[Content Warning: Discussions of sexual misconduct and abuse of minors]. If we can’t talk about it, we can’t change it. Today on the podcast, we’re taking on a tough topic to think about, speak about, and navigate emotionally, but it’s critical to shine a light on in order to make the sport (and all sports) safer for our kids and athletes.
Host Caroline Culbertson is joined by two women who have witnessed and experienced the devastating fallout that sexual abuse of minors can have on young men and women, their families, and their communities. Carrie Kehring, creator of the #weridetogether campaign to end sexual abuse in sport, and Kendall Bourgeois, a professional equestrian who experienced grooming and abuse as a junior, discuss:
- The environments in which grooming and eventually abuse can take place
- Navigating what to do when you hear “gossip”
- Why abuse is often underreported by victims or ignored by bystanders
- The role of SafeSport and law enforcement
- Why we may feel defensive when learning that someone we know did something wrong
- The power of sharing survivors’ stories via the #weridetogether campaign
If you are in need of help, resources, or want to read stories of abuse survivors from horse sport and beyond, go to www.weridetogether.today