"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

Saturday, May 19, 2012

UPDATE 5/20/2012

Just wanted to let everyone know I have A LOT more information to post, but I'm keeping the below post up for a while so people know who to write to.  I should have a new post starting the evening of 5/20 or 5/21 that has a lot more information for everyone to read and videos to watch.  Thanks for your patience!

Click here for the post of where to write your letters and help save the horse!

***UPDATED 5/21/2012: Keystone Light and MillerCoors is not a sponsor of the Celebration!  Please see the post above for the very nice email I received from them.

4 comments:

Sally Smith said...

You should get both sides of the story. All trainers do not do this and do not approve anymore than they approve of the other ways of abusing other animals our humans The whole human race is not penalized because of one abuse incident. All parents do not abuse as well as all trainers do not abuse.

For the Tennessee Walking Horse said...

Sally, I have been reporting for years about this abuse. It is very common within the TWH industry and is the main way to "train" for the Big Lick. We have statistical information to back it up. Pretending that it is not happening to all the horses is merely turning a blind eye.

In all areas of abuse, it happens for the same reason: the need to feel powerful and in control. No, not all parents abuse their children, and not all trainers abuse their horses. But facts and statistics show us that many TWH trainers in the show world do. And perhaps this is finally what it will take to end it--their dirty secret is not only out, but it's also on camera, both the soring and the stewarding.

If you are upset, please stand up for what is right. Contact your local HIOs and demand they stop rewarding repeat HPA violators by allowing them to continue to show. Demand that the DQPs stop favoring certain trainers. It's time the corruption and greed ends for good.

newengland said...

If the animals are being hurt, there is something wrong...PERIOD. The moaning of these animals that are being sored..the moaning of animals in pain is OK? There have been studies that even the heavy pads as training tools are hurting the horses. Not healthy, not humane... With all due respect, Think about it. Thankfully this practice is finally being exposed to people outside of Tennessee.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sally:

Had the videos never been released, Mr. McConnell would still be a respected trainer, winning awards, getting new clients, and be among the top people in the business. I am deeply disturbed and saddened by his actions, but I am even more disturbed by the many, many people who got him to the top of his profession, who turned a blind eye to something he's been doing for years, heard the rumors and sent him horses anyway, gave him positions of leadership in spite of past violations, etc. It says a lot about them, too.

I would never have believed any of this had I not seen the actual, recent, extensive, reputable video.

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