The Plantation Field Horse Trials fallout continues. In case you're not up on the drama, recently it was announced that the Plantation Field Horse Trials would no longer be running after their international event last weekend. Here is why:
Here is the Eventing Nation article: The Problem With 'Plantation'
An article from the New York Times: Estate's Racially Divisive Name Threatens Future of Premier Equestrian Event
The shockwave went around the eventing community several times. People are pointing fingers in every direction. Some on the side of the owner, others calling the owner immature for refusing to "just change the name." A few upper level pros have spoken out, but the majority of them have stayed silent, at least publicly.
Now, the latest development is that Boyd Martin has made a post asking Eventing Nation to not mention him in their articles, or post pictures of him.
Again, the comment section is going crazy with people siding with Boyd, and others making it known that they're going to unfollow him immediately.
The thing is, Cuyler Walker is a private land owner. All these people bashing him with their sense of entitlement to HIS land are wrong. I have seen a few people making a comparison to the Kentucky event being changed from Rolex Kentucky to Land Rover Kentucky. That is not even close in comparison. The Kentucky Horse Park is owned by THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY aka in no way, shape or form, a private party. It is also staffed by a number of full time state employees.
You're also talking about actual legal contracts and sponsorship. That is not the same as a private land owner leasing some of their land. These two situations could not be more opposite. So the people that can't understand that, well, good luck to you. There's really no getting through to them.
Cuyler Walker can do whatever he wants and feel however he wants about HIS private land. It doesn't matter how mad or "woke" you are. It's a fact. There is family history in the reason that piece of property is named Plantation Field. It has to do with a Boy Scout project 80 years ago. Clearly that name has significance to his family. Who is everyone else to tell him it's unacceptable? Who are they to tell him his family's reason is invalid because of their feelings? Their being those that don't own that land and have no say in what happens to it.
While there have been some articles from POC that say that the name bothers them, there are also articles out there from POC saying it doesn't bother them and they are pissed that a great event has been taken from them.
What about all the upper level pros that still competed last weekend? What do those of you that are so pissed about what this private land owner is doing with his own land have to say about that? Are you still going to support them? Even though they still went and competed at a venue with this awful name? And don't use the excuse of qualifying competitions, or that they already paid their entry fees. What's more important to you? If they really cared, wouldn't they have just not went? But I bet that most of you will still be finding yourselves taking lessons and clinics with these individuals. Because that's what you do, you post on social media to be cool and trendy but won't back it up with action when it comes down to it.
Anyone that has that big of a problem better not be caught in lessons, clinics, or boarding with those that continued to compete at Plantation last weekend. Or, if that is you, I'd love to know why you will continue to support them. Maybe because it was a personal decision that was their own? Guess what, so is Cuyler Walker's personal decision to do whatever he wants with his personal property. Also, what about their silence? Isn't silence compliance? Aren't you pissed they're not speaking up like you think they should?
Though not for the same reason, do you all remember with Longwood shut their doors to the public? They got absolutely roasted all over the internet. Why? Because so many people felt entitled to use their land. Guess what? Private property that doesn't need your business or money. I don't understand why people feel so entitled to others' property. Get over yourselves. That was quite a while ago, and guess what, Longwood is doing just fine, Joe Watkins certainly didn't lose any sleep over it.
If you don't like the name, you could have just not went. It's pretty easy. You don't like the name, don't enter events there.
Guess what? I work with victims of some of the most horrifying and personally violating crimes you could possibly imagine. That is no exaggeration. These victims have endured the type of things that your worst nightmares are made up of. Some of them have taken their lives over it. Almost all of them know the name of the offender or offenders that comitted these acts against them. Do they protest and throw a huge fit to have that name stricken from existence? They sure don't. Do they avoid every speaking to anyone with the same name of their offender? No, they don't, or none that I have worked with have, there may be some that do avoid people with the same name.
I'm not trying to minimize the hurt or offense that some are caused by the word Plantation but, where is the line?
Long time reader here commenting for the first time, as I am so sad to see you take this road because I loved Klein's story so much. Not surprised at this point to realize you're on the side that you are though. That said, for someone who states that she doesn't care about eventing anymore, you sure have a lot to say about a racism issue in the sport...You just as easily could have not said anything about it and not alienated readers. Though I suspect you don't care much about that anymore either, given that the majority of Blogland, especially the eventing bloggers, have been quite vocal about taking an anti-racism stance.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot compare an individual's trauma to the trauma of an entire race, and to do so is incredibly insensitive of you. It is even more insensitive coming from someone that works with trauma victims.
Long time reader here commenting for the first time, as I am so sad to see you take this road because I loved Klein's story so much. Not surprised at this point to realize you're on the side that you are though. That said, for someone who states that she doesn't care about eventing anymore, you sure have a lot to say about a racism issue in the sport...You just as easily could have not said anything about it and not alienated readers. Though I suspect you don't care much about that anymore either, given that the majority of Blogland, especially the eventing bloggers, have been quite vocal about taking an anti-racism stance.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot compare an individual's trauma to the trauma of an entire race, and to do so is incredibly insensitive of you. It is even more insensitive coming from someone that works with trauma victims.
BIPOC rider and blogger here.... WOW
ReplyDeleteI think EN said they weren't going to use the name, just referring to it as the unionville event. The owner decided (before EN even posted the article) to pull the lease.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, it's his right to do. Just as it's EN's right to report on it. And frankly, I'm disgusted by the response of many of the upper level riders. I'm not eventing anyway, but if I were I would definitely rethink taking lessons from them because for me, it doesn't stop at the name. It stops when people start thinking outside their own narrow world view.
I am going to echo a few of the disappointed commentators here. The issue that so many people seem to be overlooking is the fact the USEA were referring to the event as "The Unionville Event" and although big picture EN wanted the EVENT NAME - not the property name- changed, they requested to use a the USEA "Unionville" reference instead of Plantation... and were booted from the event.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed in the way both Boyd and Phillip responded on social media. I am not directly in the legal system like you, but my job as teacher includes many hours of "trauma training" and one of the first things that is covered is the difference between generational trauma and incident based trauma. Neither is "worse" than the other, but generational traumas are so easy to overlook, but often have just as damaging effects in peoples lives. You cannot compare or mitigate them with the same processes or resources.
I do not question the right of the private property owner to refuse use to his land, but I do strongly support those those who are looking at the small - and yes changing the name of events is small - actionable things they can do to support the inclusion of BIPOC or at least stop glorifying the symbols of their oppression.
I needed to reflect a bit before writing a comment. I am white person living in Canada and I didn't want to sound like I have all the answers. Because that, in itself, is a racist opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhile Canada does not have the same history as the U.S. we have systemic racism here as well and are in no position to take the moral high ground. BUT we don't have the same level of pain and trauma based on the history of slavery and Jim Crow.
I know that recent events and movements have caused me to look at myself in a whole new way. I am strongly wedded to the concept that I believe that people are equal. No matter what. And while that may be true it does not mean that i have not embraced racist tropes or supported systemic racism. I have.
This stuff is hard. Looking at ourselves is hard. Looking at ourselves and seeing that we don't get to decide is others are offended is really hard. I can see that the word 'plantation' can be triggering for others. I can also see how the owners would be offended because, they don't see themselves as racist. But they don't get to decide that. To me I learned that I need to listen to those who raise their voices and ask for change. Big and small. I am sure I will get things wrong at times and all I can say is that I'm trying.
Oh you're NOT trying to minimize?
ReplyDeleteYou are on the wrong side of history.
Another BIPOC rider here. Your racism is showing, Mrs #blackriflesmatter.
ReplyDeleteWow... first time reader... and, as it turns out, last time, too.
ReplyDelete