The panel “Safe Sport: What You Need to Know” takes place at US Equestrian’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 8 a.m. in Coral Ballroom ABC at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Fla. The panel, which also will be streamed live on USEF Network, will feature a frank and open discussion about sexual abuse and its aftermath and why survivors often hesitate to come forward, as well as efforts to prevent and report sexual abuse.
Panelists will include Olympic jumping medalist Anne Kursinski, who also is the Development Coach for U.S. Jumping, and acclaimed filmmaker Jennifer Fox, both survivors of childhood sexual abuse. It also will feature clips from Fox’s acclaimed film “The Tale,” which stars Laura Dern and revisits a short story Fox wrote at 13. The film is a personal memoir examining the journey from denial to truth and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Fox was sexually abused as a child when she was attending an equestrian camp.
W. Scott Lewis from the U.S. Center for SafeSport also will be on the panel to discuss the reporting process, what the U.S. Center of SafeSport’s investigations involve, how the center protects against false reporting and accusations, and more.
This panel is part of US Equestrian’s strong commitment elevating the awareness and discussion of this very difficult issue and to protecting our youth. Child sexual abuse is real and prevalent; experts estimate that 1 in 10 children is sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
Please be aware that this panel discussion will include forthright discussion of abuse, which might be triggering for some attendees.