NEWS and ARTICLES - Barney Davis Soring Horses While on Bond

Many of you probably remember about the four SSHBEA people who were found not only soring horses, but also falsifying papers about horses. If you don't, check out below.

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Three for Violating HPA

Trial Date Set for SSHBEA HPA Violators

Increase to Davis et. al. Defendants and Indictment Charges

Now, one of the four, Barney Davis, has been locked up. Why? Because he was videotaped soring a horse while he was on bond.

From the article of The Republic of Columbia, Indiana: "[Davis], a defendant in a Tennessee horse soring case has surrendered his pre-trial bond and been locked up in response to a video that shows him building a block to affect a horse's gait and being present when a plate and bolt were inserted in a horse's foot area, his attorney said Friday." Click here for the full article. I have copied and pasted it below.

This monster has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him for soring horses and falsifying papers, and then this happens. Even his attorney says: "I really feel what he as doing was certainly inconsistent with what his obligations were on bond."

To the TWH/SSH Industry: Do you see now why we are so against what you do? You allowed this monster to go ahead and continue abusing horses. Don't think you're responsible for it? Well, you are. You are because since the industry does nothing more than give a slap on the wrist when they do wrong, Davis probably felt it was perfectly okay to continue soring horses. You're also responsible because someone allowed this monster work on their horse while he was on bond, so whomever allowed him to do this doesn't have respect for the law either. So, if you don't take it seriously, why would your members, owners, trainers and exhibitors take it seriously?

I was told recently that an HPA violation is no worse than a speeding ticket. So I guess in that respect, getting caught dog fighting is no worse than doing a little graffiti. Or perhaps canned hunts are no worse than littering. Face the facts, people: violating a federal law absolutely IS NOT similar to a speeding ticket. Here is the proof. Davis is going to pay for his stupidity. The industry should also pay, for he has certainly tarnished your reputation, and eventually you are going to run out of spit to try to shine it back up.

May many more trainers like Davis be caught, and may they be caught soon, for the sake of protecting the horse.

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Horse soring defendant locked up after video shows him working on horse while on bond

BILL POOVEY Associated Press

First Posted: July 29, 2011 - 12:12 pm
Last Updated: July 29, 2011 - 1:32 pm

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A defendant in a Tennessee horse soring case has surrendered his pre-trial bond and been locked up in response to a video that shows him building a block to affect a horse's gait and being present when a plate and bolt were inserted in a horse's foot area, his attorney said Friday.

A U.S. magistrate ordered Barney Davis, 38, of Lewisburg detained and set an Aug. 11 bond revocation hearing. His trial is set for Oct. 18.

Prosecutors seeking to revoke Davis's bond contend in a statement that he violated court-ordered conditions that included staying away from horses he did not own and avoiding training horses and any soring practices.

Soring involves irritating a horse's foreleg and hoof to make the animal walk with a certain gait that is valued at competitions. The illegal practice can involve bolts driven into horses' hooves, attaching objects to their legs or using pain-producing chemicals.

Davis, who operates a stable, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiring to violate the federal Horse Protection Act. A conviction carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison.

Three other defendants in the case, Christen Altman, 25, and Paul Blackburn, 35, both of Shelbyville, and Jeffery Bradford, 33, of Lewisburg, remain free.

A superseding indictment in April also includes charges of falsifying entry forms and other related paperwork. Prosecutors contend Davis and Altman collected payments from out-of-state clients based on false representations the animals would be legally trained and then used mechanical and chemical soring practices.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Poole declined comment Friday about the case and Davis being placed in custody in Bradley County.

Davis' attorney, John Norton III of Shelbyville, said Friday that after seeing the video of his client he advised him to surrender his bond at the Thursday hearing. It was not clear where the video came from, but Norton described it as "persuasive."

He said Davis "appeared helping form a block to the horse's foot area" and was "present when a plate and bolt was inserted in a horse's foot area."

"I really feel what he was doing was certainly inconsistent with what his obligations were on bond," Norton said.

Norton said he had not previously discussed a possible plea deal for Davis. He said he was unsure if prosecutors have discussed a plea deal any of the other defendants.

"Unfortunately in a case like this, everybody picks a corner," Norton said.

He said there a lot of witnesses and predicted the trial could take several weeks.

An attorney for Altman, Jerry Summers of Chattanooga, previously told U.S. Magistrate Bill Carter that about 30 horse owners each pay $400 a month to have Davis keep and train their animals.