Izzy Taylor prison?!

[humblepie]

I think prior to the introduction of the minimum wage and HMRC's crack down, this practice was common amongst a very large group of people in the horse industry in this country.......

I always think it is interesting. If you are properly getting lessons and livery for your own horse and decent accommodation, it could work out financially very well to have a small wage and all that for free - but of course it isn't legal for a worker as it doesn't meet the NMW requirements and is very open to abuse. It is good that it has been cracked down upon and HMRC did a number of compliance visits to equestrian yards a few years back and hopefully still do. That said, I worked for free for an Olympic rider for a couple of months (years ago, pre NMW in fact) - that was my decision, I had lessons on my own horse, got to ride some top horses and had good fun. I was on gardening leave from a job, looking around for a new job so it worked very well. Very different though from being used as a cheap workforce.

 

[honetpot]

When you think how long the hours are on a proper working yard, we started at 7.30, and last horses was a 22.00, when I was doing it but we had a generous lunch break, who would want a teenager to do that for £5.28phr, unless there was some structured learning in the contract.

 

[paisley]

Well, there’s a reason I left horses after 20+ years. I can remember two jobs where the accommodation was properly decent and was paid well. I also remember the caravan without plumbing (a 5 min walk down the road to outside loos), the bedroom with damp so bad my bed sheets turned green after a week, being given my notice after a period of illness and one individual who called everyone a ‘stupid Cee You Next Tuesday ‘ on a regular basis. All of the jobs were different disciplines and all top riders. I genuinely loved my job but I don’t regret leaving it.

 

[onemoretime]

I know someone who worked for a pro twelve years ago, I think they stayed about six months, and he never got to ride, about the same time a school leaver on our yard went to work on a showing yard, and ended up in the horrible caravan, with no money. She was better off literally, working in McDonald's. Both of these teenagers rode well, and could do all the basic stable management, so they just needed polish, and training up for prepping for competition.
I think the ones that fall for it usually have parents who do not have a horse background, and it seems like a good way to learn.

Reading this thread I am so glad that my dear old late mum refused to let me work with horses.

 

[onemoretime]

I knew her personally some time ago. I was unlucky enough to do 'work experience' with her. My neighbour was her head girl and at 17, I was itching to get some experience working on a professional yard. I was doing it was free but in 4 days, she put me off working with horses well and truly.
One example - we'd all have lunch together in her/her parents house. Granted they provided me a light lunch, but I on my first day and subsequent days, I was expected to do all the washing up and remember being in the kitchen clearing everything away on my own and thinking 'I didn't come here to do this and for free too!'.
It was a roasting August day and she'd have me and a 12 year old girl raking the track of the arena, then she'd canter past and shout at us if we'd missed a bit.
She'd snatch tack out my hand and show me how to clean it her way.
Just a couple of examples - she was a nasty piece of work and I went off to work with people after that, before later returning to work with horses and had far better experiences for much nicer people! Just couldn't believe how she treated her staff, especially the inexperienced and unpaid ones.

She sounds a real treat!

 

[onemoretime]

WhoooHooo
and there's me old-fashioned enough to think that laws still apply to all 'without fear or favour' !!!!!!!!!!!
Entitled little madam

This is so really really 'great' for the image and social licence of eventing, and by association all horse sports and activities.......

Im sure her late aunty Anneli Drummon-Hay would be very sad about this.

 

[Ceifer]

Steering OT but the old YT scheme has been somewhat overhauled and there are training providers who are supposed to make sure that working pupils are actually getting trained but it does depend on who the assessor is and whether they’re really bothered.
I last yard managed about 3 years ago - coming out of ‘retirement’ to help a friend out. We had a student, they paid her the statutory £95.00 a week (I believe it’s more now).
We all made sure she was getting the chance to ride, learn and go out and about. She was treated like a member of the family but unfortunately when her training was up they let her go in favour of getting another student to keep costs down. She easily got other jobs but unfortunately couldn’t hack the treatment in other yards and now has an office job. Which is a shame for the industry and the hard work she put in but also I really don’t blame her.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Anyone aware of any update?

 

[reynold]

She's not due in court until July for sentencing. Can't remember/don't know the date.

 

[COldNag]

Deferred until January...

Olympic-hopeful Izzy Taylor is given six months to change

Izzy Taylor is an internationally-renowned horsewoman, Oxford Crown Court heard.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

 

[Parrotperson]

mmm. So not only did she breach fire safety law but she allowed someone to sleep above the room where a fire had already started. And she had no working fire alarms and a fire escape that would probably have killed someone had they tried to use it.

The judge has been extremely lenient. Ridiculously so.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Sure those of us who aren't "exceptional individuals" wouldn't get the same leeway

Didn't she get a warning before it as well which she didn't act on? So why give her even more rope.

Like I say if it was someone less "famous" I bet they'd be getting hammered. She is an EMPLOYER surely employees safety should be a priority health and safety at work and all that

I expect she will get a lackey to sort it for her then clearly it'll be deemed sunshine and roses and she will get off Scott free

Who gives a s*** about her career, I don't. Surely people's safety is more important....

Wasn't one of her owners (why would you still have horses with her as if that fire had spread they'd have been in serious trouble) involved in the case? Conflict of interest much...

 

[reynold]

Another thing (but that doesn't count under the law where animals such as horses/dogs are rated as 'possessions' like a TV) the flats and tack room where the fire and offences occurred are part of a stable block....

.....one where I presume horses live.

Having had a horse killed - along with 6 others - in an arson attack 27 years ago (the date is engraved in my mind) I find it totally inexcusable for any real horse person to put the lives of horses in their care at risk.

Burning to death is horrible, even despite the victims probably suffocating before being burnt - which was what my vet said happened to my horse.

She deserves a prison sentence and to suffer the full consequences of her actions (or lack of action), exacerbated by her failing to appear at a previous hearing (which shows contempt of court)

Throw the book at her.

 

[Velcrobum]

She seems not to be as poor as her pro-bono KC is suggesting according to the accounts filed with companies house!

IZZY TAYLOR EVENTING LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

IZZY TAYLOR EVENTING LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

 

[paddy555]

Having had a horse killed - along with 6 others - in an arson attack 27 years ago (the date is engraved in my mind) I find it totally inexcusable for any real horse person to put the lives of horses in their care at risk.

Burning to death is horrible, even despite the victims probably suffocating before being burnt - which was what my vet said happened to my horse.

I'm sorry, I'm not sure how someone would get over that.

 

[reynold]

Interesting.

If she's worth over 100k in her business then why has the (ridiculously soft) judge given her 6 months respite to 'save up' to pay costs and fines????

Prison sentences are often suspended or made non-custodial when the convicted person is deemed not to be a 'threat to the public'. In this case Taylor is obviously a threat to the very lives of her staff.

Send her to prison.

 

[Velcrobum]

Interesting.

If she's worth over 100k in her business then why has the (ridiculously soft) judge given her 6 months respite to 'save up' to pay costs and fines????

Prison sentences are often suspended or made non-custodial when the convicted person is deemed not to be a 'threat to the public'. In this case Taylor is obviously a threat to the very lives of her staff.

Send her to prison.

That was my thought exactly!

The KC claiming that if she got a custodial or suspended sentence she would run into visa problems that could ruin her career. Too late she has got a conviction which will probably exclude her from USA however I suspect she would not declare it.

 

[Parrotperson]

I think to get a US visa they actually check your criminal status now. She might be bu*****d.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I really hope that she does experience adverse consequences- she knowingly broke the law and then lied about it. What she did is no different then drink driving, yes you might get away with it for a time bit law of averages you are going to find yourself in a position where your actions kill or injure someone else.
There needs to be a wake up call in the hose world that if you have staff then you take on responsibility to see that they are paid in line with legal obligations and that includes pension and that you have a duty of care, if you can’t/won’t do this then you have no place in this industry and certainly should not be representing this country no matter how good a rider you are

 

[fetlock]

I really hope that she does experience adverse consequences- she knowingly broke the law and then lied about it. What she did is no different then drink driving, yes you might get away with it for a time bit law of averages you are going to find yourself in a position where your actions kill or injure someone else.
There needs to be a wake up call in the hose world that if you have staff then you take on responsibility to see that they are paid in line with legal obligations and that includes pension and that you have a duty of care, if you can’t/won’t do this then you have no place in this industry and certainly should not be representing this country no matter how good a rider you are

Thing is, unless you’re several times over the limit, and a repeat offender you don’t go to jail generally for drink driving, unless you cause a serious accident/death.

I know someone who was three times over the limit and crashed into a bollard. Met the possible prison criteria but because they’d lose their job, was a first time offence (as far as the courts knew) and mental health issues they got a 3 year ban and hefty fine instead. The 3 year ban hit them hard, as did the publicity and so will the eventual insurance premium I imagine.

In her case she (and her employees) were very fortunate nobody was hurt. Instant jail then. If she was jailed she would lose her career/livelihood and presumably the offence carries a high financial impact with the cost of putting things right before sentencing. How she’s behaved is abysmal and no way am I condoning it but if she puts things right and complies in every way I can’t see what benefit there would be in a custodial sentence.

 

[Hanno Verian]

Thing is, unless you’re several times over the limit, and a repeat offender you don’t go to jail generally for drink driving, unless you cause a serious accident/death.

I know someone who was three times over the limit and crashed into a bollard. Met the possible prison criteria but because they’d lose their job, was a first time offence (as far as the courts knew) and mental health issues they got a 3 year ban and hefty fine instead. The 3 year ban hit them hard, as did the publicity and so will the eventual insurance premium I imagine.

In her case she (and her employees) were very fortunate nobody was hurt. Instant jail then. If she was jailed she would lose her career/livelihood and presumably the offence carries a high financial impact with the cost of putting things right before sentencing. How she’s behaved is abysmal and no way am I condoning it but if she puts things right and complies in every way I can’t see what benefit there would be in a custodial sentence.

Absolutely I'm not advocating that she goes to jail, but neither does she get a free pass because she can ride well and this wasnt a first offence, she had been told by the Fire Officer not to use the area above the tack room for accommodation as she was at the time of the fire, she chose to ignore this. I agree no-one was hurt, but arguably through luck, the fire was in effect her first DUI equivalent, she then knowing broke the law again.
This pattern of offending needs to be dealt with otherwise other people in the equestrian world will think they are above the law, she made the choice to disregard the law she should have considered the adverse consequences when she made that decision. She assumed that she would get away with it and that putting her staff at risk was just a normal part of her doing business.
I hope the HSE, HMRC and other regulatory bodies are all over her and her business and that she is right under the spotlight - I also hope that England selectors take this into consideration and rule her out of representing her country.

 

[Hanno Verian]

She seems like quite a nice lady to me. No ones forcing you to work in her stables. Maybe your just jealous.

No one forced her to break the law either........

 

[onemoretime]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure how someone would get over that.

Agree, I cant imagine the after effects that would have on me. Im so terribly sorry for your loss.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

So she gets to try and jolly round Burghley and ah e a lovely summer while someone else cleans up her mess and she gets away with treating people like rubbish. What's the betting Horse and hound mag don't comment on it at all as well. Has she lost any sponsorship?

 

[teapot]

It's quite the take of potentially risking her career when we all know she won't be anywhere near the team for this year's Euros or next year's Olympics.

Must be nice having a pro-bono KC who happens to be an owner...

 

[MuddyMonster]

⁰What's the betting Horse and hound mag don't comment on it at all as well. Has she lost any sponsorship?

I thought that.

I'm not saying there shouldn't have been, but I think I remember a lot of coverage made over another event rider's drink driving conviction a few/some years ago and it being all over H&H and other media outlets at the time.

I've not heard a peep about Izzy's convinction in any horse related media - although, God bless the Daily Mail for their reporting. No idea if 'they' are trying to keep it under the radar as it would undo all the work done to represent the grooms as super grooms and invaluable team members of the team and as a legitimate career path etc or if it's because it's to protect Izzy Taylor and her connections? Or some other reason?

I hope it all comes out in the wider equestrian media one way or another.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Makes you wonder if given she's clearly pally with a lawyer some sort of embargo has been put in place to protect her "career"

She's certainly getting a very easy ride I doubt us mere mortals would get the same...

Disappointing H&H aren't reporting it and that she's still being allowed to continue as normal

 

[Kunoichi73]

It should be reported. Employers who exploit and endanger staff should be held accountable for their actions.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I hope she loses both sponsors and owners I would not as a business want to be associated with her

 

[Velcrobum]

Wow she is running / has run 9 horses at Aston-le-Walls Wednesday- Sunday and has 15 horses entered at Upton House Tuesday-Thursday this coming week of which 6 have run at Aston. I wonder if those 6 will be withdrawn or will run again? Upton is a tough hilly course so soon after Aston!!