Maggie Kehring, Woodside, California, came forward publicly after her former trainer Rich Fellers and his wife Shelley Fellers were added to the U.S. Center For SafeSport temporary suspension list, due to “allegations of misconduct” on Feb. 9.

Both Rich, 61, and Shelley, 54, also have a no contact directive from the Center. They run Rich Fellers Stables LLC out of Timberline Meadows in Oregon City, Oregon.

Kehring, who has ridden on children’s and junior teams for the United States in Nations Cup competition, released the following statement to The Chronicle of the Horse.

“I know it is hard for my peers, friends, coaches, and strangers to understand the suspension of my former trainer and his wife,” she wrote. “It is important to know this investigation and process has been underway for many, many months. I initially didn’t want to participate in the SafeSport process out of confusion and fear.”

Kehring, 18, said she struggled with thoughts that her experiences over the course of years would lead a man who was the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup champion and beloved by the equestrian community to possibly be banned from the sport.

“Reading what people have posted on social media is cruel and heartless,” she continued. “I can only hope what happened to me never happens to them or someone they love. No one needs to take sides. What happened to me is something I can never get back and I am working every day on coping with that realization. Things were taken from me that people will simply not understand. I don’t understand why me, either. But I can assure you of this, what happened, happened! There is no revenge, there are no lies. Just the pure and simple truth. I know my future holds people who will look at me with anger and those that will support me. Just know, I was a junior rider.”