NEWS - The Walk on Washington Was a Success

While the sore side continues to flail and flop like fish out of water and cannot seem to get their proverbial sh*t together, the sound horse group continues to work so hard and get success from their actions.

Billy Go Boy really has the best posts about the event, so I highly recommend going to his website to read everything.  www.billygoboy.com

Some important notes are that about 75 spectators showed up (not many more than those at a Big Lick show).  But most importantly, the media was out in force!  Articles have shown up on ABC News, the Tennessean, CNN, and various other news outlets that were there.  Billy Go Boy has them posted on his site.  Let's see the sore side get that kind of support with their exhibitions.

I have also heard that since the event, four new co-sponsors have signed on to the PAST Act.  There is also talk about the Act getting to the Senate floor for vote.  I will update everyone once I find out more news if this is true.

Also, please read this post for sure, if you don't read anything else.  This is the story of Dutch, a horse that was noticed at a Pennsylvania auction in June of 2013 in horrible condition.  From the story I was originally told about this horse, the owner took him to the auction to sell him.  Luckily, people who knew what soring was took the original photos of his legs and feet in the auction barn.  The owner found out about it, snatched him up and took him away.  Obviously he knew it is illegal to have a scarred horse at an auction.  From what I heard, someone had gotten a license plate number.  The rest of the story is on the post.

Some sore side folks have made fun of the amount of horses being low.  But it's not like the Big Lick classes aren't big now.  Two to three horses per class does not constitute a full classes.

The only defense of the sore side is to make fun of the natural horse riders quite frankly showing their ignorance.  I invite everyone to take a gander at this post from Facebook off of the open page of Tommy Williams, who runs the Walking Horse Report and Walking Horse Chat, where crazy anti-HSUS theories abound and names they believe are insulting are slung about.  CLICK HERE.  For the record, I'm proud to be a tree hugger and rabid animal welfare activist.  Much better than being called and animal abuser or a felon supporter.

And finally, here's the picture circulating the Internet of Pam McKinney, the Virgina TWHBEA Director, who came to the WOW event and spent her time walking around and making nasty comments, her cronie trying to pass out anti-PAST Act propaganda (of which they were not authorized to do), and when she was confronted about it, this was her response, as well as dropping dozens of F-bombs.  She was escorted away from the exhibition by local police.

The reason I post this is to show folks how well we are doing to save the horse, and how the sore side cannot stand on its own two stacked and chained feet anymore.  We continue to make progress to save the horse.  Soring and the Big Lick are not only cruel but no longer popular in the horse world.  It's time for it to end, and I can't wait for the PAST Act to pass.

Check out the All American Walking Horse Alliance website and Facebook page to learn more about their time in DC.  And thanks to everyone who worked on this project AND who donated their time and money to it.  This is why the PAST Act will pass: we are willing to work hard and keep at it!

NEWS and HOW YOU CAN HELP - House Reps List is Finished, TWHBEA Crap, and More from the Walk on Washington

Thanks to my friends and lots of hard work, we have finished the list of House Republicans who have not co-sponsored the PAST Act yet.  Republican support is supposedly more important to the Speaker of the House to bring it to the floor, which is why we haven't done a Democrats list.  So we need everyone to jump on their House Republicans to get this sucker to the floor!  I'm sure you'll see names in the list that are lost causes...but then again, sometimes it takes just one comment or one important fact that will get that person to listen.

Of note: The ranking House Democrat Collin Peterson, who is on the Agricultural Committee, has co-sponsored the PAST Act.  Click here to read why this is so important.

HOUSE - CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF FILE

SENATE - CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF FILE

Next, TWHBEA held its yearly board meetings over Memorial Day weekend.  Sadly, the entire Executive Committee meeting was spent making changes to the by-laws so that they have a Pat Stout Clause and a Christy Lantis Clause (THEIR WORDS, not joking on this) to keep the Lickers on the board and EC and to keep the members from having a say.  They also changed it to force members to support the Big Lick horse, whether or not they want to.

The details for what went down are on Billy Go Boy's website at this link.  Please read this and realize what is truly going on here.

But here's the kicker, folks: they are going to post the entire by-laws as a yes or no vote.  They won't do what all other organizations across the globe do, which is allow members to vote on each change.  No, they want to make sure no one is allowed to actually have a say in what they truly want to see within TWHBEA.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER, PLEASE VOTE A RESOUNDING NO TO THESE CHANGES.  They are going to not only hurt you as a member, but also continue to support soring and force YOU to support soring as well.  Do you really want your hard-earned money used to support animal abuse?

Once you've voted, PLEASE don't renew your membership.  In my opinion, TWHBEA has had it's time in the spotlight and now needs to die.  They will not change, that is for certain.  They enjoy soring, they enjoy their money, they enjoy trying to protect a way of life that has truly gone the way of the dodo.  Aside from soring, the Big Lick just is not popular anymore.  Let's let them kill TWHBEA on their own.  Don't give them your money anymore so they can fail.

If you are concerned about registering your horse, there are other options such as NWHA, WWHA, the Heritage Society and the Canadian TWH registry.  The breed will not go extinct as we all know there are hundreds of people out there breeding flat shod, quality horses.  Don't let TWHBEA's vice grip on the registry sway you.  Find another venue to spend your money on.  TWHBEA is no longer worth your time or anyone else's.

Next, the Walk on Washington is still scheduled for June 18th!  It will be at 1 pm and will take place in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool on 3rd Street Southwest on Union Square.  The All American Walking Horse Alliance needs our help financially to pay for this endeavor.  The monies go toward paying fees and for permits to be able to this, as well as travel costs for the participants and horses.  If you'd like to donate, please visit their website here: http://www.walkinghorsealliance.com/

Of course, the Lickers are spreading lies that this is some kind of marketing ploy...like they don't participate in marketing ploys themselves.  But it's okay if they do them, just not anyone else.  The Walk on Washington, however, is not a marketing ploy.  It is truly to educate the public about the horses and let our Congresspersons see sound, happy TWHs in action, so to speak.  This is a great opportunity for anyone to learn more about what's happening and why we need the PAST Act passed.  So if you're in the area, please join them and show your support for the PAST Act!

NEWS - All American Walking Horse Alliance Ready to Walk On Washington

***EDITED 5-19-14***
SENATE LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED!
Please check out our sidebar for the link to the list of Senators who haven't co-sponsored the PAST Act yet.

We are still working on the Representatives list.  It will be finished soon!

A brand new alliance of sound horse supporters, owners, breeders, and exhibitors has come up with a phenomenal new way to educate our Congresspersons and the public to the plight of the TWH.

Introducing the All American Walking Horse Alliance

Click here for their Facebook page.

The All American Walking Horse Alliance is a brand new grassroots organization that have scheduled to perform a Walk on Washington.  On June 18, 2014, six to eight sound, well-trained and wonderful representatives of the TWH breed along with many supporters of the sound horse will make their way to Union Square Park on Capitol Hill.  The rally will be peaceful and will exhibit the horses as they truly should be showcased in the United States of America.

Roy Exum wrote a great piece on this event that explains everything, so I'll let him be your guide for this.  Click here to read it.

AAWHA does need our help.  There are lots of financial issues to consider, such as fees for permits, housing for the horses, and other such issues.  From their Facebook page:

Or buy a magnet:

Folks, this is truly a remarkable and game-changing event.  This is something that cannot be duplicated by those who are in opposition of the PAST Act.  Real horses showcasing their natural talents, available for our Congresspersons and other local taxpayers will help raise awareness and show how easy and important it is to get the PAST Act passed.  My congratulations and sincere thanks to those who have made this amazing endeavor.  Change is here, and we will see and end to the atrocity of soring.

NEWS and ARTICLES - SBS Dateline of Australia Helps Expose the Truth; Dr. Blackwell, DVM Explains Soring Pain; Billy Go Boy's Recent Post

We have some great things going on within the Tennessee Walking Horse world.  If you've been following our Facebook page, our Twitter feed, and Billy Go Boy's website, you'll know that the National Sheriff's Association has endorsed the PAST Act, while the Tennessee Farm Bureau has of course endorsed the industry and their useless counter-acts.  Although honestly, The Tennessee Farm Bureau's actions don't surprise me.  It just shows us that they are just as ingrained in profiting from the abuse as the Lickers are.

The list of supporters and endorsements of the PAST Act continues to grow!  Use this list when you're contacting your Congresspersons.  Click here to view the most updated list as of April 25, 2014!

The USDA has been working very hard.  They were at all of the major shows this season so far, and their presence either scared off exhibitors or caught a lot of the abusers in the act.  They brought their scientific, objective methods, and it's proving to work.  Please send them a message to thank them for their hard work.  Click here for the USDA HPA website for contact information.

Next, SBS Dateline out of Australia did an EXCELLENT piece on the TWH industry and soring.  They were present at this year's Trainers' Show and the Sound Horse Conference, so they showed footage and data from both.  This video is full of facts and good information from both sides of the sore horse world.  It also points out several fallacies within the industry, and counters many of their claims.  Click the banner from SBS Dateline below to watch the video.

"This is not the natural gait of the Walking Horse."

~ SBS Dateline, Walk of Shame

"The exaggerated Big Lick is only achieved with the aid of what trainers call 'action devices,' the most obvious the ungainly shoes on the horse's front feet."

~ SBS Dateline, Walk of Shame

Some interesting things I noticed.

03:25 - Brain Power reacts to Groover reaching toward his hooves.

04:53 - Mike Inman states that the TWH industry is important to the agriculture and farming in Tennessee.  There is no farming involved in owning TWHs.  Only showing.

08:13 - Winky Groover has vets check his horse after the USDA has disqualified the horse from the show.  He says the vets disagree with the USDA's findings.  Well of course the vets disagree--they are PAID by the industry to be there.  

11:26 - Dr. Tracy Turner used thermography at the Trainers' Show to help identify sored horses.  The Lickers continue to complain about the USDA not using scientific, objective inspections.  I don't know how much more scientific and objective thermography can get.  So you got what you wanted at the Trainers' Show, Lickers.  Sorry, Winky, I'm going to listen to the vet that used thermography and specializes in equine podiatry rather than your paid ones that didn't use anything but a subjective inspection.

After watching the thermography webinar and learning so much, I have to say I saw the lines on Winky's horse's pasterns that corresponded with the thermography.  I can see why the horse was disqualified--from what I've learned, he was clearly sored in the past but was "compliant" for the show.

But this was probably the best part of the video for me.  Mike Inman stated, "Essentially they [the HSUS] want the entire breed eliminated, again saying that will eiminate soring.  Well certainly, it will if you eliminate the horse.  There won't be any horse left."

Immediately, this quote was countered with Keith Dane's statement: "We [the HSUS] have programs to reward and encourage people who will use their Tennessee Walking Horses in humane, respectful ways and help promote the breed to the rest of the world.  So if we were against people having horses and using their horses, we wouldn't be offering rewards and recognition to people who are doing that humanely."

It continues to amaze me that this industry is so bent on perpetuating and rewarding animal abuse with the lengths they will go through.  But we're looking at a "tradition" that is truly normal to these people.  They've gotten away with it for so long, it's become ingrained in their culture.  Plus, these are trainers who wouldn't know how to train a horse without stacks, chains and "juice."  They have no idea how to start a horse from the ground up, how to use regular horse training methods to teach a horse to be ridden or prepare it for the show ring.  This was even commented on in the video: each horse is only ridden for about 20 minutes before they're hauled off to the show.  Twenty minutes of "training" is nothing compared to the hours upon hours most trainers put into their horses to compete, even those who use mechanical means.

Overall, a huge thank you to SBS Dateline for airing this.  The truth is out there, and it's becoming international!

The Sound Horse Conference 2014 has put up videos of their speakers on their YouTube feed.  I highly recommend hopping on over to YouTube to watch the videos of the presenters.  (Click for the link.)  We had some major players that told the truth about what's going on in the TWH industry.

My personal favorites are:

Dr. Michael Blackwell - Talks about what the pain of soring actually feels like.  Click here for Billy Go Boy's text of this presentation.

Carl Bledsoe - Former sore horse trainer who has chosen to leave soring behind.

Clay Harlin - Former supporter and owner of sored horses.  A preacher who talks about his time when he realized what was happening was wrong.

Dr. Tracy Turner - Thermography information and how soring happens, and debunking some of the Lickers' claims.

Of course, I recommend watching all the videos.  They are all extremely informative and helpful to end the practice of soring.

And speaking of Billy Go Boy, I really, really think this post is important: click here.  I love BGB's website because he keeps us going with such great information from the goings on within the industry, so much so that it keeps the fight going and fresh in everyone's minds.  I just find that this particular post really needs to be read and understood by everyone.  It shows how clearly disillusioned the TWH industry is.  It also reminds us that we are still gaining and we need to keep up the good fight!

Some thoughts:

I find it interesting that the only "spokesperson" for the TWH industry is Jerry Harris (Whatajayroe per BGB), of the What A Horse show from Tennessee.  He puts together a lot of videos with interviews of those within the industry.  However, it's clear that he twists words and facts to fit his own agenda, which to me is clearly to continue the sore horse racket so he can get paid.  Sadly, Harris doesn't realize that a change within the industry will stop it from hemorrhaging money and bring back the spectators and supporters of this great breed.

I also find it interesting that the industry keeps saying they want "scientific, objective inspections."  What's more scientific than x-rays and thermography?  Scientific studies continue to prove them wrong, yet they ignore them because it doesn't fit their agenda.  I have pointed out time and time again the quotes by Dr. Turner on various Facebook pages and forums, and the industry flat out WILL NOT watch the webinar or take the time to learn what science is really all about.  But we all know what's really going on: they just want to keep cognitive dissonance, to continue to believe their own lies, even in the wake of absolute proof.  If we say the sky is blue, they will call it black.  It doesn't matter to them.  Keeping their way of life is what truly matters.  So it's up to us to save the horse.

I'll keep you updated as I can, but please remember to follow us on Facebook or Twitter @FortheTWH to keep as up to date as possible.  THANK YOU for continuing to support the welfare of the horse!

VIDEO, NEWS and HOW YOU CAN HELP - Bills, Bills, Bills; Video From Discussion With Sound Horse Leaders; FTTWH Is Now On Twitter & More

Well, we all know about the PAST Act.  But has anyone else heard about the PAID Act?

Okay, it's not really called the PAID Act, but we'd like to think that's what it's called:

Thanks to the Voters Who Approve of HR 1518/s 1406 FB page

Be sure to let the Congresspersons on this page know that we need them to reconsider their support and help stop abuse, not support those who condone and participate in it.

Most of you probably already know that Marsha Blackburn, paid Congressperson of the TWH industry (she was given $70,000 in donations at the Celebration last year) put together her own version of changes to the HPA.  Here's a good explanation from Thehorse.com (click for article):

On Feb. 26, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced HR 4098, or the Horse Protection Amendments Act of 2014. Blackburn's bill would create one horse industry organization (HIO) to manage shows where Tennessee Walking Horses would be exhibited. Under HR 4098, that HIO would be composed of equine veterinarians and industry experts who would develop and implement protocols, guidelines, testing policies, and inspection policies for the industry. Under the legislation, these industry experts would be drawn from states most impacted by the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. The bill also requires that testing used during horse inspections be done “though objective, science-based methods and protocols,” and preserves the oversight structure between the Walking Horse industry and the USDA. The bill does not forbid trainers from using metal chains, or stacks and pads used in performance packages.

While this sounds all happy and dandy, it actually puts the industry right where they want to be.  It would give them one HIO, which the industry has already established by putting together the IIS, or ISS, or some other such crap...honestly, I can't keep track of it anymore.  Somehow SHOW is not defunct, or PSHA is...???  Seriously, more alphabet soup.  At any rate, having one HIO that will be run by the abusers puts those foxes at the front door of the hen house to usher other foxes right on in.

Plus, in requiring "objective, science-based methods and protocols," this buys them time to find ways to escape detection.  Objective and science-based methods are already available and tests have already been done.  The Industry just ignores it because it scientifically shows that the horses are still being sored.  (See refusing to release swabbing results of 2012 Celebration; general ignorance of Dr. Turner's six-year thermography study and the results.)

A few days ago, Lamar Alexander -- who strangely, had co-sponsored both the PAID Act AND the PAST Act -- released a more detailed PAID Act that just adds on some useless penalties and expresses that only veterinarians should inspect horses.  Which, with the USDA, they already do.  Another good explanation of the bill from Thehorse.com (click for article):

On April 1 Alexander, along with senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), introduced legislation modifying HR 4098 bill to require the HIO created in Blackburn's bill contract with “equine veterinary experts”; those experts would advise the HIO on the methods of testing for banned substances and about the interpretation of test results. Alexander's bill also creates a 30-day suspension of horses found to be sore for the first time; penalties rise to 90-day suspensions for each subsequent offense. Finally, the bill would establishe a 4-year term limit for anyone who serves on the HIO board of directors.

So, we need your help yet again!  Please OPPOSE both of these bills on POPVOX.  Click here for HR 4098 and click here for S 2913.  REMEMBER: These two bills need to be OPPOSED!

Next, here's a great video from The Tennessean Editorial Board with supporters of the PAST Act talking about why it's necessary.  Former Senator Joe Tydings, who authored the original HPA, Donna Benefield, and Attorney Clant Seay provide wonderful insight.  Click here for Billy Go Boy's post about it.

We have also started an FTTWH Twitter account!  Our goal is to tweet about important information that our Congresspersons need to know about soring and supporting the PAST Act.  http://twitter.com/FortheTWH and @FortheTWH.  Please follow us and retweet so we can get the word out and get as much support as we can!

I also want to announce that I'm not going to be posting on this blog as much for awhile.  I have some other pressing work to take care of.  But the FTTWH Facebook page and FTTWH Twitter account will still run as it's an easy place to share and give out information.  I also HIGHLY recommend following Billy Go Boy's website for lots of great up-to-date information.

So, to keep up with who's supporting the PAST Act and who we still need to contact, go to Govtrack.us to keep an eye on those who are supporting it.

House Support: HR 1518

Senate Support: S 1406

Key things the Congresspersons will want to know:

1.  This will be at no cost to the taxpayer to pass and implement as the funds for the HPA are already established.
2.  The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association for Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Horse Council (AHC and largest lobbyists in DC for horse-related issues), and Veterinary Medical Associations across the U.S. are in full support of the PAST Act.  Click here for the list of endorsements from across the United States.
3.  The Industry has not been and never will correctly police themselves as HPA violations continue to pile up each year.  The time has come for the USDA to take over inspections and for the tools used to sore horses to be gone from the show ring.

THANK YOU to everyone for all your hard work!

NEWS - Jackie McConnell Confession Video

It sounds like there was some great information that came out of the Sound Horse Conference this year.  Hopefully FOSH will make the information available to the public for free.

In the meantime, here's the video of part of Jackie McConnell's confession that was required in his sentencing.  Good information, and I'm glad to see it.  It's interesting how the crowd reacts when he says he loved the horses at 4:00.  I just am sad to think that I truly don't trust him in his "apology."  I think he's just sorry he got caught...but that's just me.  Let's hope he truly is sorry for what he did to those magnificent creatures in ruining their lives.

BREAKING NEWS! WE HAVE MAJORITY SPONSORSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE!

268 U.S. Representatives co-sponsor the PAST Act – 62%

51 U. S. Senators co-sponsor the PAST Act – 51%

BUT...THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE FIGHT IS OVER.

The PAST Act still has to go through the regular process of becoming a law, which gives me an excuse to post this old blast from the past:

Within the next couple of weeks, the Senate is going to hear information about the PAST Act.  They originally had it scheduled for March 5, and then March 12, but weather has been a problem.  So we still need to keep contacting them.

The Lickers had gone to DC for the March 5 meeting, but obviously that didn't work out.  However, know that they are going to do whatever they can, even throw money around and bully others, to get what they want.  SO KEEP CALLING AND WRITING TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSONS!  If yours has already co-sponsored, tell them THANK YOU and to keep their decision solid.

Many of you probably already know that Marsha Blackburn, one of the number one enemies of the horse, has tried to put together a bill to counter the PAST Act.  She only has about ten helpers on this, and the Tennessean newspaper put out a scathing editorial titled "Rep. Ed Whitfield's walking horse legislation would end soring; Rep. Marsha Blackburn's would enable it."  Click here to read this excellent article.

Plus, we still have some powerful allies on our side.  Pricilla Presley has ben visiting DC along with our sound horse warriors, and Carrie Underwood retweeted the above Tennesseean editorial, reaching thousands of her followers.

I am still working on the transcript for the thermography webinar, but I'm having computer problems and it's kind of getting done in spurts.  I did make this new image, though, so feel free to pass it around!  (Click for a larger view.)  You will get tons of news from Billy Go Boy's website, so keep heading on over there.

At this point, the light a the end of the tunnel is very bright.  We WILL get the PAST Act passed, and it's because of the continued hard work of all of you who want to save the horse that we will get there!  So keep your letters, emails and phone calls flowing!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSPERSONS! - AND - COMING SOON - USDA Webinar Transcribed With Screenshots

Things are moving along great in Congress as far as getting the PAST Act passed.  BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO SLACK!  You can check out Billy Go Boy's site for a play-by-play of what is going on.  (I'll let BGB do all the hard work for me.)

We still need everyone to PLEASE contact your constituents.  KNOW that the Lickers are desperate and are pulling their own strings.  Just because someone has co-sponsored the Act does not mean that they can't change their mind.  They are in Washington, DC and are fighting to keep the abused horse in the ring.  They have gotten Marsha Blackburn to put together an alternative to the PAST Act.  The alternative does nothing to help the horse, of course.  All it does is call for a single HIO.  Of course, the industry wants this--it will help them keep all the trainers, owners, exhibitors, etc. under their thumb.

The Lickers are trying to pool their resources and start a new HIO called the Independent Inspection Services LLC so it will be in place to go along with Marsha's alternative.  As the Church Lady would say, "How conveeeeenient."  It is of course going to be run by the same HPA violators and sore horse supporters that SHOW, PSHA, NHSC, and all the other corrupt HIOs have been run by.

WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN.

So, here's a list of the current co-sponsors of the PAST Act.

Here's the list of people who haven't co-sponsored.  I know some of these folks have signed on since this list was made, so please take the time to compare it to the current co-sponsors list so you will know if your constituent has 

Here are the instructions for how to contact the constituents.

I also found this online...And I found it hilarious.

Guess when your ship is sinking, you'll grasp at any life preserver you can.  This also shows how when people complain about you, it means you're doing something right.  What's even funnier: this post got no comments and only two likes on Facebook.  Tee hee!  I really like the kittehs on there.  I own a black cat myself, since according to the Lickers, I'm a Satanic paganistic witch. (Wish I was a witch...I can think of some spells I'd like to put on some folks in Congress!)

My point here was to use the local cemetery OR the local library's address and zip code to get through the online blocks that Congresspersons have on their pages.  For example, they will ask for your address and/or zip code, and if you're out of their area they won't let you get the contact information or email the person you're trying to get a hold of.  So using a local address can get you past the computer block so your email will end up in their inbox.

Overall, I'm currently transcribing and creating a document with screenshots of the USDA thermography webinar that occurred on January 17, 2014.  So it will be coming soon.  For now, here's an important point made during the seminar (click to make it larger).  Keep your eyes peeled for the webinar document!

NEWS - What??? TWHBEA Continues to Baffle and Confuse in Attempts to Dupe the Public

IT's just gotten laughable now.  Seriously.  TWHBEA, we all know you support the sored horse.  We know you are against anything that tells the truth.

In their latest attempts at fantasy land pretending, David Williams, the TWHBEA VP for the Breeders and on the Executive Committee, and former manager of the failed Waterfall Farms, where they attempted to dupe the public as to what was going on by using Monty Roberts as their poster boy, made this little gem.  (Click to see a larger version.)

Here's the explanation of this map.

To TWHBEA directors:

Attached is a map and data showing the actual support of the PAST Act by TWHBEA members.

The data used was that collected and accounted for by Cook and Company the accounting firm hired by Pat Stout to process their poll results.

Using their data, only 15% of TWHBEA members residing in the U.S. are on record supporting the PAST Act.

There are only 7 states in which the majority of their TWHBEA membership is in support of the PAST Act.

Those 7 states comprise less than 1% of the total TWHBEA membership.

There are others who would like us and our membership to believe otherwise, but a only a very small percentage of TWHBEA members are in favor of the PAST Act.

Feel free to share.

David W. Williams

My reaction:

I honestly don't understand this.  I really don't.  I mean, I'm no math whiz, but this makes NO SENSE.  They are assuming that anyone who DIDN'T vote in the Stout Poll is AGAINST the PAST Act.  Seriously?  THAT'S what you came up with?  David Williams, are you TRULY that daft?

And as far as the State of Arizona goes, and using THEIR logic...

Gosh!  That was some hard math to do there!  Yessiree!

Next, the Enforcement Committee, made up of mostly Lickers, no less, has come up with this report concerning their "investigation" against Pat Stout's actions.  Click here for the report.  There is a lot of rhetoric and false accusations, nothing concrete.  In their list of findings, they go on hearsay that Jennie Jackson said Pat Stout didn't have an anonymous donor.  They also say that the picture of the horses on the ballot are of horses going to slaughter.  What difference does that make?

They talk about not violating the Code of Conduct.  Clearly, their Code of Conduct is interpreted differently by the sore horse group than it is by the rest of the world.  Plus

This is my favorite part of the report:

Their purported poll was not a poll at all.  It was a "push poll" or an attempt to sway the opinion of anyone who read it.  It advocated a specific political position, and sought support for that position.  While everyone has the right to advocate a political position, no one has the right to mislead the members of this association or the public about the position of the association.  This is especially true for directors and officers.

Here's my interpretation of this paragraph.

Their purported poll was not a poll at all.  A single question with a YES or NO answer isn't a poll, but it WOULD be a poll if we had put it out there.  It was a "push poll" or an attempt to sway the opinion of anyone who read it.  We don't like that the postcard said the horses need our help because we're not for the welfare of the horse.  It advocated a specific political position, and sought support for that position.  While everyone has the right to advocate a political position except for those who are for the sound horse, no one has the right to mislead the members of this association or the public about the position of the association except for us by putting out false statements and lying to the public about soring, like with the above referenced map.  This is especially true for directors and officers.

What's odd here is that there is no action taken.  Their conclusions are just that: conclusions.  They don't put forth any "punishment."  (Although in my honest opinion, being kicked out of TWHBEA for not supporting the sored horse would be a badge of honor.)  They did send Pat Stout a letter saying they have suspended her privileges with TWHBEA until she "cooperates" and sends them the information they are demanding of her.  Click here for the letter.

The list of the Enforcement Committee members:

Thomas Kakassy, Chairman (multiple HPA violator, BL supporter)
Everett (Butch) Allen (HPA violator, BL supporter)
Denise Bader-Keyser (flip-flops between being sound or sore, BL supporter, husband has HPA violation)
Ann King (multiple HPA violator)
Curt Rosemann (Arizona residents voted him out of the Arizona rep position because he does not support the PAST Act and therefore does not support the Arizona members' best interests)
Denise Rowland (multiple HPA violator, VERY well known for supporting the sored horse and for her lawsuit against the USDA that she lost concerning soring horses)
Jeff Tanner (BL supporter)
Nicole Tolle
Margo Urad (HPA violator, BL supporter)
Kim Widner

From the TWHBEA Code of Conduct Standards:
“No person shall knowingly … engage in any practice which has the effect of corrupting the integrity of the Association … or otherwise engage in an unethical practice in any situation involving a Tennessee Walking Horse or any matter in which this Association has an interest.”

You know, if this isn't a conflict of interest, then I TRULY do not know what is.

Here's the bottom line, folks: TWHBEA doesn't care about the sound horse; they only care about their pocketbooks.  It's pathetic that they can't see the forest for the trees, and it's gotten to a point where they are so transparent in their lies and cover-up attempts that it's just laughable.  They are the laughing stock of the horse world for a reason.  They KNOW they are doing wrong, and yet they persist in making themselves look like fools.  Don't they realize that they are truly ruining the breed for everyone but their tiny circle of sore horse supporters and animal abusers?

I have a request: to everyone who is a sound horse person--a REAL sound horse person, as in you support the PAST Act as it is--please do not renew your membership next year.  Don't give these people any more money.  They absolutely are not going to make any changes, or if they do, it's going to be too late.  They work hard at keeping the sound horse people from speaking up and won't listen to them.  We've seen hints and glimmers of hope here and there, but they have always jumped up to keep abusing animals.  Look at Tracy Boyd--he's been bullied back into the fold.  So let them fail.  Let them die their death.  The registry can be started anew by someone else; the horses that are truly sound aren't going to stop being sold or promoted.  Let's allow them to kill themselves, and let's hit them hard by not giving them any more of our money or our time.  Thanks for being for the horse, everyone!

NEWS, ARTICLES and HOW YOU CAN HELP - Christmas for the Tennessee Walking Horse Continues Into the New Year

DON'T FORGET:

GET YOUR LETTERS IN TO THE CONGRESSMEN WHO HAVEN'T CO-SPONSORED

THE PAST ACT YET!

Click here for our post with the list!

I am amazed, simply amazed at the hard work and dedication of the sound horse people in the past year of 2013.  December turned out to be a wonderful month for the TWH, and the gifts just keep on giving.  I was actually going to put together a timeline of what happened, but good ol' Billy Go Boy did it for me!  Here's a quick rundown of the timeline, and you can read it directly here.  I have added links to the confessions so everyone can read them.

January

• Midnight Sun statue leaves the TWHBEA building.
• Kentucky After Christmas Sale is inspected by IWHA; no stacked horses show up.

February

• David Howard forces WHTA trainers to join PSHA.

March

• PSHA attempts to tell the USDA on short notice they will be the HIO at the Trainers Show.  USDA says no.  Lots of empty seats at the show.
• PSHA Chair Terry Dotson, Jeffrey Howard, Mickey McCormick and Lobbyist Jeff Speaks meet for 15 minutes with U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and promise to clean up soring.

April

• Blount County SPCA/USDA obtain search warrant and raid Larry Joe Wheelon's Barn in Maryville, Tennessee.  Wheelon is arrested a few days later, and 19 horses are seized.

May

• TWHBEA Executive Committee votes 7 – 4 to endorse HR 1518,  the PAST Act.  
• TWHBEA Directors refuse to ratify Executive Committee endorsement of HR 1518.
• TWHBEA President Tracy Boyd issues his statement endorsing the PAST Act.  Boyd is later fired from Baskin-Irby Construction.

June

• TWHBEA CEO Ron Thomas takes early retirement.
• TWHBEA hires Tracy Boyd to replace Ron Thomas.
• Former TWHBEA President Marty Irby starts campaigning for HR 1518.

July

• Loyd  Black is selected Interim TWHBEA President.
• Celebration confiscates TWHBEA’s building on Celebration grounds.
• Celebration refuses to give TWHBEA show records.
• Jackie McConnell sentenced in Somerville, Tennessee – fined $25,000.00 and sentenced to one year house arrest, five years monitored probation and not being able to own, train, board, or have any dealings with horses for the next 20 years.
• Fayette County Assistant District Attorney  Mark Davidson files action to confiscate Floyd and Beverly Sherman's horses seized at Jackie McConnell’s.
• U. S. Judge Terry Means upholds the USDA Mandatory Minimum Penalties in a Summary Judgement in Fort Worth, Texas.
• David L. Howard announces $931,000 in losses to the Celebration over five years and that SHOW HIO in debt for $560,000.
• HSUS gives $1,000 to sponsor the TWHBEA World Versatility Show - the first time in history HSUS has ever supported a horse show of any kind.
• Sound Horse Advocate Donna Benefield, W.Ron Dehaven, AVMA CEO; FOSH President Teresa Bippen and Gaited Horse Clinician Gary Lane meet for one hour with U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

August

• Preliminary Hearing for Larry Joe Wheelon is held, and the charges are dismissed on a technicality.  Wheelon is found neither guilty nor innocent.
• Outraged Blount County citizens start Petition Drive for the Blount County D.A. to take the case to Grand Jury.
• Celebration officials David L Howard and John T. Bobo accept the Mandatory Minimum Penalties for the Celebration.
• Pat Stout asks the Executive Director about polling TWHBEA members on HR 1518, and she is told that is not a good idea and don’t bring it up.
• PSHA Chair Terry Dotson gets two horses turned down sore the first night of Celebration, one being Honors, the "shoe-in" for winning the WGC.  Dotson argues with a USDA VMO.
• Honors is turned down for two scar rules and barely misses getting a two-footer sore violation.  The visibly upset crowd voices displeasure and leaves the Celebration in an uproar.
• Terry Dotson resigns as PSHA Chair, packs up horses and leaves during the Celebration.
• On Friday, August 30, SHOW HIO finds 0 of 138 inspections while the USDA finds 10 of 75.
• SHOW HIO finds 30 HPA violations for the entire show.  USDA spot checks horses and finds 70 HPA violations.
• Celebration attendance is the lowest it has been in years, a decline from 162,176 attendees from 2004 for Saturday night to 95,400 in 2013.

September

• TWHBEA VP of Horse Shows Pat Stout decides to poll the TWHBEA members on the HR 1518/S1406 legislation with funds donated by a private party.
• 6,950 postcard ballots are mailed to TWHBEA members.
• TWHBEA members rally to vote in sound horse supporters to the Board of Directors.

October

• TWHBEA President Loyd Black abruptly resigns.
• HR 1518 Poll votes are counted.  26% of the members responded.  63% of TWHBEA members who responded voted YES for passage of HR 1518/S1406 PAST Act; 37% voted NO.
• Board of Directors votes are tallied.  Many sound horse directors are voted in, but not enough to vote for a sound Executive Committee and Officers.

November

• University of Tennessee Homecoming game features flat shod natural gaited Tennessee Walking Horse.  Caroline Emery rides Amazing Grace, Cat Dye, Trainer, Winchester, Tennessee.
• Full color ad announcing the results of the poll runs in Sunday edition of The Tennessean, paid for by Concerned Citizens Against Horse Soring.
• Congressional Hearing before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee concerning the PAST Act.  Invited witnesses testify before the Congressional panel with supporters and opposers in attendance.
• The Tennessean Newspaper criticizes Tennessee U. S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and the Congressional delegation (except Rep. Steve Cohen) for remaining silent on the PAST Act.
• Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) hires Marty Irby as Agriculture Legislative Aide.
• Celebration SHOW HIO resigns from being an HIO.

December

• Blount County, Tennessee Grand Jury indicts Larry Joe Wheelon and three alleged co-conspirators on 19 counts aggravated animal cruelty charges. All are afforded the presumption of innocence.
• California TWHBEA members represented by attorneys Fran Cole and Patricia Kryder, King & Ballow, petition TWHBEA under Tennessee law for removal of Christy Lantis as California Director.
• TWHBEA  Executive Committee dismisses all matters regarding Pat Stout.
• Nominating Committee doesn't even consider a sound horse panel for the Executive Committee and Officers.  Steve Smith is voted in as President after lying that he has never received an HPA violation ticket.
• Discussion regarding HR 1518/S1406 Poll dominates TWHBEA members meeting.  Everett “Butch” Allen makes a motion for the Enforcement Committee to revisit the HR 1518 Poll matter.
• U. S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) co-sponsors S.1406.  Thune is the ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to which S. 1406 has been referred. He is Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and number three man in the Senate Republican leadership.
• Clay Harlin publicly provides his experiences facing the reality of soring and his vision for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
• Trainer Carl Bledsoe publicly tells the truths of soring.
• John C. Haffner, DVM, Horse Science Faculty at MTSU publicly provides a hands on narrative of Big Lick soring culture.
• Responding to Texas Director Allen’s Motion, Pat Stout's attorney, Clant M. Seay, releases the Greg Cook, CPA, Cook and Co., Detailed Breakdown, State by State and Region, along with a graphic of a color map of the United States indicating support and non-support for the PAST Act. (included below).
• Priscilla Presley notifies Celebration that the Graceland Challenge Trophy will be rescinded over the continued soring and “inhumane treatment” of horses at The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
• California attorney and former TWHBEA Director Fran Cole persists in representing California TWHBEA groups efforts to have removal vote on Director Christy Lantis to be done by secret written ballot.
• TWHBEA Senior VP Walt Chism denies California TWHBEA members the right to vote on Lantis removal by secret written ballot and engages in internet discussion with Directors regarding TWHBEA’s legal position.
• TWHBEA President Steve Smith responds to “internet Chatter” and writes a letter to TWHBEA directors.  He lectures them on being involved in “squabble” that is wasting TWHBEA resources, and promises to “promote our breed to new heights”.

Then today, Eric Gray, a former TWH farrier, came out with a letter about pressure shoeing and how it works.  Click here to read it.  From his letter:

First a little history: when you pulled shoes back in the mid 90s, back before the machines, it wasn’t uncommon to find a half of a halter ring sitting behind the white line and in front of the frog of a horse that had been trimmed with a shaved down, flat sole.  I’ve personally found all sorts of things on big lick horses between the top of the nail pad and the bottom of the hoof, things like strings of quarters glued together, heel springs with bouncy balls melted on to the area of the frog, nail pads that were ground down at the edges but domed at the center and hammer shims of metal including steel.  Flat shod horses weren’t immune to the problem, either. Tall beads of weld around the inside toe area of the surface of the foot caused painful sole pressure and there were other tricks as well.

Melted?  MELTED???  I am just shaking my head at that.  I know I shouldn't be, but I am constantly shocked at the lengths people will go to to torture animals.

But what's most shocking is this:

I have seen horses left standing in crossties overnight, days before a show to keep them from lying down and escaping the pressure in their feet.  I once arrived at a barn in the early morning to find a horse dead, still hanging from the crossties. The autopsy revealed stress colic due to unexplainable circumstances.

I used to keep a list of horses that were listed in the Voice magazines that had died due to colic.  They weren't exactly old horses, either.  It just seemed suspicious to me since it seemed several horses died each month from colic.  What are the people in Tennessee doing that these horses keep dying of colic?  I wish I had kept that list.

Some huge news from Graceland also hit the computer screen.  Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley's wife, came out and will be taking back the trophy she and Elvis donated to the Celebration.  Click here to read the story.

Here is the Lickers' response:

"'Cillia, get me another six, a set of peppers, and a tie down"

"I am a big licker to the core baby..."

This was posted on the Walking Horse Chat.  It was a rolling gif, so photos were taken of it.  I cannot believe how cruel some people can be.  I'm sure Ms. Presley was looked upon fondly by them.  Now they are going to treat her like garbage.  My take is that if you don't agree with their twisted need to torture animals for fun and profit, then you're blacklisted and must be attacked.  I imagine that if even Phil from Duck Dynasty publicly said soring is cruel and needs to stop, he'd suddenly be torn to pieces as well.

Even better (or worse): this is a COPYRIGHTED image, so basically Tommy Williams, the owner of the WHC, is going to be in a lot of trouble once this information gets out.  (Photo is copyright Authentic Brands Group.)

As stated before, Attorney Clant Seay released information regarding the PAST Act Poll along with an excellent graphic to show how the PAST Act is viewed across the United States.  Here's the graphic.

You can click on the map to make it larger, but here's the rundown of the percentages. These are based on the 26% of members who responded to the PAST Act Poll.  Green states are the states that voted for the PAST Act.  Pink states are those that voted against it, and blue states are evenly divided between yes and no.  The percentages below are pro-YES.  I think it's pretty clear where the population of the United States that are TWH owners/breeders/trainers/exhibitors/riders stands.

Alabama - 39%
Alaska - 100%
Arizona - 100%
Arkansas - 53%
California - 79%
Colorado - 100%
Connecticut - 100%
Delaware - 100%
Florida - 89%
Georgia - 48%
Hawaii - No votes
Idaho - 86%
Illinois - 82%
Indiana - 100%
Iowa - 82%
Kansas - 100%
Kentucky - 43%
Louisiana - 70%
Maine - 100%
Maryland - 87%
Massachusetts - 100%
Michigan - 95%
Minnesota - 90%
Mississippi - 42%
Missouri - 63%
Montana - 100%
Nebraska - 100%
Nevada - 100%
New Hampshire - 100%
New Jersey - 100%
New Mexico - 100%
New York - 100%
North Carolina - 48%
North Dakota -100%
Ohio - 67%
Oklahoma - 90%
Oregon - 80%
Pennsylvania - 94%
Rhode Island - 100%
South Carolina - 51%
South Dakota - 100%
Tennessee - 32%
Texas - 78%
Utah - 82%
Vermont - 100%
Virginia - 67%
Washington - 81%
West Virginia - 74%
Wisconsin - 84%
Wyoming - 100%

Finally, this showed up in my inbox.

You can click on the picture to make it larger so you can read it.  From what I see, we're looking at quite the witch hunt here.  From what I understand, Marty Irby went to BL barns as the TWHBEA President, and if people welcomed him on their property, there isn't much that they can do about it now.  It's not like Marty ran around reporting who's soring horses; otherwise we'd be seeing a lot more raids going on.  Again, the WHTA has something up their sleeve to distract from what the real problem is: TO END SORING.  This is how they deal with soring: attack and "get" anyone who no longer agrees with it and is standing up against it.  If they were this bullheaded about ending soring, it would have stopped 40 years ago.

I want to thank each and every one of you who has helped out in the fight to save the horses.  Whether it's  phone call, a vote, a letter, an email, signing a petition, sharing information, it doesn't take much to keep our work going and to keep the abuse in the spotlight.  In 2014, The Year of the Horse, I believe we WILL see the PAST Act pass, and we will see a solid beginning to the end of soring for good!

HOW YOU CAN HELP and NEWS - We're On The Right Track; Priscilla Presley Helps Support the PAST Act

We're moving right along in seeing more and more Congresspersons supporting the PAST Act.  We're now up to 245 via GovTrack.

Click here to the link to the bill on GovTrack.  Click "show" under the co-sponsors section to see the list of supporters.

Thanks to one of our sound horse warrior's dedication, here's a list of Senators that we can contact that will be people who can help us with co-sponsorships.  This list is meant as a guide only--it doesn't mean to not contact other Senators who haven't co-sponsored yet.

Senators with a * scored high on the HSLF (Humane Society Legislation Fund) score card at 50 or more.

If a Senator has a WFC (Welfare Committee) behind their name, it means they belong to the Senate sub-committee, were the Bill is right now.

If a Senator has another name after theirs, it means that other Senator from that state has already co-sponsored the Bill.  Let the Senator you contact know the other Senator from his/her state supports this bill.

California - Barbara Boxer* (D) 202-224-3553, senator@boxer.senate.gov

California -Diane Feinstein* (D) 202-224-3841, senator@feinstein.gov

Hawaii - Mazie Hirono (D)* 202-224-3934 Brian Schatz has signed.

Iowa - Chuck Grassley (R) 202-224-3744 chuck_grassley@grassley.senate.gov  WFC

(email could also be chuck-grassley@grassley.senate.gov or chuck grassley@grassley.senate.gov)

Iowa - Tom Harkin (D) 202-224-3254

Idaho - James Risch (R) 202-224-2752  Mike Crapo has signed.

Indiana - Daniel Coats (R) 202-224-5623

Indiana - Joe Donnally (D) 202-224-4814

Kansas - Jerry Moran (R) 202-224-6521

Kansas - Pat Robert (R) 202-224-4774

Maine - Angus King (I) 202-224-5334  Susan Collins has signed.

Michigan - Debbie Stabenow* (D) 202-224-4822 senator@stebenow.senate.gov Carl Levin has signed.

Montana - Max Baucus (D) 202-224-5721 max@baucus.senate.gov

Maryland - Barbara Mikulski (D) senator@mikulski.senate.gov 

Nebraska - Deb Fisher (R) 202-224-6551

Nebraska - Mike Johanns (R) 202-224-4224  WFC

New Hampshire - Jeanne Shaheen (D) 202-224-2841  Kelly Ayotte has signed.

New Jersey - Cory Booker* (D) 202-224-3224  Robert Menendez has signed.

New Mexico Tom Udall* (D) 202-224-6621  Martin Heinrick has signed.

New York Charles Schumer* (D) 202-224-6542  Gillibrand has signed.

Pennsylvania - Robert Casy (D) 202-224-6324  WFC

Rhode Island - Jack Reed* (D) 202-224-4642 jack@reed.senate.gov

Wisconsin - Ron Johnson (D) 202-224-5323  Tammy Baldwin has signed.

In other news, Priscilla Presley, wife of the King, Elvis Presley, has also asked that we support the PAST Act.  Elvis used to own TWHs, and he did have a horse that was stacked and shown (not by him).  However, as far as I understand, once they found out what was truly going on, they went to solely flat shod horses.  Since Elvis's death, at least one TWH has always been kept at Graceland in honor of his love for the breed.  So I'm sure Ms. Presley knows a lot about the inner workings of what goes on with these people and certainly what happens to the horses.

Click here for Priscilla Presley's Facebook page and her calls for action.

Keep it up, folks...we're on the right track!

NEWS and ARTICLES - TWHBEA Disappoints the Sound Members Again, But There Is an Alternative

Some of you might already know about this, but I'll post it anyway.

Unfortunately, even after all of our hard work to get sound supporters on the board, the Lickers still prevailed.  There just weren't enough sound people voted onto the board--it was a simple fact of numbers.  Plus, I know a lot of folks who are on the sound side couldn't make it because of the weather, and since TWHBEA is still living in the 1960s, they won't allow conference calls to make these decisions per their by-laws.

So, the Lickers, as predicted, ignored Pat Stout's poll and the clear requests to vote sound by the members.

Side note: Last year, any of the directors put together a request to start allowing conference calls and electronic voting.  It was shown how much money it would save TWHBEA than sending out paper ballots (to the tune of thousands of dollars).  They denied the request.  I speculate that it's most likely because they know that the Lickers will lose control of TWHBEA if they actually allow anyone outside of TN to vote or participate electronically.

From the Walking Horse Chat (and yes, WHC is pro-Big Lick)...

**********

TWHBEA Opposes PAST Act
Sunday, December 08, 2013

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Association's International Board of Directors overwhelmingly supported a motion to oppose the legislation introduced by Congressman Ed Whitfield at its annual board meeting on December 7, 2013. The motion read as follows:

The International Board of Directors of the TWHBEA strongly opposes the legislation introduced by Representative Whitfield in the U.S. House of Representatives; the legislation introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte in the U.S. Senate; and any other legislation which would make it illegal to ride or show a sound Tennessee Walking Horse.

Both of these proposed laws would make it a federal crime to show sound, healthy Tennessee Walking Horses which have never been sored, unless those horses are shown barefooted or in an "unweighted" shoe.

The great majority of Tennessee Walking Horses are shown in weighted shoes and some in pads and action devices, meeting the strict guidelines of the various divisions and the detailed regulations of the USDA. This equipment does not harm the horse.

These proposed laws would also abolish the HIO inspection system now approved and supervised by the USDA. If this system is abolished, the great majority of show horses will not be inspected or protected.

The International Board of Directors of the TWHBEA strongly supports working with the USDA and other appropriate industry stakeholders to identify and use objective, scientifically reliable testing methods to identify and eliminate sore horses.

**********

Never mind the fact that TWHBEA was sent a letter by Congressmen Whitfield and Cohen explaining exactly what the "weighted shoes" portion of the PAST Act will mean, and the OIG report of 2010 that proved that the HIOs are not doing their jobs.

In their ongoing effort to keep the sore horse in the ring, they have also re-retracted their attack on Pat Stout.  Of course, this makes no sense...but here are the facts from Billy Go Boy's website.  Click here for their article.

**********

AS PREDICTED, BIG LICK SORE CROWD TAKES OVER AT TWHBEA – SOUND HORSE FOLKS SWEPT OUT THE DOOR – PAT STOUT HR 1518/S 1406 POLL VENDETTA WITCH HUNT CONTINUES
Posted on December 7, 2013

LEWISBURG, TN – The TWHBEA Directors elected a new Executive Committee, and a Director from Texas Everett “Butch” Allen who campaigned on a radical Big Lick platform made a Motion to send the Pat Stout matter back to the Enforcement Committee. The Motion passed.  It is not clear what the Enforcement Committee is supposed to do. The new Chairman of the Enforcement Committee is Tom Kakassy who was one of the biased conflicted persons who quarterbacked the September 27, 2013 lynch mob which tried to excommunicate Pat Stout at that time for Polling the TWHBEA membership on the HR 1518/S 1406 legislation. Kakassy prepared a Complaint and distributed it at the meeting, but did not pay the $250.00 and file it.

The former Executive Committee on whose watch all of it happened, after reviewing an Enforcement Committee report by Denise Bader Keyser, voted unanimously on Friday, December 6, 2013 to dismiss all matters involving Pat Stout.

Pat Stout, VP Horse Shows, sent ballots to 6,945 TWHBEA members seeking a YES or NO vote on HR 1518, PAST Act. The TWHBEA members voted a landslide 63% in favor of passage of HR 1518/S1406, PAST Act, which will remove the pads and chains from show horses, eliminate the corrupt HIO self regulation system and make Horse Soring a federal felony. An outstanding 26% of the members participated in the Poll.

The new Executive Committee is expected to now oppose HR 1518/S 1406 against the expressed will of its members. It will be interesting to see if they want to try and make a martyr out of Pat Stout for just asking the members how they felt on an ultimately important issue.

The newly elected Executive Committee is:

Pres. Stephen Smith – (HPA VIOLATION)
Senior VP Walter Chism;
Admin/fiscal Christy Lantis;
Breeders David Williams; (EMPLOYED BY HPA VIOLATOR)
Exhibitors Denise Keyser; (HUSBAND – HPA VIOLATION)
Performance Ford Gates;
Pleasure Jessica Hlebak;
Marketing Ashley Wadsworth;
Training/welfare Dr Lynda Montgomery; (HPA VIOLATION)
Bylaws/ enforcement Tom Kakassy; – (“PROUD” HPA VIOLATOR)
Youth Sherrie White;
Secretary Loren Sanderson

**********

So, I don't know about any of you, but I'm going to be asking for my money back.  TWHBEA clearly does not care about their members' opinions, needs and wants...so why should I care about them?

Now, as an alternative, I want to talk about a new association: The World Walking Horse Association.

Click here for link to the website.

This has actually been a goal of mine for quite some time, but someone else beat me to it!  Honestly, I'm so thrilled to actually be a part of this, though.  I heard about it, contacted the WWHA, and they were kind enough to offer me a position as Vice President of Operations.  I am also in charge of the breed registration portion of the association.

To explain, the World Walking Horse Association is going to be an alternative for those who don't want to register their horses, show, or affiliate their activities with any of the HIOs or associations that are supporting the sore horse.  WWHA has two major missions: to be both FOR THE HORSE and FOR THE MEMBERS.

WWHA has announced we are FOR the PAST Act, and the goal is to provide a safe and sound location for all Walking Horse (WH) activities, including showing, trail riding, competitive riding, versatility, youth programs, registration, etc.  The goal within the next year will be to ask all the sound HIOs, local clubs, 4-H groups, trail riding associations, competitive trail associations, and all kinds of places where WHs are being shown and ridden so people can gain points to win high-point awards with WWHA.  We will recognize horses for their achievements in ALL areas of riding, not just the show ring.  We also will put together a dressage program and maybe one day (dream of all dreams) work with the USEF to get the WH into their good graces.  We want to include everyone, no matter their age or affiliations.  Eventually, we will have WWHA shows and events where the focus is NOT what's on the horses' feet, but rather the horse's way of going.

We are still working out lots of details.  You can read all about what we're doing on the website.  January 1st will be when we roll out the registration (including a hardship registry for horses that are at least 1/2 WH).  We're also going to have a contest where members can present new ideas for logos and members can vote on the official logo for WWHA.  We're going to keep you UTD on all our happenings on our Facebook page: click here.

We really, really want to provide a place that is truly focusing on the horse and the members, where members have a voice, and that voice is to protect the horse.  So I hope you will consider joining us!  Stay tuned to the WWHA website and FB page for more!

BREAKING NEWS - Larry Wheelon and Three Others Indicted by Grand Jury for Animal Cruelty

**EDITED 12-4-13 to include the final article listed**

I don't think my day could get any better than this.  Click here for the article from The Daily Times.

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Wheelon, Gunter, Lunsford, Primm indicted for animal cruelty by grand jury
Iva Butler (ivab@thedailytimes.com)

Four men were indicted by the Blount County Grand Jury Monday with 17 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, including long-time Blount County Tennessee Walking Horse trainer Larry Joe Wheelon, 68.

All four men turned themselves in at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday and were free on bond by 9:45 p.m.

Wheelon and his employees Randall Stacy Gunter, 44, and Brandon Randall Lunsford, 32, were indicted on charges of aggravated animal cruelty (conspiracy to commit aggravated cruelty to livestock) and aggravated animal cruelty.

They are all three free on $10,000 bond each.

Farrier Blake Tanner Primm, 44, was indicted on aggravated animal cruelty (conspiracy to commit aggravated cruelty to Livestock. He is free on $5,000 bond.

All three are to appear in Blount County Circuit Court on Monday, Dec. 9.

**********

There's also this article from the Tennessean.  Click here to read it.

Tennessee Walking Horse trainer, show judge indicted for animal cruelty 
Dec. 4, 2013

A Tennessee Walking Horse trainer who has served as a show judge and on an industry group’s ethics committee was indicted Monday on animal cruelty charges related to a soring case earlier this year.

Larry Joe Wheelon, a Maryville, Tenn., trainer, along with Randall Stacy Gunter, Brandon Lunsford and Blake T. Primm, are accused of applying acid to walking horses “in a depraved and sadistic manner” for “competition in horse shows,” the indictment reads.

The only horse specifically named in the indictment is Jose’s Happy Feet/Laura Kate.

Similar charges were filed against Wheelon and the others in the spring, but were dismissed after a prosecutor’s misstep during an August preliminary hearing. Wheelon was at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration days later and said that he was innocent of the charges all along and was suffering financially because the horses he had been training were seized as part of the case.

Wheelon formerly sat on the ethics committee of the Walking Horse Trainers Association and was a judge for Shelbyville-based SHOW, a horse inspection and judging group.

Unscrupulous trainers burn walking horses’ pasterns to induce the breed’s naturally longer, higher gait. The process is called soring.

Check with Tennessean.com later today for more on this story.

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Here's that "later today" story.  Great stuff!  Click here for the article.  Click here for the video from the April raid.

Tennessee Walking Horse trainer, show judge indicted for animal cruelty
By Heidi Hall
Dec. 4, 2013

Maryville, Tenn., horse trainer Larry Wheelon stood outside the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration stadium in August, days after animal abuse charges against him were dropped on a technicality, upset that horses seized as evidence in the case were not being returned.

He’d been attending the sport’s premier event in Shelbyville for decades — a respected show judge and ethics committee member for the Walking Horse Trainers Association — but with the horses he trained in the hands of animal rehabilitation groups, Wheelon couldn’t compete, only watch and insist that he didn’t hurt any animals.

Now, he’ll get an opportunity to prove it in court.

A Blount County grand jury handed down indictments Monday on felony charges of aggravated cruelty to livestock animals and conspiracy to commit that cruelty in connection with the same investigation that first named Wheelon, 68, in the spring.

Specifically, Wheelon and two other men — Randall Stacy Gunter and Brandon Lunsford — are accused of abusing 16 horses named in the indictments, either chemically burning their legs or irritating the quicks of their hooves.

A fourth man, farrier Blake T. Primm, is named in the case of only one horse. All are due in court on Monday.

The process is called soring, long used by unscrupulous trainers to emphasize the breed’s naturally longer, higher gait because it pains the horse to put its feet down.

After a year-long investigation, workers with the Blount County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other animal protection groups executed a search warrant at Wheelon’s Maryville stables.

What they found was horrifying, said Kellie Bachman, a Blount County SPCA investigator and former police officer who presented evidence to the grand jury. And seeing the charges dismissed against Wheelon for an assistant district attorney’s misstep at a probable cause hearing was devastating.

“The horses were down, they were moaning, they were casting themselves, their legs were all wrapped,” Bachman said. “It was pretty brutal.

“To be able to go before the grand jury and talk to 12 people I didn’t know, to say it in front of (District Attorney General) Mike Flynn, it was therapeutic. Like having a weight lifted off my shoulders.’’

She said 19 horses seized were returned to Wheelon after the initial charges were dismissed. She doesn’t know where they are now.

No one returned a call left at a Maryville listing for Wheelon. Neither Flynn nor Rob White, the attorney who represented Wheelon earlier this year, returned messages left at their offices.

SHOW, the Shelbyville-based horse show inspection and judging group that licensed Wheelon, suspended that license Wednesday — as it had the first time Wheelon was charged.

The Performance Show Horse Association issued a statement pointing out that these were state charges, not violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. The group is lobbying against an amendment to the act, HR 1518, that would lead to tougher penalties against trainers caught soring and ban the tall horseshoes and pastern chains that mark the breed’s elite performance division. The industry is already cleaning up abuse on its own, the group contends, citing figures showing a 28 percent improvement in Horse Protection Act compliance since 2009.

Industry detractors contend that trainers are just getting better at hiding evidence of soring during horse show inspections.

The Humane Society of the United States supports HR 1518. Its equine protection division director, Keith Dane, said Wednesday he was pleased Wheelon will have his day in court.

The HSUS released a stomach-turning undercover video in May 2012 of trainer Jackie McConnell soring a horse in his Collierville, Tenn., stable, which led to a conviction on federal charges and national attention to the problem of soring.

“The public will be allowed to judge for itself whether Jackie McConnell was one bad apple, Larry Wheelon was another, or — with all the trainers with all their Horse Protection Act violations — if the whole barrel is bad apples,” Dane said.