Shannon Eckel, an equestrian from Aiken, has been expelled from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) due to her involvement in the death of a horse named Cobain. The federation’s order states that Eckel is not in good standing and may apply for reinstatement after six months, provided she demonstrates rehabilitation and accountability for her actions. Eckel owns Hat Trick Sporthorses, which specializes in training and selling equestrian horses.
The incident leading to her expulsion occurred when Cobain, an Irish Sport Horse, was found dead at Eckel’s farm after refusing to load into a trailer for a show. Allegations from Cobain’s owner, Sarah Mennen, claimed that Eckel left the horse without food or water and failed to secure proper veterinary care despite signs of colic. Eckel disputed these claims, stating that the horse’s death was unintentional and that she had taken other horses to the show without informing her staff about Cobain’s condition.
Eckel’s attorney described the USEF’s decision as a victory for truth, emphasizing that the expulsion highlights the dangers of rushing to judgment. He also mentioned that Eckel plans to pursue legal action against individuals who made defamatory comments about her on social media. Harte expressed confidence that Eckel would be reinstated in the future, asserting that the federation’s ruling vindicates her character against the accusations she faced.
