Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

My name is Shelli (Koschmeder) Bryant. I am the general leader for the Rocking D Riders Horse Club. I am having a hard time in keeping this letter short. So, I am just going to get to the nitty gritty. My letter is in response to Ms. Deanna Vandever letter in defense of Ms. LeeAnn Literal. I feel a response is necessary in support of my group.

It was not our intention to have complaint against Ms. Literal to be published in paper. It was certainly not intended for complaint to be handed out to the public with minor’s names since they are under 18 years of age. We were hoping to have situation handled quietly. Since there seems to be ongoing chitter chatter. Ms. Vandever states that the complaint against Ms. Literal is outrageous! Which in fact, Ms. Vandever was not present when incidents happened.

The definition of bullying/harassment is a person who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidates, abuses, harasses or coerces people, especially to those considered unlikely to defend themselves.

There are two active 4-H horse clubs that boards and uses facilities at Columbia County Fairgrounds. First incident. Ms. Literal yelled at one of my members to get out of round pen so that one of her members could use it. Parent did go talk to Ms. Literal asking Ms. Literal to come talk to her if there was a problem with her child. Second incident happened after horse show with another member of mine. Member was hanging out with her friend. They were discussing why my members horse bucked on second day of horse show. Ms. Literal tells my member. Because your mom and leader do not have the common sense to know when your horse is hurt. Her comment hurt my members feelings and she felt bad for riding her horse. I did in fact talk to with my member the morning of about her horse being sore due to her having back issues and a quarter crack. That her horse deserved recoup time after show.

Third incident happened with same member in regards to my member turning her horse out in round pen so she could clean her stall. Ms. Literal made a comment as she would like to be able to use a round pen. This made my member uncomfortable enough that she did not want to walk past Ms. Literal to go get her horse. I asked a parent of the other group to join me so that I could talk to Ms. Literal. I asked Ms. Literal if I could talk to her privately? She immediately got mad at me. Yelled at me. No! Get out of my face! I did ask her. What her problem was? In reality, her problem is with me. I did tell her. Your problem is with me. Please leave my girls alone.

We did have a stall renter’s meeting with Commissioner Chuck Amerein and this issue did come up. There were six boarders there with Ms. Literal that is part of her group. Two wished to remain neutral as much as they could be. The remaining four adults that were present. Only one of the four was actually present when all 4 incidents happened. They all vouched for Ms. Literal which I expected. We were told child was being too sensitive, over dramatic, that is not what happened at all. People are mean, jerks. That is part of life. I thought to myself. Okay. Where do we draw the line especially when it comes too 4-H and children? Because if I treated any of their kids like that. My butt would be in a sling in a heartbeat! Plus, I would not treat the children like that anyways to begin with. I did ask Mr. Amerein why.

Shelli Bryant

Dayton, Wash.