Jennifer Yoder's first letter to Eventing Nation was send out via email a couple of days ago - if you didn't see it, you can read it by going to thehorseofdelawarevalley.com, click on NEWS on the top &  scroll down to read it.

Below is EN's reply, Jennifer Yoder''s response to that answer, and the EN's response to her second letter.

I have heard that most if not all advertising has been pulled from EN, and other suggestions from eventers include all eventers refusing to be interviewed by EN staffers. Causing the loss of one of the finest, if not the finest, sites for Eventing where competitions for every level were offered has caused a huge and irreplaceable loss to Evening, and from this exchange of letters EN certainly does not seem repentant.

Sara Cavanagh, Editor

 

HI JENNIFER,

Thanks very much for your email. We incorporate reader feedback into our internal discussions about how we approach issues.

Thanks again and Go Eventing,

Leslie & the EN Team

 

Ms. Wylie,

Is this just an automated response? A further disappointment from a news organization swayed by few, perhaps just a "rag" online magazine owned by the squeaky wheel? Is this your way of trying to placate the outraged citizens of Chester County and the Eventing Community?

Please let me set you straight on a misconception you are operating under. I am not and will not be one of your readers. And if this lack of due diligence is an example of your journalistic practices, I seriously question why anyone would read the articles on your website.

How many riders approached you to express their unease with or while competing at a venue named Plantation Fields? Was it a hundred? Was it fifty? Or was it a handful that started your campaign against the name of this venue that ended up affecting thousands of event riders. Did you actually appear on-scene or do an online campaign for your investigation? Do these riders feel strongly enough in their discomfort to step forward and let their identities be known? Or did they even know the meaning and history behind the name of the venue?

I will share with you the response that I have heard resonating repeatedly from equestrians and citizens of this area. If these riders feel uncomfortable competing at a venue named Plantation Fields, even after learning the origins of the name, they are more than welcome to send their entries to a venue who’s name does not make them feel uncomfortable. We ALL have that freedom (of choice and of speech). Their slots will easily be filled with others who want to take advantage of one of the best eventing experiences available. I would even say that, as a local, I have never seen any type of protest against this name, whether online or in person. Would you ban every word in the dictionary that may have a duality or suspicion of offending someone?

I also think Ms.. Wylie, you & Mr. Burke, would be well served to look to see how many of your subscribers, advertisers, members and donors come from this region. Would they sway your views as easily?

Still Greatly Aggravated,

Jennifer Yoder

 

Ms. Yoder,

Thanks for your response. How many people of color, exactly, who find the word "plantation" painful, does it take to make a small change worthwhile? 50, you suggest. Perhaps 100?

For your information there were indeed many, but even just one should be enough.

Try this: https://eventingnation.com/why-words-matter/

Sincerely,

Leslie