SA show jumper Kate Crauford claims she was sexually harassed by state show jumping selector

A young equestrian rider claims she was sexually harassed by a state show jumping selector – and has taken her complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

A young equestrian rider claims she was sexually harassed and groomed by a state show jumping selector during an “unfathomable stressful” 1244km journey from Mt Gambier to Sydney in December 2020 in which the alleged harasser also allegedly kicked his horse in the head.

The Australian reports Kate Crauford, 21, has take her claims against the man to the Australian Human Rights Commission after she says multiple complaints were not adequately addressed by Equestrian South Australia or the national body despite repeated requests by her and her mother, Sophie, over a period of more than 20 months.

THE OZ: THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIM

Equestrian Australia and Equestrian South Australia are also listed as respondents in the human rights submission.

The complaint about the man include him allegedly “squatting/laying over the complainant on her bed”, send “inappropriate” texts ending in a kiss, referring to Crauford as “the hot young girl”, rubbing her leg while she was driving in heavy traffic, standing in the doorway semi-naked with a towel around his waits and “forcing” her to hug him after she raised concerns about her behaviour.

Kate Crauford on her horse.

Kate Crauford has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Crauford had just turned 20 at the time of the alleged sexual harassment and the accused was more than two decades older.

The alleged harasser was a serving member of the South Australian Showjumping Committee and a state selector at the time.

The Oz is not suggesting the allegations are true, only that they have been made.

The man told The Oz he denies the allegations “100%”.

Crauford’s 53-page personal statement to the commission outlines a series of complaints and allegations of inappropriate conduct.

In one instance she felt paralysed after the man allegedly walked into her room and squatted over her bed.

“After dinner I am laying on my bed, on my laptop researching the draw for the Sydney Jump Club beginning the next day when (redacted) enters my room squatting/laying on the bed half over me just looking at my screen,” she claims.

“I lay still feeling extremely uncomfortable, almost paralysed. I can’t move. When I finally realise I need to do something to remove myself from the situation, I very intently look at (redacted) and question what he’s doing. He has no response except to stand up and motion towards the door. Where he then stands in my doorway for approximately 60 seconds just staring at me, not saying anything.”

The statement also says Kate’s mother Sophie felt as though the man then discriminated against her daughter after Kate lodged complaints with Equestrian South Australia by backflipping on his decision to select her for a prestigious Youth Development Program.

Emails seen by The Oz confirm Crauford was originally one of the man’s picks for the scholarship before her changed his mind.

READ THE FULL STORY AT THE OZ