Today’s H and H letters pagem

[turningpoint]

Am horrified by the Elizabeth Inman response to Granville Thompson letter on ageism re his exclusion from stewarding at Burghley.

Granville remains competent and committed at age 70 and has given so much support over the years.

Regardless of this though Elizabeth’s response offered no thanks to Granville for his support over the years and was high handed. Frankly am gob smacked!

I have fence judged for years after being an eventer for 17 years at amateur level - wanting to put something back into the sport I love - but this has left a very sour taste in my mouth....

 

[turningpoint]

Think I may have posted in wrong place here? Apologies if so. Not sure where to put?

 

[milliepops]

Tack room would have been more appropriate but people will find it.
I don't but the magazine regularly so haven't seen the item you mentioned but I'll give your thread a bump

 

[turningpoint]

Tack room would have been more appropriate but people will find it.
I don't but the magazine regularly so haven't seen the item you mentioned but I'll give your thread a bump

Thanks. Appreciate that. Feel SO cross for Granville. Have also volunteered at Burghley but tempted not to again. No. Wait. I’ll be excluded. Am 70 now. I still run a marketing organisation and compete at dressage Medium level but despite my experience guess excluded.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Think I may have posted in wrong place here? Apologies if so. Not sure where to put?

It's fine where it is but a link to the letter would be useful.

 

[turningpoint]

Will see if I can locate link. Was reading my hard copy of the mag.

 

[Nicnac]

Haven't seen the letter as cancelled sub to H&H. Link won't work so someone will need to photograph letter and post it that way.

Sounds extremely unfair to Granville and somebody should call her (EI) out on her ageism. She's not exactly a spring chicken herself!

 

[milliepops]

Is this to do with an FEI rule about the age of judges? I am pretty sure that was being changed with the proposed 2020 rules.

 

[honetpot]

But surely that’s discrimination based on the Equality Act, you can do it on age?
Well a lot of events would not run without the old and active, including doctors and vets.

 

[Lexi_]

Might it be to do with liability insurance cover limits instead? The policy we have at work doesn’t cover our volunteers once they turn 80 so there might be some policies that have a 70 limit.

 

[honetpot]

I do not think you can have a blanker rule under the disability act. That’s why men and women car insurance no longer has a sex question. You are assessed on your risk

 

[Tiddlypom]

It is a rather trite and dismissive response, isn’t it.

I no longer volunteer at BE. I have been cancelled last minute or turned up to find my role double booked too many times. A whole day out volunteering needs a lot of pre organisation before leaving home at sparrow fart for us horsey peeps, and to do all that and find that you’re not actually needed is beyond annoying.

 

[Goldenstar]

That’s extremely rude response .
Even if it’s as I suspect that they where moving people on to make for the next generation it should have been handled with much more grace .
In truth is extremely variable how you are treated at BE event there’s one place I will never ever volunteer again .
The letter reads like a corporate communication expert wrote it but not a very good one .

 

[Leo Walker]

It is a rather trite and dismissive response, isn’t it.

I no longer volunteer at BE. I have been cancelled last minute or turned up to find my role double booked too many times. A whole day out volunteering needs a lot of pre organisation before leaving home at sparrow fart for us horsey peeps, and to do all that and find that you’re not actually needed is beyond annoying.

You could volunteer for driving trials instead. Its eventing with a carriage and we treat volunteers like royalty! You get nice food, any help or support you need and usually the competitors take a gift with them so all the volunteers get one. I got a lovely fleece blanket once and when I competed last I took a gift bag with chocolates and prosecco cocktails. We all really appreciate our volunteers!

 

[dogatemysalad]

Dreadful response from Elizabeth Inman, who may not be that far off from retirement herself, and may not appreciate that not everyone feels decrepit as they age. I was just reading about a wonderful eventer who retired at 75 years, only because her horse had Cushings.

 

[Rowreach]

It does depend which venue you volunteer at. Some of them really do value their voluntueers and look after them brilliantly.

I agree with LW about driving trials though, they do tend to treat volunteers well.

I work with a lot of volunteers, and many of them (but not all) are retired, time rich, wanting to stay active and to give something back - they come from all walks of life and have a huge amount to offer, and many of them are physically and mentally very very fit. There are people in their 90s still actively volunteering, and their input and involvement really should not be discounted

 

[turningpoint]

Will see if I can locate link. Was reading my hard copy of the mag.

I photocopied the letters but can’t post as apparently too large.