NEWS - Performance Horse Group Offers to *Buy* Performance Horse Division from TWHBEA

This has got to be one of the funniest things I've read in a really, REALLY long time.  Take a gander; from the Walking Horse Report...

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Performance Horse Group Makes Offer for Performance Horse Registry to TWHBEA
Thursday, May 30, 2013

Editor’s Note: The following email letter was received by the Walking Horse Report from Frank Eichler. Eichler represents a group of performance horse advocates that intend to purchase from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) the portion of the breed, including the performance horse, that would be eliminated by passage of the Whitfield Amendment, H.R. 1518. TWHBEA’s Executive Committee voted this past Saturday to endorse the Whitfield Amendment, however, their actions were not ratified by their International Board of Directors.

Subject: Letter of Intent

I have addressed this email to the Executive Committee. Unfortunately, I do not have all of the email addresses of all Executive Committee members but would ask that you forward this to them as well as your entire Board.

Mr. Boyd, I represent a Performance Group that is interested in purchasing the Performance division of TWHBEA. We are defining the Performance Division to mean those horses that are shown in the show ring and are impacted by the Whitfield bill. In the past 12 months or so it has become apparent to us that TWHBEA is under significant financial pressure to meet its obligations as you have previously reported. In addition, as you and Mr. Irby have stated previously the majority (I believe both of you said above 75%) of your membership either does not want to be associated with or are not interested in the Performance Horse. In addition, both of you have said that the current situation of the Tennessee Walking Performance Horse has and is causing significant concern or internal disputes about the support of this division within TWHBEA.

Recently, your Executive Committee voted to support the Whitfield bill which we believe has serious flaws both from a practical point but also from a legal standpoint. Unfortunately, your Executive Committee support of that bill signifies that, at least you, Mr. Irby, the past President, and the majority of the Executive Committee approve of the elimination of the Tennessee Walking Performance Horse since that is the effect of the Whitfield bill. In addition, it is very clear that you and your supporters are not interested in trying to eliminate the problems facing the Performance Horse but are instead supportive of eliminating the Performance Horse itself.

The group I represent has invested a lot of time, money and energy into the Tennessee Walking Performance Horse. We have also investigated the cost and process for a New Registry for the Performance Horse. We have identified the necessary software, domain name, required overhead including space and personnel and, of course, the ability to legally and quickly establish a New Registry. While we are prepared to move on this initiative we recognize the impact such action would have on the overall Industry and therefore in the interests of all involved we have decided to approach your problem in a different way.

Your recent actions, and those of the majority of the Executive Committee, have convinced our group that allowing you to continue to criticize and denigrate the Performance Horse is unacceptable, causes a significant negative financial decline in the value of the Performance Horse and is overall a gross mismanagement of your fiduciary obligations to TWHBEA, the Industry, and the Performance Horse which has been the foundation of TWHBEA itself. As such we are prepared to lift this burden from you, Mr. Irby and TWHBEA.

Our proposal is as follows:

1. We will pay $25,000 for the TWHBEA Performance Division.
2. We will provide a binding Letter of Intent within seven days and a Purchase Agreement no later than 30 days.
3. All current memberships will be honored for the remainder of 2013.
4. All current registrations, and any for the remainder of the 2013, will be honored.
5. The registration papers of those stallion owners, breeders and owners who want to transfer to the Performance Registry will be provided
6. Within one year we will provide new registration papers for the Performance Registry identification.
7. We will allow dual registrations.
8. We will be provided access to iPeds for one year.
9. All stallion owners will be allowed to shift their registration to the new entity free of charge.
10. We will provide an initial list of stallions that have already agreed to participate in the Performance Registry within two weeks and a more complete list at closing.
11. We would request the use of the following name for one year – TWHBEA - Performance Division.
12. We will establish a new domain site within 30 days.
13. We will not need any of your employees since we have already identified those resources.
14. We will agree to a mutual non-disparagement clause to ensure that both entities and their Board members and employees do not make inappropriate statements about the other entity or its Board members or employees.
15. Any current Board member that would like to move to the Performance Division will be considered and welcomed.

We believe the above is a fair offer given your recent position to eliminate the Performance Horse which in effect means you place no value on that division. We also believe that we can quickly and efficiently execute on this offer which allows you to eliminate some of TWHBEA’s financial burdens and all of the internal distaste for the Performance Horse. This will allow the majority of your membership to focus on the Pleasure division and distance themselves from the Performance Horse. It will allow you to quickly and effectively reorganize to establish a better financial foundation for TWHBEA. And to be somewhat self-serving it will allow you to no longer be associated with the Performance Horse nor cause any further damage to the financial investment many of us have in this great horse.

We are prepared to move quickly as we believe time is of the essence. We are willing to meet with you, a subcommittee of TWHBEA, or the entire Board at your convenience, location and time.

Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you.

Frank Eichler

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I am not kidding, this truly made me LOL.  ONLY $25,000?  SERIOUSLY?  I guess the Performance Horse isn't worth that much!

This is also their attempt to create a "new" breed called the Performance Horse, so it won't fall under the jurisdiction of the new HPA amendment, which specifies TWHs, SSHs and Racking Horses in it's text.  Just another way to try to get around the law.  It's not like the amendment can't be changed again--I'm sure Whitfield and the USDA aren't falling for this trick.

And how the heck are they going to track which horses are PH and which aren't?  And what about the ones that are considered duds?  They might register them as a PH, but if they decide he can't cut it in the show ring, then what do they do?

Quite frankly, I say Boyd should ask for $2 million or more and say go right ahead.  This just means the PH will die even faster.  Think about it: currently the classes are very small.  The same people are the ones showing the same horses over and over again.  I'm sure more raids and undercover work is planned or in motion, so that means more black spots that will end up in the news.  The PH will suddenly only be supported by those who are already involved, and they won't get any more outside support from the FS people (sored or not) since it's a BL division ONLY.  No business can survive if they can't bring in new customers.

Overall, if these folks (even the ones who voted to support HR 1518) would stop saying this is an image problem and blaming everyone else but themselves and TRULY admit this is a soring problem, then there wouldn't be this superfluous crap going on.  This industry continues to make a mockery of itself, and all I can do is just sit back and laugh.

DON'T FORGET to say THANK YOU to those who voted to support HR 1518!  Click here for more info.  Even if they won't admit that soring is the problem, they at least realize that the BL is no longer popular and that it needs to go away!

HOW YOU CAN HELP - Please Send Out Some Positive Emails!

I received the list of members of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors who did and didn't vote to support HR 1518.  Basically what happened is the EC voted on this in the morning, and it was then put to vote to the BOD.  The BOD voted on whether or not to rescind the vote of the TWHBEA executive committee supporting HR 1518 and to advise to amend HR 1518.

What we need are positive emails sent to those who voted to uphold the EC's vote.  Let them know that you appreciate their vote and you hope this means a huge change is coming for the TWH industry and for the welfare of the horse.

It might also be a good idea to write to the other folks and express your concern in their not voting to make serious changes to the current TWHBEA image and to help the horse.  I'm sure some of these folks are going to come back with the old "weighted shoes" excuse, but don't let that deter you--the USDA will be determining the definition of a weighted shoe, and they're okay with the type of shoes that NWHA is using at their shows.

I also know I'm going to mention that I would be happy to renew my membership if TWHBEA will support HR 1518.

These are the folks who voted to uphold the vote of the EC.  (They voted "NO" to rescinding the vote.)

Tracy Boyd (TN) tboyd@twhbea.com

Stephen Brown (WA) brostephen@gmail.com

Fran Cole (CA) Fran.cole@sbcglobal.net

Keith Dane (MD) djuj@aol.com

Dee Hasler (IL) haslersdd@gmail.com

Caroline Hoffman (MO) choffman@twhbea.com, siegelcaroline@hotmail.com

Marty Irby (TN) mirby@twhbea.com

Denise Bader-Keyser (Ger) dkeyser@twhbea.com, denisebader@twhb.de

Dr. Linda Montgomery (AL) no email listed

Joyce Moyer (OH) jmoyer@twhbea.com, joycemoyer@thewavz.com

Joe Rankin (MS) rankininteriors@aol.com

Mick Salm (WI) mfsalm@aol.com

Pat Stout (TN) pstout@twhbea.com, sswhfarm@aol.com 

Sherrie Szucs (OH) ssrunwalk@gmail.com

Nicole Tolle (CO) clearspringsranch@gmail.com

Rick Wiess (MT) rwies@twhbea.com, rickwiesstables@centurytel.net

Richard Workman (IA) rworkman@netins.net

These are the folks who voted to rescind the vote.  (They voted "YES", to overturn the EC)

Rob Cornelius (AL) rtcbwc@yahoo.com

Heather Brook Curnow (WY) brook@mvhorseranch.com

Wayne Dean (TN) wdean@twhbea.com, jameswaynedean@gmail.com

Freda Dean (TN) fredardean@gmail.com

Harold Dean Givens (TN) agivens8822@att.net

Darden Gladney (LA) dgladney@glenbrookschool.com

Tommy Hale (AL) no email listed

Jessica Hlebak (NC) jlhlebak@ncsu.edu

Mike Hicks (TN) mhicks@twhbea.com, craezie@bellsouth.net

Ty Irby (TN) tyirby@aol.com

Tom Kakassy (NC) thomaskakassy@carolinarr.com, ritakakassy@carolina.rr.com

Ann King (TX) circlestarfarm@yahoo.com

Christy Lantis (CA) clantis@twhbea.com

Kenny McGowan (AR) lmcbride@arlegalaid.org

Pam McKinney (VA) Pammckinney5@aol.com

Ronal Mosely (NC) TerriEM552@aol.com

David Mullis (GA) dmullis@twhbea.com, David_mullis42@yahoo.com

Sharon Rice VA) sharrice@aol.com

Curt Rosemann (AZ) rosemann@rosemann.org

Jeff Smith (SC) jvsjr@charter.net

Sam Sorrel (KY) Sam.Sorrell@insightbb.com

Jeff Tanner (WV) jatanner@frontier.com

Margo Urad (TX) murada@rockwallins.com

Ronnie Vincent (KY) Kathyvincent77@gmail.com

Sherrie White (MI) cadence1st@comcast.net

William Wadsworth (MS) wadsworthfarms@bellsouth.net

Charles Wright (WV) bwright@trainerwright.com

Russ Keyser abstained from voting.

It's quite a list since some of the folks on the vote NO list have HPA violations.

So please, send out your messages to everyone on these lists.  Be polite and sensible, and hopefully we can get the message across that we are happy so many came to the true realization as to why TWHBEA continues to lose money and what image the BL has created.

NEWS - A Breakthrough? Tracy Boyd, President of TWHBEA, Tells It Like It Is

I had found out a couple of days ago that at a TWHBEA meeting several members of the Executive Committee, including the president Tracy Boyd, had stated that TWHBEA was going to support HR 1518.  Of course, a couple of hours later, the Board of Directors promptly shut that little bit right down.  So I didn't post it here, mostly because it was the same old, same old and didn't really seem to matter.

Oscar A. was kind enough to post the below statement from Boyd on our FTTWH Facebook group.  I'm not sure where it came from, but I'll update this blog entry when I find out.

To be honest...I am somewhat in shock.  While I do see that he's STILL not admitting that soring is as rampant as it truly is, Boyd is otherwise right on target with his statement.  He is right: until they get rid of the padded horse, the TWH industry as it is is going to fail, and fail miserably.

I am sure Boyd will get impeached from his position for saying this and they'll put a big time cheater/burner/licker in there, and they'll detonate anyone else who followed his lead.  But I will be sure to thank him for telling the truth.  I hope you will do so as well.

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A Statement from TWHBEA President Tracy Boyd

This past weekend, I made perhaps the toughest decision of my life. A decision that carries potential ramifications for many of my friends. It carries potential ramifications for immediate family members as well. I, along with six other members of the Executive Committee, voted to support H.R. 1518, better known as the Whitfield Amendment. That was on Saturday morning. Before lunch, our vote was not ratified by the TWHBEA Board of Directors. Presently, TWHBEA has taken no official stance on the proposed legislation.

Let me be clear… I love all facets of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. I support the performance division. How then, you say, can I support this legislation? As president of TWHBEA, I represent the oldest and largest membership driven organization in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. TWHBEA, being an international organization, is also the most widely recognized “brand” representing the Tennessee Walking Horse.

I have always said, “The future of the padded show horse is in the hands of two groups… the trainers who train it and the owners who own it.” Unlike the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), for example, who controls all aspects of the Quarter Horse industry, our industry is not set up that way… primarily due to the regulatory issues involving enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA).

TWHBEA has no say over the padded show horse. TWHBEA has no control over the padded show horse. TWHBEA has no authority over the padded show horse. TWHBEA, does however, bear the brunt of the criticism aimed at the padded show horse. Our membership numbers are directly affected by the controversy. The group with the least input takes the hardest hit. Why? Because as the breed registry and the largest membership driven organization, we are the face of the breed and are perceived as its ultimate authority in the world equine community.

For many years, the padded show horse drove the market and TWHBEA benefited. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when our industry was breeding 25,000 mares and registering 14,000 foals, it was largely due to the padded market. Breeders were breeding for that $15,000/$20,000 yearling. Horses were selling. New people were coming into the breed. In 1997, TWHBEA hit the 20,000-member mark and in the early 2000s operated under a 5 million dollar budget. We had some 25 or 30 employees. We were the second fastest growing breed in America and the fourth largest breed registry overall.

Today, we have fewer than 10 employees. We’ve gone to a four-day work week and cut our staff’s salaries by 20 percent. We are down to 8,300 members. Breeding production levels are at 1950s numbers. It is clear to me that what our industry is doing is no longer working in today’s world. Times have changed. The world, through technology, gets smaller and smaller every day. We can’t hide any longer. It is clear to me that our past has finally caught up with us and the image currently conveyed by our performance horse is no longer accepted in 2013.

TWHBEA has lost members in droves, and the brutal emails I have received tell me why. It is our reputation. It is soring. It is our image. My responsibility lies with TWHBEA and its 8,300 remaining members who represent all 50 states and many foreign countries.

Sadly, we have no more friends outside our industry. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) no longer supports us. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) no longer supports us. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will not recognize our padded show horse. The American Horse Council, whom we’ve cultivated a close working relationship with for many years, has turned away from us, declining our annual sponsorship this year. The World Equestrian Games refused our sponsorship and returned it to us. The Kentucky After Christmas Sale had no performance horses this year. Last fall, the University of Tennessee featured a flat-shod horse rather than a padded show horse to perform at its annual homecoming football game. All of this breaks my heart.

I believe our modern-day padded show horses are cleaner than they’ve ever been. The problem is that nobody outside our industry believes it. And when you’ve lost the public you have lost it all… and we have clearly lost the public.

For two years our industry has known that Congress would attempt to take our pads and chains unless we provided an acceptable alternative. How did we know that? Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator for Animal Care at USDA-APHIS, told us so. He told TWHBEA, he told the Trainers’ Association, he told the Celebration and WHOA. Since that announcement the padded horse leadership’s response has been to paint the chains and implement an ambiguous swabbing program. Now the padded leadership is threatening to suspend the licenses of trainers who show under compliant HIOs. Anything beyond that… “Hell No” was the answer. “No compromises!”

I understand that the Performance Show Horse Association (PSHA) may be working on proposed legislation to the Whitfield Amendment. I first heard this in January and have heard it again recently. I hope so. My understanding is that versions of the Whitfield Amendment will continue to be introduced in Congress year after year until something gets passed. It is not going away. So I applaud PSHA if they are working on an alternative. I hope they come up with something soon.

I want the performance division to survive. I believe in the need for the division. I only know that it can’t and won’t survive as it is currently presented. This to me is obvious. The padded show horse’s survival lies at the feet of the trainers who train it and the owners who own it. If I lose some friendships over my vote then so be it. But I hope and pray that the trainers who train padded horses and the owners who own padded horses will find a way to put a horse in the ring that the public can support. Until then, we will remain alienated from the mainstream equine world. It’s as simple as that.

In order for this industry to grow and attract new people, strong, bold, drastic action is needed. A different direction will be required. I just hope our industry will choose the direction rather than have it chosen for us. We all know that the pads and chains alone do not harm the horse, that is no longer the point.

For most of us, our show industry is more about people and families than it is about winning blue ribbons. It’s about the people, the fellowship, the family fun, the friendly competition. Let’s not lose sight of that.

No matter what happens with the Whitfield Amendment, proposed legislation or future versions… the pads and chains do not define this breed.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is the greatest breed in the world. We all agree on that. Just imagine the possibilities that exist for us if we could rid ourselves of this black cloud, this stigma once and for all. Forty-three years is long enough.

I’m sorry to those I’ve offended and hope that one day you will forgive me.

REPOST - HOW YOU CAN HELP - Contact the Energy and Commerce Committee Members Today!

I'm reposting this to remind everyone of the work that still needs to be done.  Feel free to write to them once a week, every day if you have to.

Also, I wanted to let everyone know that Marsha Blackburn who is on the committee is in deep with the burners and lickers.  So be sure to hit all of them hard!  We don't want her convincing them to drop this again!

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So now that the PAST Act (HR 1518) is back in the Energy and Commerce Committee, we need to push hard to get this sucker through to the next step.

Robin P. of our Facebook group was kind enough to give me a list of all of the members of the EC Committee.  She also included local zip codes with the list.  Thank you so much, Robin!  So all you have to do is this:

1. Click on the name of each member for the link to their email page.
2. Use the zip code listed to get authentication.  If you need an address, google the local cemetery or national park.
3. Send him/her a polite and short message about the PAST Act.  Feel free to use the FTTWH press package or any information from the FTTWH website to back up your facts.  It's good to talk about the current Wheelon situation and the current list the USDA has out about their swab test results from the 2012 Celebration. Click here for my post that includes talking about the results.
4. Feel free to call him/her as well to pound the message home.
5. Repeat!  The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Tips:
- Write your message first and then just copy and paste into each email to make it go faster.
- Use correct grammar and intelligent conversation.  Do not call people names or use curse words.
- Point out that they aren't just abusing animals, but are also breaking a law that would be very easy to follow if they were no longer allowed to police themselves.

You can also contact your local Congresspersons to prepare them for the PAST Act and to ask them to ask their pals in the EC about it.  Also ask them to consider co-sponsoring it.  Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov and choose the search option in the upper left hand corner to find your local Congresspersons.

And don't forget about POPVOX, another great way to get your message to your local Congresspersons.

Thanks to all of you for working hard to help save the horse!  We CAN do this!

Rep Joe Barton, Ennis, TX 75119-2002
Rep Gus Bilirakis, Wesley Chapel, FL 33454-5755
Rep Marsha Blackburn, Clarksville, TN 37043-2811
Rep Michael Burgess, Lewisville, TX 75067-2919
Rep G.K. Butterfield, Durham, NC 27701-3101

Rep John Barrow, Augusta, GA 30901-2823
Rep Bruce Braley, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-2911

Rep Lois Capps, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3601
Rep Bill Cassidy, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-3901
Rep Kathy Castor, Tampa, FL 33607-3376
Rep Donna Christensen, St John, Virgin Island 00831-1790

Rep Diane Degette, Denver, CO 80203-4431
Rep John Dingell, Dearborn, MI 48124-4071
Rep Mike Doyle, Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2135

Rep Renee Ellmers, Dunn, NC 28334-4531
Rep Eliot Engel, Bronx, NY 10463-2464
Rep Anna Eshoo, Palo Alto, CA 94301-8104

Rep Cory Gardner, Castle Rock, CO 80108-4676
Rep Gene Green, Houston, TX 77029-1668
Rep Phil Gingrey, Marietta, GA 30060-2931
Rep Brett Guthrie, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3501

Rep Ralph Hall, Rockwall, TX 75087-6673
Rep Gregg Harper, Meridian, MS 39301-5031

Rep Bill Johnson, Marietta, OH 45750-5705

Rep Leonard Lance, Westfield, NJ 07090-5361
Rep Bob Latta, Bowling Green, OH 43402-6405
Rep Bill Long, Springfield, MO 65804-6536
Rep Ben Ray Lujan, Santa Fe, NM 87505-6190

Rep Ed Markey, Medford, MA 02155-2836
Rep Jim Matheson, West Jordon, UIT 84088-3011
Rep Doris Matsui, Sacramento, CA 95814-7163
Rep David McKinley, Morgantown, WV 26505-7564
Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Spokane, WA 99201-2006
Rep Jerry McNerney, Stockton, CA 95207-1947
Rep Tim Murphy, Pittsburgh, PA 15228-2301

Rep Pete Olson, Sugarland, TX 77478-5951

Rep Frank Pallone, Brunswick, NJ 08901-9965
Rep Mike Pompeo, Wichita, KS 67207-3489

Rep Mike Rogers, Lansing, MI 48915-4872
Rep Bobby Rush, Chicago, IL 60619-4372

Rep Steve Scalise, Hammond, GA 70401-3015
Rep John Shimkus, Effingham, IL 62401-5271
Rep John Surbanes, Towson, MD 21204-4016

Rep Lee Terry, Omaha, NE 68154-4155
Rep Paul Tonko, Albany, NY 12210-5076

Rep Fred Upton, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 ph: 202-225-3761

Rep Greg Walden, Bend, OR 97701-6730
Rep Henry Waxman, Los Angeles, CA 90048-3976
Rep Peter Welch, Burlington, VT 05401-4115

NEWS and ARTICLES - Ag-Gag Bill in TN Vetoed - WE DID IT!

From the Tennessee Government website (click for article):

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Haslam Releases Statement on HB 1191/SB 1248
Monday, May 13, 2013 | 10:41 am
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam released the following statement regarding HB 1191/SB 1248:

“Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Tennessee.  Farmers play a vital role in our state’s economy, heritage and history.  I understand their concerns about large scale attacks on their livelihoods.  I also appreciate that the types of recordings this bill targets may be obtained at times under false pretenses, which I think is wrong,” Haslam said.

“Our office has spent a great deal of time considering this legislation.  We’ve had a lot of input from people on all sides of the issue.  After careful consideration, I am going to veto the legislation.  Some vetoes are made solely on policy grounds.  Other vetoes may be the result of wanting the General Assembly to reconsider the legislation for a number of reasons.  My veto here is more along the lines of the latter.  I have a number of concerns.

“First, the Attorney General says the law is constitutionally suspect.  Second, it appears to repeal parts of Tennessee’s Shield Law without saying so.  If that is the case, it should say so.  Third, there are concerns from some district attorneys that the act actually makes it more difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases, which would be an unintended consequence.

“For these reasons, I am vetoing HB1191/SB1248, and I respectfully encourage the General Assembly to reconsider this issue.”

Governor Haslam


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Click here for the Times Free Press article.

ALL OF YOU, from Carrie Underwood to the journalists to those of us sitting behind a computer with our phones and fingers at the ready, made a difference!  If we had not flooded his office with phone calls and emails then they wouldn't have looked at it more closely.  If we hadn't fought against those with big money, this would've passed with no problem.

And PLEASE take the time to thank him!  He needs to know we appreciate his decision.

Gov. Bill Haslam - 615-741-2001 - bill.haslam@tn.gov

THANK YOU ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE VETO!  Now on to the PAST Act!

NEWS, ARTICLES and HOW YOU CAN HELP - Keep Writing to Gov. Haslam; Updates on Wheelon and HSUS Work

Since it's Friday, I want to remind you today and the first three days of next week to get your letters in to Governor Haslam!  We have until next Wednesday, which is the date in which he must sign the law, veto it, or leave it alone and it will go into law.

I post this now because Haslam himself had said he was waiting for the Tennessee Attorney General's office to come back with information about the "constitutionality of the bill.  Amazingly, here's what they found. Click here for the original article from the Humane Tennessee PAC.

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Greetings!

The Tennessee Attorney General's office has issued an opinion on HB1191/SB1248, a.k.a. the "anti-whistleblower" or "ag gag" bill.  Their finding?  The bill is "constitutionally suspect under the First Amendment."  Robert E. Cooper Jr., our state's Attorney General and Reporter, found that it could also "violate a person's  Fifth Amendment  rights against self-incrimination."  (To read the entire opinion, click here.)

Governor Bill Haslam has had this bill on his desk since May 3 and is deciding whether or not to sign or veto it.  Animal advocacy groups, clergy groups, the ACLU, numerous media outlets, and many celebrities have asked Gov. Haslam to veto this bill, and now that the Attorney General's opinion states that this bill is constitutionally suspect, the pressure is even greater for the governor to veto.  Kudos to Rep. Mike Stewart (D) - Nashville for requesting the opinion and opposing this bill from the start.

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So now is the time to write more letters and make more phone calls!  Phone calls make the most impact and just tell his secretary you support what Rep. Mike Stewart had to say and you are asking him to veto the bill.

Gov. Bill Haslam - 615-741-2001 - bill.haslam@tn.gov


It's amazing how much support there is to veto the bill.  Many of you already heard that Carrie Underwood stood up and expressed her opinion.  Emmylou Harris, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, and Tish Cyrus have also jumped on the bandwagon and even Pricilla Presley has as well!  Click the names to read the subsequent articles from the Chattanoogan and PETA.

Then we have the Clergy for for Justice Tennessee supporting a veto and Horse Haven of Tennessee, the folks who helped with the raid on Larry Wheelon's barn, have also asked Haslam to veto the bill.  In addition, the ACLU had 33,000 people sign their petition in support of vetoing the bill.

I don't really see how Haslam can not veto the bill now.  The support and facts against it is overwhelming.  It's amazing how strong the opposition to the bill has become.  But we can't stop now--we have to keep up the pressure for the burners, lickers, cheaters, liars, and abusers want it to pass.  Overall, I don't think it's possible to thank every single person who has called, written, signed, and shown their support to stop this bill from becoming law.

In other news, Larry Wheelon has been ordered to vacate the premises by his landlord and the court.  It sounds like it wasn't pretty for the landlord,  but I'm glad he is being removed from the property.  Click here for the article.  We can only hope that the owners of the remaining horses won't just send their horses down to the next BL HPA violator who's waiting in the wings.

Also, please hop on to POPVOX.  FTTWH was approved as an organization on POPVOX and is now an official endorser of the PAST Act.  Click here for HR 1518 on POPVOX.  So be sure to get on there and show your support!