Shame. Isolation. Fear.
These are some of the things that allow abuse and acts of sexual violence to be silenced. The reasons that victims are reluctant to speak up or ever report at all.
Sexual abuse and violence happen in sport. A joint investigation published back in February 2019 by CBC News and CBC Sports1 revealed some shocking statistics. It found that at least 222 coaches who were involved in amateur sports in Canada had been convicted of sexual offences in the past 20 years. Those convictions involved more than 600 victims under the age of 18.
And these statistics are just a tip of the iceberg according to Olympic rower and University of Winnipeg sociology professor Sandra Kirby, who has been studying issues around sexual abuse in sports for years and was interviewed as part of the reporting. Kirby explained that sexual abuse is a very under-reported crime and estimates there could be thousands of other cases where no one has come forward.
Horse sport is no exception. But for a long time, too long many would argue, the voices of victims have not been heard or not been well amplified.
According to WeRideTogether, a US-based non-profit organization created in 2021 to shine a light on the endemic issue of sexual abuse and misconduct in equestrian sport, in a majority of cases the abuse involves seduction and deception also known as grooming. Athletes can be coerced into compliance because they trust, like, or even love their abusers, making the act of abuse seem consensual when it is not.
Like other sports and experts, We Ride Together advocates that sexual abuse is under-reported in equestrian sport with inappropriate relationships between coaches or other authority figures and underage athletes often an open secret. But they also reiterate that few report it, citing negative consequences, self doubt and denial as common for survivors and bystanders alike, sometimes taking years to even recognize the abuse.
In the work of Dr. Brené Brown, a researcher who studies and has shared her work through books on shame and vulnerability, she outlines what she calls the most primitive human emotion. “Shame depends on me buying into the belief that I’m alone,” she has said. “Shame cannot survive being spoken. It cannot survive empathy.”
In order to create safe environments for athletes and participants, it is imperative the sport community in Canada find its humanness. There is a need to listen, to empathize and to act. Shame must be extinguished. Part of that extinguishing is ensuring that voices can be heard and believed. And being willing to talk about it.
Equestrian Canada (EC) as an organization is committed to open dialogue as well as the ongoing development of education and resources to create and protect the safe and respectful environment that all participants in equestrian sport deserve.
It is vitally important for all members of the equestrian community to familiarize themselves with EC’s Abuse Policy, Athlete Protection Guidelines and Code of Conduct and Ethics in order to educate themselves on how to recognize and report incidents of maltreatment.
Safe Sport training is now mandatory for all sport licence holders, coaches, volunteers, staff and officials. If an individual is ready to come forward, EC has an independent third-party process in place to receive complaints of misconduct. When necessary and warranted, authorities are involved.
As a community, we must normalize speaking openly about what is not acceptable behaviour. We must create safe spaces where the empathy of horses can be enjoyed and the love of sport and competition can flourish. Abuse, harassment, and maltreatment will not be tolerated. Shame has no place here.
You are never alone. We are listening.