Again, from the Walking Horse Report. You will have seen it mentioned in my previous post, but I thought it deserved its own post here.
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| VOICE Magazine Restricts Action Pictures Sunday, August 15, 2010 |
The September 2010 issue of the VOICE magazine, Official Publication of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, will not allow action pictures of padded Tennessee Walking Horses. Advertisers were not made aware of this restriction until it was reported by people who had their ads changed removing their action pictures.
This is a special issue designed to be distributed at the International Equestrian Festival being held at the same time as the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
The August issue of the VOICE was dominated by padded show horse advertising and was one of their largest issues of 2010. The October issue will reportedly feature padded show horses with coverage and advertising from the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
Owners and trainers are being urged to contact TWHBEA officials with their objections to this policy change at the VOICE magazine. Several Executive Committee members are arranging a conference call of the committee to address this situation as well as the apparent endorsement by TWHBEA Executive Director Stan Butt of the recent petition filed with the USDA by several humane groups.
It appears the Executive Committee did not participate in these decisions nor were they informed by staff. This policy change has touched off a firestorm of e mails and chat room comments with most of those being highly critical of the magazine and Association.
The following e-mail captured the sentiments expressed in numerous others. "The VOICE and TWHBEA leadership is ashamed of our horse and is turning its back on the very group of members and advertisers who have kept the VOICE alive all these years with their advertising dollars. They will take our advertising money all year but leave us out of a special issue designed to promote ALL Tennessee Walking Horses in September. They have the perfect opportunity in this issue to promote and educate an international audience of horse lovers about our horse and leaving out the padded show horse is outrageous."
A number of individuals are discussing the industry producing its own special edition on the padded show horse and also distributing it during the World Equestrian Games and the International Equine Festival. They are calling for show horse owners to stop advertising in the VOICE and instead advertise in this special industry supported issue.
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I honestly can't say enough about how this cracks me up. Seriously, do BL supporters REALLY think they're going to change minds about the BL by putting out some publication during the WEGs? And do you think these people are going to be picking up your information? As soon as they see a stacked horse, they're going to avoid what you have put out. These are world class trainers and riders who know that real training does not involve mechanics or abusing the horses.
But, I have to say I agree with the industry in that that decision should not have been made at this time. This is something that should have been planned LONG in advance, just like the Voice Flat Shod issue is planned long in advance. Plus, there are people who paid for advertisements and to have their show results in that specific issue. It is wrong for them to be denied what they've paid for.
Putting out any publication by TWHBEA or anyone else at the WEGs is a waste of time and money, however. With the sound horse dominating the WEGs, you will get NO support from the Europeans and other REAL horse trainers and riders. ANd honestly, after the ruling the WEG made, I doubt they'll let your publication on the grounds anyway.
Oh, that is a good point: write to the WEG and ask them to refuse allowing this publication on their grounds! Off I go to put together a letter!
3 comments:
I think that the fact that they are leaving padded horses out is a huge step in the right direction. As a member and owner of barefoot TWH's I would pay higher fees to keep the registry going without padded horses. The TWHBEA needs to promote the versatility of our breed. Let the padded people start their own registry. I left the TWHBEA for 6 years and renewed recently hoping to see changes. If they continue to promote abuse I will not renew again. The NWHA will be my only registry.
That is a really good idea, HBB. If the padded industry would put together their own registry, then the rest of us can be relieved.
I won't renew my membership with TWHBEA until the padded horse is gone. They won't get my money as long as they continue to support horse abuse. But I hope you're right--I hope there will be real change coming soon.
I'm a member of NWHA as well and it's my only registry. If I ever buy a horse again that's registered TWHBEA, I'll give them the non-member fee to get the horse transfered to my name, which I've done in the past--sent them a letter and told them NOT to put me on the membership roster. Then I register the horse with NWHA since it's so inexpensive and easy to do.
Thanks for your comment!
They just do not get how revolting the sight of a crawling padded horse is to outsiders.
They scorn a natural going horse as junk, but do not realize that's what a normal horse looks like.
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