Showing societies unite against 'abusive' social media posts

Those who are online friends with the creator have been told they cannot be judges

- ELEANOR JONES

 

SHOWING societies have taken action against a member of the community as a result of his “offensive” online posts.

The British Show Horse Association (BSHA), Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)), the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and The Showing Register (TSR) have released statements in relation to John Bland.

The former competitor has been active on social media, creating what has been described in a joint statement by the BSHA and SHB(GB) as “continuing offensive, abusive and misogynistic posts”.

The organisations held meetings to discuss “recent bullying and harassment on social media”, and in particular Mr Bland’s content.

Both “considered the content of the posts vitriolic, generally unsubstantiated, ill-founded and in some cases, obscenely presented”.

“We simply have to do something to protect the integrity and mental wellbeing of our members, our judges, and our discipline of showing.”