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Ms. Cushny,

Thank you for having a website that is current and up to date for the eventing world. Your website should be an avenue for positive, supportive information with regards to our sport. But, it seems to me that negativity prevails within your articles.

My first experience (other than reading your articles) was when I asked about you providing a link to the American Medical Equestrian/Safe Riders Association website. This website is for a non-profit organization dedicated to equestrian safety and assisting injured riders. You replied that you did not see any reason for this link to be on your site due to your site being an information source for ride times, results, etc... But, for a fee (I forget the amount) a link could be placed on a secondary page. What really did this mean? Others have told me of similar experiences.

Since then, I have paid more attention to your site and the ever present attitude that prevails. Your comments regarding Radnor results, the Gold Cup Series and other statements are deplorable. In my opinion you are doing more harm than good.

As you well know, eventing is a sport that is "on the chopping block". We are constantly defending our discipline from outside sources who truly don't know anything about what we do. And, most importantly we are defending eventing against the international bodies that wish to change our format. There is a new problem to solve every day. Yet, we still forge ahead and continue to fight for our sport.

I would think that someone who is as involved as you are with the sport via your website would do all they can to provide positive, helpful commentaries and look to assist eventing and our athletes. From my point of view, it appears that your site has become a source of "investigative reporting" to point out (in your opinion) shortcomings and failures.

Of course, safety is my area of expertise and therefore I would like to see a greater emphasis placed on the safety of the sport. But, there are many other ways you can help.

In closing, I would like to say thank you for the results and positive information that you provide without commentary. It is understood that this is your personal site and freedom of speech and the press is our constitutional right. However, I wish to ask you to please consider how you can help more than hurt eventing.

Sincerely,

Rusty Lowe

Rusty Lowe, EMT-P
Chair, USEA Safety Committee
Co-Chair, USA Eq Safety Committee
Executive Director, AMEA/SRF
Equestrian Safety/Medical Consultant
P.O. Box 130848
Birmingham, Alabama 35213-0848
(205) 879-5979 office/fax
(205) 965-1162 cell
rusty@equestriansafety.com