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Today, out of necessity, I want to approach our News & Notes round-up a little bit differently, and I hope, in some very small way, that it can be useful for all of us.
First of all, I want to lead with a beautiful, and much-shared, post from our friends at Eventing Times, who found the words when I know that I, for one, absolutely could not. When you’re at an event and facing the worst of all possible news — and feeling the eventing family at large tighten into a huddle that serves to keep everyone, but especially those right at the core of the outward ripple of grief, upright — it’s impossible to do more than share the official statement, because the words are no longer there, and everything becomes about putting one foot in front of the other and holding onto one another, both literally and physically. But Georgie was so much more than a statement, as ET rightly points out; she was more than any words on any page. Their tribute, though, is poignant and kind and right, and it’s something that I hope can give some comfort to those who need it most: she was so loved. She was so good.
This week, I will work on finding words, too, because she deserves it, and so, too, do the people who were closest to her. Today, I can’t engage with the wider equestrian news cycle – if I’m honest, I don’t care, right at this moment, where the Olympic torch has made it to, or the colour scheme picked for the Paris podiums, or who has been picked to represent their nations at this week’s Millstreet Nations Cup. Perhaps that’s unprofessional of me, and perhaps it’s also incredibly selfish of me to be writing this at all, but something I do know is that everybody needs to process what has happened, and for right now, nothing in the world feels more important than what has been lost. And so I will rally, and I will return to EN with new stories and coverage, and all of us will take our forward steps, one at a time – but for right now, and out of respect for Jesse, the Strang and Campbell families, their team, and their friends, I’m going to hold fire on going about it all as normal. It’s not normal. It’s not okay. And it’s not the time to pretend otherwise. While we’ll all continue to move forward, and we absolutely should do, not least because we all need to be present to lean on one another, it’s also going to be a transition that should be navigated carefully.
So today’s N&N, instead, will focus on resources that we can all use. All of us are thinking above all else about Georgie’s nearest and dearest, and how desperately we wish we could do something to ease their passage through the backroads of grief, but I also want to ensure that anyone else caught by the ripple effect of Sunday afternoon’s tragedy is able to get the support that they need. Whether you were a fence judge, photographer, volunteer, organiser, or spectator who witnessed the accident; whether you were on site and experienced the swell of terror and sadness that encapsulated the extended aftermath; whether you were home and following the livestream and saw the fall and are struggling to cope – whoever you are, and whatever your connection is, even if you feel that you’re so far on the outskirts of it that it would be selfish to own how it’s affected you, please let me make one thing clear: how you feel is wholly and completely valid, and you are deserving of support. Please scroll down to find some really wonderful, compassionate sources that you can use to access it, and please, please be gentle with yourself.
The eventing world is by no means perfect, and it’s not, always, a gentle place to be. But in the last couple of days, our extended family has tightened its grip on everyone within it. Together, we can move slowly towards peace. Love one another, and look after one another.
Resources:
- In conjunction with Sporting Minds, British Eventing and the British Eventing Support Trust has opened a round-the-clock hotline that’s available for anyone to use as they seek guidance and support through this incredibly tough time. You may think of hotlines as a resource that’s reserved for people with suicidal thoughts; you may also think of BEST as a resource that’s reserved for competitors within British Eventing. But they can do much more than that, and BE and BEST have emphasised that anyone can use the hotline and be put through to someone who can help them to navigate their complex feelings and their grief. You can ring them anytime on 07780 008877 and get connected to a counsellor. Once again, I have to emphasise how especially important this is for anyone who witnessed the fall – please do make use of this line.
- Another great hotline comes through Riders Minds, which also offers the option of a text line if you don’t feel comfortable calling in. Their free call line is available on 0800 088 2073, or you can text the support line on 07480 488 103 to be connected with a trained professional who can give you empathetic, kind support.
- The NHS has several useful resources available for those suffering with grief, including their own free-to-use helpline, mental health audio guides, tips to help with sleep if you’re struggling with fatigue in the aftermath, and access to support groups, too. You can find all these resources collated here.
- If you’d prefer an ongoing support system, and to speak to the same person in continuity, Sue Ryder offers up to six free Zoom sessions with a grief counsellor, which can be an extraordinary help. This is available for over-18s and will require you to fill out a short eligibility questionnaire, and you can do so here to get started.
- Similarly, Cruse Bereavement Support has a helpline as well as over 80 branches across the UK that can offer you a helping hand from specialists. They also have free resources available that’ll help you to navigate your own private journey through grief. Find them here.
- Mental health organisation Mind is also a fantastic source for help. Here, you’ll find their collation of a variety of support lines, many of which have specific functions for different groups of people and levels of connection, so if you find you’re holding yourself back from reaching out because you don’t believe your proximity to Georgie is deserving of support, this could be a great help to you.
- Knowing what to say and how to support someone who’s been affected by this tragedy can be colossally hard. This is a valuable primer to being a solid support system.
- I can’t stress enough how important it is that witnesses reach out for help. It’s estimated that about a quarter of people who witness a fatality will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of it. Here’s some salient info on traumatic grief therapy and how it can help you.
- Edited to add: Thank you to an EN reader for also suggesting the collected resources put together by the team at the Climbing Grief Fund. While it’s been created for participants within a different sport, it includes a number of invaluable resources and a short documentary that are designed specifically to aid in grief following a sporting accident, and is well worth looking at.
Rest in peace, Georgie. You are so missed.
Events Opening Today: One & Done Horse Trials, The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm
Events Closing Today: Full Gallop Farm June H.T., Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T., Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I, Silverwood Farm Spring H.T., Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I, Aspen Farm H.T
With thanks to Kentucky Performance Products for their support of EN, and this collection of resources. Please continue reading for more information on how their products can help your horse.
It’s that time of year… hoof abscess season. The constant fluctuation between wet and dry ground creates the perfect environment for abscesses. Luckily, you can prevent an abscess from derailing your spring season. Read up on these five tips from Kentucky Performance Products to prevent hoof abscesses in your horse.
