@bluewanda
CDJ wishing she could hit that horse harder* *is pretty revealing about who she is as a person.
She is someone who uses her social status, reputation and influence to casually intimidate, humiliate and coerce.
She abuses her position of power over the horse, its rider and perhaps the rider's family.
She is someone who has whipped horses before but with utensils that are not as shit at hitting them hard.
She is used to not being challenged due to her position of authority and influence in the equestrian world and being revered in her local community.
She shows zero empathy for the horse or rider, just seems to enjoy her dominance over her victims of abuse, the horse and its rider.
She speaks like someone who believe she's untouchable. She is surrounded by powerful people and sycophants, minimising the chance for anyone to call out her toxic behaviour.
Here is an interesting article about power abuse
https://www.business.com/articles/psychology-of-power-abuse/
Good idea to bear in mind that not taking action to stop abuse is a form of abuse itself. This is relevant in all settings not just in the equestrian world. Pay particular attention to individuals who seem to be revered and a culture of DAVO 'deny, attack and reverse victim & offender'.
In this case, they can't deny due to the video evidence but they are downplaying what she did. According to some on this thread 'all riders abuse horses, especially overweight, middle aged women mothers who should get back in the kitchen to cook healthy meals to lose weight rather than discussing how shocked and angry they are online.
People are so strange.