we were not the show organisers and had no specific remit over what went on. The member of staff concerned is not part of the welfare team but acted exceptionally quickly and took absolutely the most appropriate action available to her.

Further than this I cannot comment on this particular incident. As I assume you will understand it is not (for many reasons) appropriate or useful to discuss individual ongoing welfare investigations.

What I can say is that the BHS recognises that there is room for many different schools of horsemanship. Whichever one an individual chooses to follow it is important to retain an open mind and be receptive to other ideas. However, whichever methods are employed we do not consider it acceptable to cause pain, fear or unnecessary distress to a horse. We are also very much anti the use of unnecessary equipment and would stress the importance of maintaining human and equine safety as the paramount concerns at all times.

If you would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact me directly although please bear in mind that I am out of the office at meetings until Friday.

Yours

Lee

Lee Hackett

Senior Executive, Welfare
 
I just pasted and copied this so that peeps know what the BHS have to say, without getting lost in the other threads. I hope people do find this encouraging :D My original post in response from other thread -



Just read the BHS statement, and I have to say, I think it is very encouraging.

1) The BHS DID get an independant vet to see Catwalk on the friday night.
2) that vet refused permission for Catwalk to be used again
3) that an INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, which is why no further info can be given at this stage.

This is actually brilliant news - the wheels of these investigations can turn very slowly, but there is one on-going. You cannot say anything to prejudice the outcome of that investigation, and so have to be very guarded in what you say. In other words, I believe that the BHS sees that there is a case to answer, and are working thru the evidence, but cannot say more at this time, should it prejudice a possible prosecution.

sm x
 
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The fact that the vet refused to let Catwalk be used in another demo says it all really. What force PP used on him caused him too much physical and/or mental distress!

I'd like to add that that was a good response from Lee. I was a student for a year at Moreton Morrell when he worked there and was happy to hear he got the job with BHS :)
 
Oops, overslept!

I think this is extremely good in that they are reacting. It may take some time but with any luck, other demonstration organisations will take this seriously and not ask for Pat Pepperoni to attend further handling sessions. They must surely realise that so many people reacting angrily will be bad for business, if nothing else.

I really hope the Parellis cop on to the act that we don't all think they're God's gift to horse training and that we are aware of the bad way in which he handled the situation/horse.
 
Very positive

I would still like to see a clearer copy of the vet certificate--which can be read and why the vets practice stamp was not visible on it.
 
shysmum said:
"Dear All,

Thank you for your emails to the BHS regarding the recent Parelli demonstration at the Festival of the Horse. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that we have received an extremely large number of emails concerning this and I apologise for the fact that I cannot respond to each one of them individually. I hope that this group email will contain the information that you asked for (please note you have been blind copied in on this so your email address will not be seen by other recipients).

I think I need to make it clear that nobody was officially representing the BHS at the demonstration. This means that we have no first hand knowledge of what went on and are having to rely on accounts from others. I am aware that there is video footage in existence but what I have seen is poor quality and it is quite hard to determine exactly what was going on. What I can tell you is that when a concerned individual made a complaint to a member of BHS staff on our stand at the Festival, that BHS staff member arranged for a vet to inspect Catwalk. As a consequence of this Catwalk was not allowed to take part in any subsequent demos. There is no more that could have been done at the time as we were not the show organisers and had no specific remit over what went on. The member of staff concerned is not part of the welfare team but acted exceptionally quickly and took absolutely the most appropriate action available to her.

Further than this I cannot comment on this particular incident. As I assume you will understand it is not (for many reasons) appropriate or useful to discuss individual ongoing welfare investigations.

What I can say is that the BHS recognises that there is room for many different schools of horsemanship. Whichever one an individual chooses to follow it is important to retain an open mind and be receptive to other ideas. However, whichever methods are employed we do not consider it acceptable to cause pain, fear or unnecessary distress to a horse. We are also very much anti the use of unnecessary equipment and would stress the importance of maintaining human and equine safety as the paramount concerns at all times.

If you would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact me directly although please bear in mind that I am out of the office at meetings until Friday.

Yours

Lee

Lee Hackett

Senior Executive, Welfare
Click to expand...


this does not say a vet examined him on friday only that one did examine him. the complaint could have been on sat morning. Nor does it say that the VET refused him to perfore, it just says as a consequence he was not allowed. for all we know, BHS told him as a result of the damage done to the participants based on his behavior, they would not allow the horse further distress.

the second a complaint is lodged it is considered an investigation, as they have to investigate the complaint.

For all we know, he will be banned from setting foot on UK soil, and thrown in the dungeon. But for all we know this means nothing. I for one am not convinced, but then I work for the government. When I see an actual statement and charge for abuse then I will believe it. Until then, I will keep my own opinion that it shouldn't have happened in the first place, from that second forward, it is all speculation. the vet report says, no physical pain, and welfare not comprimised. until I see a vet report to refute it, I am going with this one.

I just hope people keep a level head about this, and not turn FACTS into wishful facts.


I transcribed it quite well on the other thread as I can read dr's chicken scratch:cool:
 
I'm sorry, but I read this very differently - I believe the BHS vet saw Catwalk on the friday I may be wrong. I also believe that a DIFFERENT vet was employed by the Parellis, and it is his report that is contained within the statement. No uk vet that I know of would write a report without it being on headed paper, and as this is so important, clearly typed.

Why would the BHS forward their vet's report to Parelli, when they need to investigate further before contacting them ?

I
 
Are the BHS actually investigating this incident though? I got the impression they are, but having studied the wording more closely I am wondering.

Further than this I cannot comment on this particular incident. As I assume you will understand it is not (for many reasons) appropriate or useful to discuss individual ongoing welfare investigations.
Click to expand...

It doesn't actually state that they are, its just easy to assume that from the above.
 
The vet report shown by parelli was by the chief vet for Royal festival of the horse, am I correct in thinking this is a different vet to the one that examined catwalk from the BHS?
 
The vet report would have been given to the owner, that owner has then allowed it to be used to uphold the statement that the horse suffered no injuries and his welfare was not compromised.
This confirms to me that that vet examination/certificate was was done at 11 am on 10th July. And also that Robert Whitaker made the decision and chose to make it public to clear up any misunderstanding there was about the horses condition.
 
Well, investigation or no investigation, at least it has made the Parelli`s realise that people wont always tolerate everything they (Pat & Lynda) think is acceptable in the Parelli world
 
too right - if nothing else does happen, I think the Parellis must realise that they would have to think very hard before staging a demo in the UK again, non ?
 
shysmum said:
Yes I most definitely believe they are - see my first post after the statement. sm x
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What powers does the BHS possess in conducting an investigation? Could they, for example, insist on viewing whatever video was filmed by the Parelli crew? I imagine not - although they could ask (nicely) to see it. What other evidence can/will they gather?
 
The bottom line is this horse may have required work to render it safe and responsive to bridle and subsequently compete. Parelli's mistake was to use it in a quick-fix-demonstration and then wonder why all hell is let loose when the horse proves more challenging than expected. And consequently making him look like a liar and fool.
 
shysmum said:
I'm sorry, but I read this very differently - I believe the BHS vet saw Catwalk on the friday I may be wrong. I also believe that a DIFFERENT vet was employed by the Parellis, and it is his report that is contained within the statement. No uk vet that I know of would write a report without it being on headed paper, and as this is so important, clearly typed.

Why would the BHS forward their vet's report to Parelli, when they need to investigate further before contacting them ?

I
Click to expand...

Your take is interesting. The BHS response that you initially posted stated "nobody was officially representing the BHS at the demonstration", so it is highly unlikely that a "BHS vet" saw Catwalk on the Friday. Indeed, if there was what was apparently an urgent situation, the most likely recourse of the BHS person (who wasn't representing BHS) would have been to alert the event vet. Logic?
A different vet employed by the Parellis? No. The report I have seen was written by the "Chief Vet Officer of the Royal Festival of the Horse".
Unless you intend to call into question the integrity of this individual, or can produce evidence of your statement content then I suggest that you acknowledge that you are actually wrong, as you say you may be.
 
splitting hairs there.

Doesnt matter who the vet was, the fact that a vet looked at catwalk is the point!

If they hadnt done such a "show" with the horse, no vet, the BHS, this forum would not be involved!
 
I am tempted to believe the account of the BHS welfare officer over that of the person who caused the damage to the horses mouth. Hopefully they will never come to the UK again and maybe one day a horse will get their revenge! Natural Horsemanship my arse.
 
LaurenM said:
I completely missed what happened.

SM - I got that perception too (that horse was checked on the Friday etc).
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Does any one know what time this person spoke to the BHS people on their stand, I thought the Demo was billed for starting late evening 6.00pm or later and therefor was the BHS stand still open then?
I was there on Sunday night and most stands had either packed up or shut down by 5.30pm.
 
I believe that the BHS pass details of investigations that "may" become prosecutions to the RSPCA. They often work together. The RSPCA can seek the use of Police/court powers to obtain evidence if they need to.
 
shysmum said:
I'm sorry, but I read this very differently - I believe the BHS vet saw Catwalk on the friday I may be wrong. I also believe that a DIFFERENT vet was employed by the Parellis, and it is his report that is contained within the statement. No uk vet that I know of would write a report without it being on headed paper, and as this is so important, clearly typed.

Why would the BHS forward their vet's report to Parelli, when they need to investigate further before contacting them ?

I
Click to expand...
I believe that what you 'believe' (being based on nothing more than hearsay) is wrong! The BHS didn't carry out a vet inspection. The organisers of the show did, and the report has been published for all to see.
 
I have had a message from Lee Hackett, who has confirmed that the BHS ARE investigating the incident. :)
 
My God, why does no-one believe anyone on here ? People are TRYING to keep others posted with developments - I don't know why they bother. Rude, ignorant. :mad:

Naturally - thanks so much for that ! :D
 
Lies, exaggerations and fabrications have abounded in this discussion, and I really think it would help if people would refrain from posting any new information in the form of hearsay. Perhaps Naturally would like to post the text of her message from Lee Hackett? Or better still, an official statement from the BHS made through the proper channels would be most helpful.
 
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