Boo and hiss. Again, the Celebration is on, and again, horses are being tortured right under the noses of everyone who knows better.
Right now, Ihave heard through the grapevine that over 80 Federal cases have been cited and 12 DQP tickets have been issued. Supposedly, calls were made to Washington and agreements were made to get the USDA to back off, but the trainers are still suffering. I have heard that spectator numbers are down, and that the Celebration is not getting the attention it usually gets back there.
I also recommend that everyone take a look at the TWH National Celebration website and read the news postings. http://www.twhnc.com/news_views.htm There are some good posts there, although I think a lot of it is smoke and mirrors to make everyone think that all is well when clearly, we all know it's not.
Maybe someday we will see our dream come true and stacks, bands, pads, and chains will be abolished. With the way our government continues to be so corrupt, however, I doubt we'll see it anytime soon. Until then, we just have to root for the good guys and hope that God does not have mercy on the souls of the bad guys.
"Today, Tennessee Walking Horses are known throughout the industry
as the breed that shows abused and tortured horses."
~ Jim Heird, Ph.D., Do Right By The Horse, February 2010
"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity,
you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."
~ St. Francis of Assisi
