You know I don’t expect much of our national federation. Maybe I don’t expect anything at all. But I did expect that Equine Canada (proposed renaming – because they love to change their name every few years, presumably to shake stalkers – to Egregious Canada) would not deliberately malign or undermine the efforts of its Olympic athletes. It’s already out there everywhere, but if you haven’t yet seen it, please help yourself to a viewing of the most stupidly transparent effort at sucking up to the FEI I have seen, ever. You might want to grab a sick bag.
I might have thought I was over-reacting to this statement, in which Mike Gallagher, the man we have allowed through our own thoughtless negligence to end up in charge of our national equestrian federation, performs his own version of the Animal House hazing scene depicted below. But my inbox says otherwise.
In the past few hours I’ve been flooded with emails that ask me a simple, yet crazy-making question: why would Mike Gallagher send out a statement in which he lays out in no uncertain terms that he, and by extension all of us members of EC – stand by the FEI, which disqualified Tiffany Foster ? There is only one possible reason for this EC statement, which is superfluous - not to mention self-annihilating – to say the least, since EC and the COC already sent out twin statements on Sunday. FEI not amused by Eric’s comments at press conference. FEI say EC bad. EC say sorry FEI. EC say FEI godlike figure to be worshiped. EC say thank you FEI for disqualifying innocent Canadian athlete.
And now the latest: Eric has made an announcement to the media that he has informed Mike Gallagher he will not participate in any competitions as a Canadian team member until EC issues another statement in support of its rider. That would be Tiffany. Please allow me to point out the obvious: Eric has nothing to gain from taking his position and from being as vocal as he has been. But he believes that a new injustice has been piled on by our own national federation. This is not a matter of Tiffany receiving insufficient support from EC. This latest statement effectively shuns her in favour of the unlikely prospect that HRH will suddenly smile on EC’s Prez in exoneration. A pat on the head, and all is well. WEG 2018 bid still on the table. Because of course that is the most important prize of all, worth sacrificing athletes like so many lambs at the altar.
Over the past seven months – starting with the hair-raisingly unjust departure of EC CEO Akaash Maharaj – I have spared no effort, no adjective, no metaphor in trying to ignite even the faintest flame under you all, the membership of EC. I have been largely ignored, probably not because you don’t believe me, but because you don’t think your voice matters. Or because you didn’t care enough to take an active interest. Well folks, if you don’t start making some noise now and calling to account the truly appalling behaviour against an Olympic athlete that has been carried out by EC’s President, I’m going to hack into the EC database (shouldn’t be hard), get all your home addresses, buy one of those stupid Air Canada passes that gives me unlimited travel to all our cities, and personally visit you to deliver the message that you have apathy issues.
I am shocked by the utter lack of support for their athletes shown by the Canadian federation in their recently issued statement regarding the ridiculous elimination of rider Tiffany Foster and Victor. It’s almost as if her royal highness personally asked mike Gallagher to issue a statement with the hopes of getting the FEI off the hook or at least reducing the heat.
You’d hope to hear words like “shocked!” or “dismayed” or “unfair.” instead we got what appears to be a thank you note to the FEI.
Disgusting.
Mr Gallagher should have taken his lead from John Long of the USEF during the Sapphire debacle. His support for Mclain and the mare were unwavering.
I am so proud of Eric and Jill for speaking up about how utterly wrong this was.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/other/news/article/canadian-jumping-team-still-furious-after-foster-disqualification.html
Tiffany must have felt crushed twice over after such a statement by president Gallagher. She is fortunate to have staunch supporters in her teamates and others.
The EC statement sounds like the steriotypical response of an apathetic Canadian, or, as pointed out in the article above, some serious brown-nosing. Either way, it is no way for a federation to support its athletes.
The EC is extremely disappointing to say the very least. I’m sure Tiffany feels like she’s been thrown under the bus by her own Federation. Brutal. So much for Canada leading the way towards changing this unfair protocol. So much for Canada standing up for fairness in sport and transperancy in its governing body. So much for Canada standing up for Olympic ideals. Really, really disappointing.
The position taken by Mike Gallagher and EC is an egregious affront, and an incredible injustice to Tiffany Foster and the entire Olympic equestrian team. If EC wants to continue to serve Canadians as a credible governing body, it needs to reassess both its position on this matter, and its attitude toward the entire equestrian community. Ineffectual leadership and pandering are not acceptable. My hat goes off to both Eric Lamaze and Jill Henselwood. Mr. Gallagher and his EC ilk are not welcome in my barn.
I read the statement earlier today and I thought “oh great, so our own organization just says that’s okay”??? What the heck is wrong with Mr. Gallagher? I join with Eric and Tiffany – I am ashamed of our organization and their lack of support. And to the eyes of the World, our own organization won’t stand up for us – that’s how “unimportant” our team members are to them! Disgusting!
I am so very proud of Eric and of Tiffany. Thank the Gods that Tiffany had Eric there with her for support – she certainly is getting no support from her own organization!
If EC doesn’t have your back – thankfully the team does!
And what would the EC have done if it was Eric or Ian in this position…. OR what would the Saudi’s have done.
hmmmmm
Saudi Arabia is able to not only get a doping ban dropped just in time for the olympics, but also had the ability to fast track their appeal so it could happen in the correct time frame.
Equine Canada pretty much thanks the FEI for disqualifying a team member.
I think I need that sick bag now…
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/equestrian/saudi-equestrian-doping-bans-reduced.html
Thank you Karen for connecting the dots for me. I hadn’t thought of Canada’s bid for WEG as a reason for EC’s support of the FEI’s decision.
I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but you are the Jon Stewart of the equestrian media. Not because you’re funny (well at times) but because you seem to be only one who can explain the big picture.
Thank you
I felt that EC and their statement was a bit of a yes man move. How could say it’s OK to disqualify this athelet, when it’s clear no wrong doing had occured!! Tiffany has been hung out to dry by EC. Thank goodness for her support group and team. Hang in there Ms. Tiffany!!
EC should support our athletes. As an EC member, I expect our directors to support our athletes, or atleast not tear them down. Saying nothing might have been acceptable, but to follow the example of John Long would have been more courageous.
In any other sport, such poorly conceived statements and cowardly behaviour as we have seen from our illustrious EC “leader”, would be swiftly met with a pink slip…period. Are we REALLY going to step away from the car on this one? Are we REALLY going to hide behind our demur and ever-so-polite Canadian stereotype and let this cad keep his now besmurched office? I think NOT…I want us to have a conscience here…If we have to get a bloody rider in there to fairly represent our other riders, then so be it. If Ian or the like want the job, as far as I’m concerned, it’s theirs, once we jointly and severally off-load this bumbling oaf. Sorry folks, but it’s time we got off our politically correct and ultra-Canadian butts and rid ourselves of this sanctimonious embarassment …like today!!
Tiffany rides for her country, for our country. And all she gets in return is this statement from EC sucking up to the FEI. Shameful and Disgusting. Pass the barf bag…
It goes to show you who are leaders and who are followers.
Thank god for the team members supporting Tiffany.
Does anyone know that McClain Ward was disqualified for the World Cup Finals, after his second round, only to have the FEI say –8 months later–oops, sorry, we made a mistake.
So, what did they do for McClain? I have a feeling that this is going to be other scenario where they go ‘oops, sorry Tiffany. We made a mistake…”
The fact the FEI has chosen to ignore abuse in dressage just makes me want to hurl….
EC (MG) has seriously let down Tiffany in his woolly statement. I am British but rooting for Canada all the way. My feelings? Like an old school report: “Could do better if he tried.”
I am thoroughly disappointed once again with the EC. Bravo to Eric for his support as well as the rest of the Canadian team’s support. I throw my hat into the ring of support for Tiffany.
Unless there is more to the story regarding Tiffany’s horse and the details surrounding the FEI decision, the EC needs a shake up (and not just ANOTHER name change).
Go Team Canada riders.
Barf? I think not.. more like PROJECTILE PUKE !!!!
EC by way of its leader has just shown itself for what it is… a useless, pandering, non representative organization. Good for Eric Lamaze.. refusing to be Canadian at any more events until the proper position has been taken by EC. If I was him Id ride with lettering across my back stating “INDEPENDANT RIDER”. Everyone at every event he was at would either recognise the reason or want to know “WHY” and realise the how our own federation threw you to the lions.. SHAME ON YOU EC… Stand up for your athlete and her horse..for our teams, for our riders, for CANADA !!!
I`m curious – how did Mike Gallagher get elected to be in charge of Equine Canada??? Don`t the members vote? Didn`t the members who elected him know what he was like prior to voting for him?
Well, congrats. You voted for someone who has embarrassed Canadians by throwing 1 of our athletes under the bus. Thankfully her team member is standing up for her.
I would strongly suggest you quickly vote Mike out before any more damage is done!
Hi Green Rider. Unfortunately the EC President is not elected by the members (though with the level of apathy among EC membership I’m not sure a general election would result in a better outcome). The President is a member of the EC board and is elected by his fellow board members. In Mikey G’s case this would be the same board that did absolutely nothing when he got rid of EC’s CEO through deception and fraudulent behaviour. Heartening, isn’t it?
Karen
Straight-Up
Here! Here!
Read the EC email and rolled my eyes in disgust at how they/it/we were separating ourselves from the “unsavoury” comments made. We wouldn’t want to get a little dirt on us now would we EC?
Instead, EC stinks like a rotten egg.
Either the horse is sound or it isn’t. An abrasion on the coronet band is not a bleeding gouge in the horses side, or a torn mouth. It’s an abrasion.
Man up EC and do your job for your athletes.
Boards can be fired as a result of a vote of non-confidence and members have the power to do so. Maybe it’s time…
Michael Gallager should resign now, he did not support our rider, who did absolutley nothing wrong, the horse was sound. Michael get a backbone. FEI get rid of that stupid rule , go back to trotting out if you have an issue. and there should be an appeal people are human and human make mistakes, boy did they ever !!!! Tiffany was treated like a criminal. shame, shame on the FEI. Which means Fumblin Excentric Idiots . Princess Haya get lost , you have done a disservive to all women equestrians. the americians would have not accepted this! I would like to know how many horses after cross country , had nicks and scrapes, many went through the brush jump. We need a everyone to start a petician to get rid of Michael Gallager who won’t even fight for innocent young Tiffany , who has been mistreated by the FEI pompus asses of mistakes . pathetic
This is the email I sent to Michael Gallagher and here is his personal email address (I have this due to my dispute with him over AEF and EC) mike4755@nb.sympatico.ca
I am totally dismayed at the lack of support by Equine Canada for Tiffany Foster’s disqualification.
This rule is archaic and needs to be reviewed. How one vet can poke at a small cut on a horse and declare it unfit for competition with no opportunity for review or a second opinion or appeal is ridiculous and as a body representing the equestrians of Canada you need to speak up.
The email sent today in your name was a slap in the face to our Olympic team and frankly all equestrians.
I had expected better of you and Equine Canada. This rule needs to be reviewed and modernized, and you as president of Equine Canada should be leading the charge.
I must say I am embarrassed and ashamed to be an Equine Canada member.
Laurie Powell
Alberta Eventing Competitor