This is from The Walking Horse Report (my comments below). Unfortunately I don't have a date for it...if anyone does then just let me know. Thanks!
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association (WHTA) hosted several of the industry’s associations at its January 2011 board meeting held January 24, 2011 in Shelbyville, Tenn. President Bill Cantrell initiated the meeting to allow the associations to address the WHTA Board of Directors and update them on their progress and goals. Cantrell hopes to have future meetings with additional industry groups included.
“The WHTA felt that it was time that we open our doors and initiate the first step in allowing all organizations to come together and educate us as to their current condition as well as their future plans. I hope the meeting is a first step in allowing better communication and can ultimately lead to more unity across our great industry,” said Cantrell.
Invited to attend the meeting were the Walking Horse Trainers Auxiliary, Celebration, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association, Walking Horse Owners’ Association, PRIDE HIO, Kentucky Walking Horse Association, SHOW HIO, Heart of America HIO and the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association.
“We can’t predict the future of our great breed and we can’t unite everyone alone, however the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association knows that to reach our full potential we all will need to come together and unite toward a common goal. Each organization has different goals and missions, but the Tennessee Walking Horse is what connects us all and its protection and promotion are at the heart of us all,” concluded Cantrell.
**********
This really cracks me up. They talk about "opening the doors" with other organizations, yet not one of the three sound HIOs were invited. And they can't use the excuse that they don't inspect padded horses, because the HPC does. What they SHOULD be doing at this meeting is asking the other HIOs how they have ended soring.
I don't belive you, Mr. Cantrell, that the "protection" of the TWH is at the heart of this. The protection of the INDUSTRY is what you care about. If you truly cared to protect the TWH then soring would no longer be happening. "Unity across our great industry?" If you aren't including the sound HIOs then there is no desire for unity. But then again, I think we're talking about two different industries here: the sore industry versus the sound industry. "Unite toward a common goal." Exactly what common goal is that? I'd love to know, as I'm sure the readers would as well.
I also see that the HIOs that were invited are all the ones who refused to implement the new penalties into their rulebooks. No surprise there, right?
These sorry excuses for trying to make changes are getting tiresome. What I see are attempts to work on keeping the industry as is and doing their best to continue to break the law and foil the USDA. Come on, USDA--stop this madness! Get in there and end this!
2 comments:
Hey, I'd like to inform you of a site I just came across: http://www.grissombits.com/index.html
There, they sell some of the cruelest bits you can think of. They are all for Gaited/TW horses.
If you can, send them an email explaining why what they're selling is cruel/abusive. I did.
Thanks a lot, Hyenadon. I appreciate the link. There are definitely some bad bits there, and they are not bits I would EVER use on my own horses.
I personally can't blame the bit maker--he's just making money with his bits. It's the buyers that are the problem and the people who believe that such horrible mouthpieces and shanks are needed to ride a gaited horse. We need to educate people on proper training methods using equipment that is comfortable for the horse. Causing pain to get results is not conducive to a quality human/horse relationship. Eventually, the horse will either blow or his brain will get fried.
Post a Comment