I’m not sure what to think….

[smolmaus]

I think if people are going to keep stating "his life has been destroyed" we might need to start thinking about whether that is actually true or not. A quick google says he has a net worth of about £2million. He's unlikely to lose his home or business, a quick sale and rebrand of his branded goods might be in order but they're not taking his assets away from him. His racing license has been suspended but that seems more like a small venture rather than his main source of income.

Maybe he will be boycotted by everyone in the industry, will be forced to sell everything he owns and will become a penniless knight of the realm but uh, doesn't seem likely to me. He's still going to be better off than basically any of us here like.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

With regard to getting plastered on msm, I think it’s a good thing in most cases. Yes, there are nutters out there, but they’ve always been out there. If the chance of being filmed and exposed on sm stops a good few people abusing animals then hallelujah. Karma has found a smartphone….. and also, that girl’s motives for posting sound a bit suspicious, be sure and your sins will find you out, as my granny used to say.

Agree to disagree then, posting it on social media but at what cost? Look what happened to the guy who got lifetime banned from showjumping? I mean for him I can’t even defend because what he did was horrific and totally unjustifyinable but this case I would say is so far off that, yet MT has been banned from BHA his whole career depends on and had other impacts on his life and threats. I think I’m this situation it shouldn’t have been posted on social media. I can see we’re not going to agree tho

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

I think if people are going to keep stating "his life has been destroyed" we might need to start thinking about whether that is actually true or not. A quick google says he has a net worth of about £2million. He's unlikely to lose his home or business, a quick sale and rebrand of his branded goods might be in order but they're not taking his assets away from him. His racing license has been suspended but that seems more like a small venture rather than his main source of income.

Maybe he will be boycotted by everyone in the industry, will be forced to sell everything he owns and will become a penniless knight of the realm but uh, doesn't seem likely to me. He's still going to be better off than basically any of us here like.

I think it’s common knowledge by now that money is not everything… look what happened to Caroline flack and what was her net worth

 

[Upthecreek]

Agree to disagree then, posting it on social media but at what cost? Look what happened to the guy who got lifetime banned from showjumping? I mean for him I can’t even defend because what he did was horrific and totally unjustifyinable but this case I would say is so far off that, yet MT has been banned from BHA his whole career depends on and had other impacts on his life and threats. I think I’m this situation it shouldn’t have been posted on social media. I can see we’re not going to agree tho

MT has had his licence suspended, he has not been banned. We can go around in circles all day about the value of stuff like this being posted on social media, but the fact is it has been. I think people need to seriously consider their conduct, which they can control, rather than blaming the fallout from their actions on social media and the person that decided to post it for whatever reason, which they have no control of.

 

[smolmaus]

I think it’s common knowledge by now that money is not everything… look what happened to Caroline flack and what was her net worth

It is distasteful, in my opinion, to use the very sad suicide of a mentally unwell woman to deflect valid criticism from a man who has made a professional error.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

It is distasteful, in my opinion, to use the very sad suicide of a mentally unwell woman to deflect valid criticism from a man who has made a professional error.

I mean you’ve just completely misunderstood the point- that it’s not all about the assets. You don’t think death threats and the entire equestrian community vilifying mark todd has any impact on MT’s mental health? That like you say he’s made a “professional error” therefore he deserves all this??

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

MT has had his licence suspended, he has not been banned. We can go around in circles all day about the value of stuff like this being posted on social media, but the fact is it has been. I think people need to seriously consider their conduct, which they can control, rather than blaming the fallout from their actions on social media and the person that decided to post it for whatever reason, which they have no control of.

I would say after this people will be more conscious of what they’re posting too and how they conduct themselves in dealing with things that are wrong…

 

[sakura]

MT is a grown man and the only one responsible for his actions. If the horse was unfit and not suitable for that level of training, instead of hitting it repeatedly with a branch, perhaps he should have advised the rider that the clinic wasn't suitable for them or adjusted the training for them. Social media is also not to blame. He did it, you can't then get mad at someone for showing people that he did. That is not to defend anyone sending death threats, obviously, but the simple act of sharing footage of a real event is not the problem here - the action is.

 

[I'm Dun]

Agree to disagree then, posting it on social media but at what cost? Look what happened to the guy who got lifetime banned from showjumping? I mean for him I can’t even defend because what he did was horrific and totally unjustifyinable but this case I would say is so far off that, yet MT has been banned from BHA his whole career depends on and had other impacts on his life and threats. I think I’m this situation it shouldn’t have been posted on social media. I can see we’re not going to agree tho

So what should have been done? Nothing would have happened if it had been reported as well you know. So how would you have liked this to be dealt with?

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

MT is a grown man and the only one responsible for his actions. If the horse was unfit and not suitable for that level of training, instead of hitting it repeatedly with a branch, perhaps he should have advised the rider that the clinic wasn't suitable for them or adjusted the training for them. Social media is also not to blame. He did it, you can't then get mad at someone for showing people that he did. That is not to defend anyone sending death threats, obviously, but the simple act of sharing footage of a real event is not the problem here - the action is.

i so disagree with you all, have never disputed what he did was wrong but I am disputing that he didn’t deserve threats and his life ruined, clearly you all think he does but in my opinion this was totally wrong way to handle it

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

So what should have been done? Nothing would have happened if it had been reported as well you know. So how would you have liked this to be dealt with?

gone to the event organiser or mark todd himself

 

[sakura]

i so disagree with you all, have never disputed what he did was wrong but I am disputing that he didn’t deserve threats and his life ruined, clearly you all think he does but in my opinion this was totally wrong way to handle it

I haven't seen anyone defending someone who has outwardly threatened MT. I think sharing footage of a highly respected professional being cruel to a horse is an important thing to share. I wouldn't want anyone who thinks that behaviour is acceptable around my horse, so I'm glad I know that happened.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

I haven't seen anyone defending someone who has outwardly threatened MT. I think sharing footage of a highly respected professional being cruel to a horse is an important thing to share. I wouldn't want anyone who thinks that behaviour is acceptable around my horse, so I'm glad I know that happened.

fair enough and I can see your point but I think there’s always so many other things that come with sharing a video online.

 

[smolmaus]

I mean you’ve just completely misunderstood the point- that it’s not all about the assets. You don’t think death threats and the entire equestrian community vilifying mark todd has any impact on MT’s mental health? That like you say he’s made a “professional error” therefore he deserves all this??

Nobody here is saying he deserves death threats, and in my opinion his life is unlikely to be ruined. He wasn't caught on camera assaulting a person and looking at a jail sentence as Caroline Flack was and he isn't on the front page of every tabloid newspaper or being stalked from his home and place of work by paparazzi. Its a very different situation, you can't just use Caroline Flack's name as a trump card to stop people being criticised, that's gross. If his mental health is impacted by this I hope he gets the help he needs and anyone sending death threats or harassing him personally is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Its not death threats or unconditional forgiveness and nothing in between.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

Nobody here is saying he deserves death threats, and in my opinion his life is unlikely to be ruined. He wasn't caught on camera assaulting a person and looking at a jail sentence as Caroline Flack was and he isn't on the front page of every tabloid newspaper or being stalked from his home and place of work by paparazzi. Its a very different situation, you can't just use Caroline Flack's name as a trump card to stop people being criticised, that's gross. If his mental health is impacted by this I hope he gets the help he needs and anyone sending death threats or harassing him personally is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Its not death threats or unconditional forgiveness and nothing in between.

mark todds entire life is within the equestrian community and the entire equestrian community is vilifying him… he has now been all over the news including in Australia and usa so the whole world knows. Some of the general public have also now seen this. So i don’t think it’s totally different! You brought up well look how much assets he’s got he’ll be fine, and I brought up Caroline flack because it’s proof that it’s not all about money and assets at all.

 

[Regandal]

mark todds entire life is within the equestrian community and the entire equestrian community is vilifying him… he has now been all over the news including in Australia and usa so the whole world knows. Some of the general public have also now seen this. So i don’t think it’s totally different! You brought up well look how much assets he’s got he’ll be fine, and I brought up Caroline flack because it’s proof that it’s not all about money and assets at all.

Yes, he is being judged by his peers, as he should be. You want people to stop posting stuff on sm? Good luck with that one, the genie is out of the bottle.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

Yes, he is being judged by his peers, as he should be. You want people to stop posting stuff on sm? Good luck with that one, the genie is out of the bottle.

obviously it isn’t going to happen now but perhaps people will be more conscious of what they’re putting out there and how they’re handling things from now

 

[TPO]

i so disagree with you all, have never disputed what he did was wrong but I am disputing that he didn’t deserve threats and his life ruined, clearly you all think he does but in my opinion this was totally wrong way to handle it

Threats are a seperate issue and xan be dealt with by the law. People can't make death threats on SM and expect to get away it.

Your arguments make no sense. The "defenders" of his actions are a blogger who thinks it was funny at the time and very very small number of professionals who have their own backs to watch.

You talk that different action should have been taken on the one hand but no one took again action regarding the allegations being banded about about the clinic participant. Now she is being slandered with NO proof just hearsay. Need to make your mind up what you're actually trying to argue about ?

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

Threats are a seperate issue and xan be dealt with by the law. People can't make death threats on SM and expect to get away it.

Your arguments make no sense. The "defenders" of his actions are a blogger who thinks it was funny at the time and very very small number of professionals who have their own backs to watch.

You talk that different action should have been taken on the one hand but no one took again action regarding the allegations being banded about about the clinic participant. Now she is being slandered with NO proof just hearsay. Need to make your mind up what you're actually trying to argue about ?

My point is it should all be dealt with off social media, I brought that up because I see hypocrisy in what she did that’s all, I wouldn’t have brought it up, in fact only those involved would’ve only known, had this whole situation not been completely blown out of proportion

 

[sakura]

But the general public has a right to know that someone as famous and regarded as MT is capable of that behaviour, "one-off" or not. People shouldn't make threats towards him, but they should know what he thought was acceptable behaviour at the time. If you do a bad deed, you should face the appropriate consequences of it. He is famous so his reputation will always be a large factor - as it should be. Because, again, I wouldn't want him around my horse. I no longer care that he has Olympic medals, I care about what was in that video.

 

[Bay.chestnut.coloure]

But the general public has a right to know that someone as famous and regarded as MT is capable of that behaviour, "one-off" or not. People shouldn't make threats towards him, but they should know what he thought was acceptable behaviour at the time. If you do a bad deed, you should face the appropriate consequences of it. He is famous so his reputation will always be a large factor - as it should be. Because, again, I wouldn't want him around my horse. I no longer care that he has Olympic medals, I care about what was in that video.

Do you think he’s facing the appropriate consequences now? Cus I don’t

 

[sakura]

I think he deserves to have his reputation damaged and to lose positions of privilege and trust, I do not think he deserves threats. It is up to him to gain people's trust and respect back. I haven't followed the social media reactions so I am talking generally and not about any specific posts.

 

[smolmaus]

B He is famous so his reputation will always be a large factor - as it should be.

Indeed. The double-edged sword of notoriety. He has made money and gotten access to incredible opportunities off the basis of his name being recognisable with his profession in a positive way, now the consequence is that his name is recognisable when he makes mistakes as well.

 

[Lexi_]

mark todds entire life is within the equestrian community and the entire equestrian community is vilifying him… he has now been all over the news including in Australia and usa so the whole world knows. Some of the general public have also now seen this. So i don’t think it’s totally different! You brought up well look how much assets he’s got he’ll be fine, and I brought up Caroline flack because it’s proof that it’s not all about money and assets at all.

I’ve seen more than a few people using the #IstandwithMarkTodd hashtag and some of them are eventing pros.

Personally I wouldn’t want to align myself who feels it either funny or appropriate to go full Basil Fawlty on a horse with a massive tree branch, but part of the equestrian community doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.

 

[palo1]

Years and years ago I would have hit a horse that didn't do as asked when it should have been confident and experienced; that was, to a very small extent how I was taught by one accomplished horseman although even then the greater influence was far more empathic and skilled and came from other directions. I guess I had a choice of tools and generally speaking I chose the kinder set of tools - not having massive ambition and wanting to create a decent relationship with a horse as well as spending more time with a trainer that was kinder. In a way, back in the day, that was lucky I think. But when MT was younger it was not uncommon to see horses smacked/whipped to get them to jump, race etc. Sadly that would have been a familiar and accepted strategy for some riders. Things change and we must change with them - I think far, far less people want to physically 'force' a horse these days and that is a good thing; there is no reason for it other than in extremis and for safety reasons. The thing that really boggles me and makes me sad is that in fact, MT, in whacking that horse showed only the same skill/strategy that I had a very long time ago; I know he is better than that, far more capable etc. But it's really really crap if MT can't find a better way than an outdated, mean and pretty useless approach to a problem. I don't care what the rider was doing really though I think perhaps she could learn about preparing for a clinic, or something. I don't want to demonise MT; I have great respect for his in the saddle riding and achievements. It's just sad and depressing and I hope that MT vows never to hit another horse as long as he is dealing with them.

 

[Sandstone1]

The thing is it was not just a smack. He was putting his whole weight behind it and did it aprox 10 times. I do not agree with threats on his life but treating a horse like that is just not on.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I’ve seen more than a few people using the #IstandwithMarkTodd hashtag and some of them are eventing pros.

Personally I wouldn’t want to align myself who feels it either funny or appropriate to go full Basil Fawlty on a horse with a massive tree branch, but part of the equestrian community doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.

You're so right. I'm sure he's a nice guy and those who know him probably say he's a good friend etc and there's no denying that he's archived incredible skills and is without a doubt an incredible rider.
But by saying that you back him , you're saying you don't see a problem with trashing a horse. So people making that pledge just out themselves as horse trashers too.

Although I have to say that MT has handled this outcry very well : he admitted to it , apologised , voluntarily stepped down as patron of WHW, accepted his racing licence suspension.
I can't imagine someone like Oliver Townend behaving like such a gentleman- I'm still waiting for the outrage over his whip use and the "win pretty or win ugly " comment.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I don't actually wish any harm to his career ,.I hope that he gets his licence back and then publicly distances himself from this behaviour and reaffirms his commitment to training without violence. Yes some might not believe it but it would serve as a good example to those who loom up to him.

 

[ycbm]

A quick google says he has a net worth of about £2million. He's unlikely to lose his home or business,

I would expect almost all of that £2 million to be the value of his home and his business. If so, then the loss of training revenues could mean that he has little left to live on, and he could indeed lose both.

A person who owns a £1 million home is a millionaire. It doesn't mean that they have 2 pence left to rub together to feed themselves.
.

 

[I'm Dun]

gone to the event organiser or mark todd himself

And what do you think would have happened? Absolutely nothing. The organiser has no power to do anything other than not book him again. The girl has stated in an interview that she did raise it but was told it wasnt hard and was basically fobbed off.

I'm really struggling to see where you are coming from. He hit a horse ten times hard enough for it to be heard on a camera phone video. People cheered and clapped. Why do you think that there should be no repercussions for that?

How bad would it have to be for you to consider it acceptable for it to be shown publicly or is there no situation where you feel people should see something like that?