NEW ALBANY, OH (WCMH) – Thousands made their way to the 19th Annual New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix and Family Day Sunday.
The # 1 specialty equestrian event in the country raises money to fight domestic violence. This year’s funds will go towards raising awareness of teen dating violence.
Athletes competing included Beezie Madden, the most decorated US show jumper in history. Madden recently won Team Silver at the Rio Olympics.
This is the 19th year for the event, which has raised more than $27 million for the Center for Family Safety and Healing. Abigail Wexner, the founder and force behind the New Albany Classic Grand Prix and Family Day, started it all with her love for horses and children to fight domestic violence.
“Family violence is a cycle and unless you have active interventions that come in and try to break that cycle – raising awareness, getting victims to seek help – that becomes a generational issue,” Wexner said.
Today, family violence has a new face, and it might surprise you. This year, The Center for Family Safety and Healing is tackling teen dating violence. One in three teens in the United States are abused by someone they are dating.
“Violence is happening at younger ages, so I’ve got two young daughters, and that issue becomes so central to all of us, whether we have sons or daughters,” Wexner said.
Teen dating abuse walks the fine line between young love and obsession and between caring and controlling. The abuse can be physical, sexual, verbal or emotional. Being controlling is a big warning sign, and today’s technology can perpetuate the cycle.
“Repetitive texts or too much attention, and young men and women need to understand where that line is,” Wexner said.
Asking where that line is could be what saves a life.
While abuse is often a pattern of controlling behavior, The Center for Family Safety and Healing says a single instance of abuse is cause for concern. Talking with adolescents about what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like is important, and so is recognizing the signs of being a victim and an abuser.
Signs of being a victim of dating violence include:
- Giving up on things that are important
- Isolation from friends
- Dramatic changes in appearance, weight, grades or behavior, which can also be signs of depression, another symptom of abuse
- Unexplainable injuries or explanations for injuries that don’t make sense
- Fear of partner or making partner angry
- Excessive and unwanted text messages
- Excuses for questions about a relationship
Signs that a teen may be an abuser include:
- Loss of temper, including breaking or hitting t hings
- Arguments or fights with other people
- Excessive texting or using technology to demand to know who their partner is with and where their partner is at
- Unexpected appearances
- Calling their partner names, saying mean things or putting their partner down in front of others
- Acts of extreme jealousy when their partner is talking to others
For more information, visit The Center for Family Safety and Healing.