We've been doing some hard work on the FTTWH Facebook group to help make some changes with the TWH situation. Among those was people writing to the Kentucky Horse Park after learning that they were going to be the location for the Kentucky After Christmas Sale, the sale itself owned by David Landrum, a multiple HPA violator.
John Nicholson of the KHP was kind enough to call me and has been keeping me up to date on what's been going on. Today, an article was released online on the Lexington Herald-Leader concerning this very subject. I've copied and pasted the article below; click here for the link. Really, the article tells everything better than I can. But I have been reassured by John that the HIO WILL be the International Walking Horse Association and that the USDA might also be present. The KHP has made it their highest priority to make sure the law is upheld and the horses are safe. They have a meeting next week to discuss this situation, and have not signed a contract with the sale's owners for this reason.
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Horse Park might host sale that could include controversial 'padded' horses
Published: January 12, 2013
By Janet Patton — jpatton1@herald-leader.com
A controversial breed might be getting a new hoof in the door at the Kentucky Horse Park, and equine welfare groups are not happy.
The Horse Park is in negotiations to allow a sale this month of Tennessee walking horses, possibly including some wearing controversial hoof pads that exaggerate their gait. The Kentucky After Christmas Sale hopes to offer about 300 horses for sale Jan. 25 and 26.
Horse Park director John Nicholson said that legal activities have a right to use the state-run park. Padded horses are legal — although several groups headquartered on the park's campus, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners, are working to change that.
The organizers of the sale say they want to be transparent and will use inspectors that the state specifies.
But questions have been raised about one of the sale's partners, David Landrum, who was accused of abuse last summer involving a horse in his care.
History of the sale
For 25 years, the Kentucky After Christmas Sale was at Tattersall's at The Red Mile, but that facility has been demolished.
State Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, a prominent walking horse advocate and breeder, said she lobbied to keep the sale in Lexington. She said she doesn't see why this should be newsworthy.
"It was either move it or keep it in Lexington," she said. "If I'm going to breed a horse, I want to be able to sell it here."
Webb herself has been cited by North Carolina horse show inspectors in the past year for violating the federal Horse Protection Act.
Renting the Horse Park's Alltech Arena is proving unpopular with horse advocates who argue that a state facility devoted to horses should not provide a showcase for people who might be involved in what they consider abusive practices.
"The Kentucky Horse Park is a public facility. Families go there. We question whether it is appropriate for padded, chained horses to be shown there," said Teresa Bippen, president of Friends of Sound Horses. "That horse was banned from the World Equestrian Games. Nobody wanted to see that horse there."
During the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Horse Park, Games organizers would not allow padded Tennessee walking horses to perform.
Given that and the bad publicity in the past few years concerning padded horses, the Horse Park seems to be going "against the tide," said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States.
"Kentucky is supposed to be the Horse Capital of the World, supposed to love its horses," he said. "This is a serious problem in the industry that isn't being addressed. Providing new venues for that kind of horse to be shown and sold, particularly the Kentucky Horse Park, which is a top-level, state-run park, is a disconnect."
The question of whether to allow the sale will be on the agenda for the Kentucky Horse Park Commission at its board meeting Wednesday. The contract for the venue has yet to be signed, and the commission could block the sale.
The Horse Park is funded by revenue from events at the park, with supplementary revenue from the non-profit Horse Park Foundation and from the state.
Last year, the park came under scrutiny from the General Assembly when Gov. Steve Beshear requested an additional $3.5 million appropriation for the park despite its drawing a record number of new major events. That could make turning away a paying customer difficult. Rental of the arena and stalls could generate about $10,000 for the park.
Nicholson said he has received numerous calls and e-mails from people concerned about the sale, which usually has at least a few dozen padded horses — animals wearing thick front horseshoes used to help create an exaggerated, high-stepping gait known as "the big lick."
The big lick is often associated with the worst abuses under the federal Horse Protection Act, including "soring," the deliberate injuring of walking horses' front legs.
The painful treatments that trainers sometimes use to encourage the big lick include painting caustic chemicals on the horse's front legs, piling on heavy chains that bounce on tender spots, applying huge padded shoes, or inserting objects (including nails, tacks or golf balls) under the pads to create sore feet, a practice known as "pressure shoeing."
Allegations made online
David Landrum, vice president of the Kentucky After Christmas Sale, and some perennial horse sellers at the sale have been associated with violations of the federal Horse Protection Act.
A database of HPA violations lists five suspensions for Landrum from 1997 to 2010 — for soring, for putting a foreign substance on a horse's leg, for violating show rules and for verbal abuse.
Last summer, Landrum also was involved in a dispute that erupted online involving a horse allegedly abused while at his stables to be trained. It remains unclear exactly what happened to the horse and when.
A mare named Jose's Wine and Roses was brought to a new trainer, Joe Cotten, a Louisville native and a former Landrum employee who now lives in Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Cotten said that when she arrived he was shocked at the condition of the horse's feet and posted photos on Facebook. He also demanded to know how she had passed previous inspections by officials from the USDA-accredited horse-industry group called SHOW, an acronym that stands for "Sound horses, Honest judging, Objective inspections, Winning fairly."
In an interview with the Herald-Leader, Cotten said L.M. Murphy, husband of owner Deborah Murphy, told him the mare had been in Landrum's barn.
Cotten said the horse also was examined by a veterinarian who took separate photos of the horse's front feet. Copies of those photos — obtained by the Herald-Leader, labeled "Jose's Wine and Roses" and dated June 18, 2012 — appear to show scars and injuries.
Deborah Murphy said Friday that she thinks the injuries happened while the mare was with Cotten.
"She was fine. ... I was there every week, and she was fine," Murphy said. "When this fiasco on Facebook came out, my husband picked her up. ... She was fine when she went there; after a week, she wasn't. I know it had to happen at Joe Cotten's. ... Why Joe Cotten put this on the Internet is beyond any of us."
Murphy said there are no photos with the report she got from the vet who examined the mare at Cotten's barn. She declined to release the report to the Herald-Leader. Murphy later said that the veterinarian has told her no photos were taken.
"It's none of your business. None of this is," Murphy said. "I want to close the book on this. I don't want to go through this again."
The veterinarians, Dr. John Bennett and Dr. Belinda Mendenhall, did not return calls from the Herald-Leader.
Landrum told the Herald-Leader that Jose's Wine and Roses had not been sored. He said she had been shown in 2011 at the National Futurity in Shelbyville, Tenn., and was inspected at the time by the USDA.
"I don't know what horse those photos were of," Landrum said. "The horse left my place in great shape."
Cotten insisted the Facebook and vet photos are of the horse Murphy brought him that day from Landrum's stable and that the injuries did not occur in the days she was under Cotten's care.
Cotten, who also has multiple HPA violations according to an online database, said no industry investigators had ever contacted him about the incident but he wrote online in June that he had been warned that walking horse insiders would "drop the hammer" on him.
Within days, Cotten was handed a 7½ -year suspension and fined $5,000 by SHOW inspectors. "It's a classic whistle-blower case is what it is," Cotten said.
The inspectors
SHOW is accredited by the USDA to license designated qualified persons to inspect walking horses at shows and sales for signs of soring, including scars, tender legs or foreign substances.
Landrum said SHOW officials investigated Jose's Wine and Roses and found no problem.
That is not entirely accurate.
SHOW interim leader Mike Inman told the Herald-Leader that the group stepped in and took the horse to a vet for at least two weeks of care.
"It needed medication attention to get its feet back in proper condition," Inman said. "I was not here at the time, but I know the horse was taken, at SHOW's expense, and given treatment. This was done as a goodwill gesture for the good of the horse."
SHOW did not establish how or when the horse got in that condition.
Inman said the group doesn't have the authority to examine records related to the horse's circumstances outside the show ring.
"Joe Cotten claims one thing, David Landrum another, and the owner claims another. We can't decide what's right or wrong," Inman said.
SHOW had previously been the inspecting horse-industry organization for the Kentucky After Christmas Sale but will not be this year, because the USDA is attempting to decertify SHOW, which would strip the group of the authority to inspect shows or sales.
Protecting horse, park
Landrum and the sale's president, Jerrold Pedigo, both said that USDA standards are upheld at the sale.
"We've never conducted a sale without inspectors certified by the USDA," Pedigo said.
There have been horses that failed inspection, he said.
"They're seldom ... but they have occurred," he said. "That's the whole purpose of having the inspections. We have to make sure they don't get in the sale."
To ensure that there are no sore horses at the Horse Park, director Nicholson said, the state specified which horse industry organization will supply the inspectors.
The International Walking Horse Association — one of three accredited to inspect walking horse shows that want to be eligible to receive funds from the taxpayer-funded Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund — will do the inspections.
Nicholson said he has urged the USDA to send federal inspectors, something that often causes trainers and riders to flee horse shows in Kentucky and elsewhere to avoid that scrutiny.
Pedigo said he would welcome USDA involvement and wants the sale to be transparent.
"I would hope the main goal is make sure the participants follow the law," Pedigo said. "So long as we do that, the system put in place protects the animal. I can certainly appreciate, respect and agree with those individuals who don't want to see an animal sored."
Nicholson said the state has taken steps to ensure that all walking horses at the sale are protected. Walking horses are popular for trail riding as well as other kinds of sports and have sweet dispositions, he said. The Horse Park's Parade of Breeds includes some Tennessee walking horses that are "flat-shod," meaning they do not have padded hooves.
The Horse Park "is a public facility, publicly supported," Nicholson said. "Law-abiding people who love and properly care for their horses have the right to utilize it. Soring of horses to enhance performance is abhorrent, repugnant, immoral and, thankfully, illegal.
"Illegal practices will not happen at the Kentucky Horse Park."
Landrum said that the Kentucky After Christmas Sale could be an important move to rehabilitate the image of the Tennessee walking horse and bring it back into the mainstream.
"We believe we can bring a product that will be accepted. We have faith in the consignors and the horses they're bringing," Landrum said. "I think this could be a breakthrough and people could realize what a nice animal we have. We want people to come out. I think it can all be a very, very positive thing. It's important to give this breed a chance. We're coming in the right way."
Whether that will be enough is unclear. Groups including the National Walking Horse Association, which is headquartered at the Horse Park, are skeptical. The NWHA promotes flat-shod Tennessee walking horses and prohibits the use of pads in all events.
"I feel like if the International Walking Horse Association does the inspections, only sound horses will show," said Jason Crawhorn, NWHA president.
Will that include padded performance horses?
"If the performance horses still show up at the sale."
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In other news, both Rate My Horse PRO and the Lexington Herald-Leader have picked up on the story that Senator Robin Webb was cited for soring horses. I've copied and pasted the Lexington article below.
Rate My Horse PRO article
Lexington Herald-Leader article
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State senator cited for violating Horse Protection Act
Published: January 12, 2013
By Janet Patton — jpatton1@herald-leader.com
A high-profile walking horse proponent and padded horse rider, Kentucky state Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, has suffered an equine black eye.
At the North Carolina Walking Horse Association championships in October, Webb was cited for violations involving two horses.
"Senator Robin Webb Busted" read the headline Dec. 4 on an anti-soring blog called "For the Tennessee Walking Horse."
According to the USDA's database of Horse Protection Act violations, Webb was ticketed for violating the "scar rule," which establishes criteria to look for certain scars on the horse that are considered evidence that a horse has been "sored" and is ineligible to compete. Webb, as owner, was cited as a responsible party for two horses, Air Force One and Showstopper.
In an interview last week with the Herald-Leader, Webb denied soring either horse and said she did not see anything wrong with the animals at the time of the competition.
"I don't sore my horses," Webb said. "I love my horses, and my horses love me."
She said Showstopper is a young horse whom she bought not long before the show; Air Force One is a prize-winning horse she has ridden in shows for years without incident, including a week after he failed the inspection.
"They were turned down on a scar rule and sent back to the barn," she said. "The scar rule is very subjective."
She said she did not appeal because she never received paperwork on either violation and, as far as she knows, she was not suspended.
Her trainer, Donald Stamper of Richmond, also was cited. Stamper confirmed Webb has horses in his barn but said he did not recall the incident.
"Where was this at, now?" Stamper asked in response to a reporter's question. He hung up when asked for comment on his role.
Webb also has been a vocal opponent of federal legislation, filed by U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, to ban the use of pads and chains, called "action devices," on horses.
"The Whitfield bill is extreme," Webb said last week.
Whitfield said in a statement Friday that his bill "eliminates the self-policing system currently employed, allowing for a more uniform enforcement. ... It is far from 'extreme,' which is why it carries the support of the American Veterinarian Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and numerous others."
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park, has said the ban is necessary to end soring.
Dr. René A. Carlson, president of the American Veterinarian Medical Association, said in June that her group is asking for a ban on "the use of action devices and performance packages in the training and showing of walking horses, because they appear to be facilitating soring."
The U.S. Equestrian Federation, also headquartered at the Horse Park, also does not allow the use of action devices in the show ring.
At the annual meeting of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association in December, Webb criticized the AAEP and other veterinary groups who have called for a ban, dubbing them "agenda-driven entities."
Webb was honored by Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association as its 2012 Performance Horse Ambassador for her participation in USDA discussions.
Last week, Webb told the Herald-Leader that the Tennessee walking horse has been "demonized," particularly in light of a video, shot by an undercover investigator from the Humane Society of the United States, showing top walking horse trainer Jackie L. McConnell abusing horses in his Tennessee barn.
Webb said the footage, in which McConnell was shown striking tied-up horses in the face, was taken out of context.
"You don't know what happened five minutes before or five minutes after. ... These are animals that are very dangerous," Webb said. "Every breed has training techniques that animal-rights groups find offensive."
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While Webb has not received any type of fine or suspension as of yet, these articles are still very telling of her stance toward the horse itself. It certainly says a lot about her trainer that he hung up on the reporter. But at least he didn't run his mouth and basically say he approves of what McConnell does. Case in point: first she says she loves her horses and they love her, but later on she claims that they are "dangerous" and implies that they deserve to be beaten to be punished. "Every breed has training techniques that animal-rights groups find offensive." Actually, I think most people would find stewarding offensive, which is the training technique McConnell is using in that video to force the horses to stand still and take the pain of the inspection. Except for you, of course, since you clearly support what he's doing to those horses in the video. It sickens me that someone can blatantly support such heinous and wicked acts against another living being. Webb, I cannot figure out how you sleep at night knowing your horses are probably going through the same torture. May you get what you deserve.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
NEWS and RESEARCH - USDA Horse Program Activity Report 2012
We start off the new with the list of inspections performed and violations found by the USDA for 2012. Click here for the link. Below is the final page of the report.
What this shows is the number of horses inspected at each show the USDA attended, and then the resulting violations. It is not a representation of all the horses shown at each show, nor is it a representation of all the horses shown in TWH shows across the country. The USDA inspected 9,962 horses in 2012 and found 582 violations. If we take the numbers as is, then this is means that with horses inspected by the USDA and violations found, we have a 95% compliance rate. (Huh. Now where's that 98% compliance coming from again?)
Now, I went through and made some changes to the report in red text to show some different types of numbers. Click here to see the entire PDF file with my changes in red text. Below is the final page of the PDF with my edits.
I went through all the shows with zero violations and I red-lined the shows that were flat shod only. The only show I did not red line was the SSHBEA show, and that is because it is common for horses to be sored at SSHBEA shows; this is where Barney Davis showed most of the time. This removed eight shows from the list, bringing the total amount of horses inspected to 9,199. This leads to a compliance rate of 94% for 2012.
It's too bad we can't know which inspected horses were BL and which ones weren't. That would help in our research a lot. But of course the industry isn't going to let us have THAT information. It would expose those pesky things called FACTS that totally mess up their lies! It might be available through the USDA, though, so hopefully I can find that information.
I'm not sure if I posted this information on the blog before, but I thought it was very important to note this information from the USDA concerning the 2012 Celebration. Click here for the link.
2012 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Results
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforces the Horse Protection Act (HPA) to prohibit horses participating in shows, sales, exhibitions, or auctions from being subjected to soring. To facilitate enforcement of the HPA, USDA established the Designated Qualified Persons (DQP) program. Through this program, show or sale managers hire accredited veterinarians with equine experience or other knowledgeable horsemen who have been formally trained and licensed by USDA-certified horse industry organizations or associations to physically inspect every Tennessee walking horse before being shown. USDA also attends some horse shows unannounced to serve as a second line of defense in detecting sored horses. Working together, USDA and DQPs strive to ensure that only sound and healthy horses participate in shows.
Given the interest in the enforcement of the HPA at this year's Celebration, USDA wanted to post preliminary inspection results now, rather than at the end of the year. This year, USDA and DQPs inspected 1,849 horses and found 166 violations - an approximate 9% violation rate. This rate is slightly lower than the 9.5% violation rate from the 2011 Celebration, during which 2,143 horses were inspected and 203 violations were found.
So, here are the facts:
So if the number of violations are just barely decreasing, where's all of that amazing work the industry has been doing to clean this up? Shouldn't they be nearly non-existent at this point?
In my truly honest opinion, there is no excuse for these numbers to have to continue. There should be zero violations every single year. This is not just a few bad apples or they'd have been caught 40+ years ago. This is all the same shit, just a different year.
I have some ideas in the works we want to implement starting this month to raise awareness and support for the horses. So hopefully we will see some real changes this year, if not the end to pads and chains.
Now, I went through and made some changes to the report in red text to show some different types of numbers. Click here to see the entire PDF file with my changes in red text. Below is the final page of the PDF with my edits.
I went through all the shows with zero violations and I red-lined the shows that were flat shod only. The only show I did not red line was the SSHBEA show, and that is because it is common for horses to be sored at SSHBEA shows; this is where Barney Davis showed most of the time. This removed eight shows from the list, bringing the total amount of horses inspected to 9,199. This leads to a compliance rate of 94% for 2012.
It's too bad we can't know which inspected horses were BL and which ones weren't. That would help in our research a lot. But of course the industry isn't going to let us have THAT information. It would expose those pesky things called FACTS that totally mess up their lies! It might be available through the USDA, though, so hopefully I can find that information.
I'm not sure if I posted this information on the blog before, but I thought it was very important to note this information from the USDA concerning the 2012 Celebration. Click here for the link.
2012 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Results
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforces the Horse Protection Act (HPA) to prohibit horses participating in shows, sales, exhibitions, or auctions from being subjected to soring. To facilitate enforcement of the HPA, USDA established the Designated Qualified Persons (DQP) program. Through this program, show or sale managers hire accredited veterinarians with equine experience or other knowledgeable horsemen who have been formally trained and licensed by USDA-certified horse industry organizations or associations to physically inspect every Tennessee walking horse before being shown. USDA also attends some horse shows unannounced to serve as a second line of defense in detecting sored horses. Working together, USDA and DQPs strive to ensure that only sound and healthy horses participate in shows.
Given the interest in the enforcement of the HPA at this year's Celebration, USDA wanted to post preliminary inspection results now, rather than at the end of the year. This year, USDA and DQPs inspected 1,849 horses and found 166 violations - an approximate 9% violation rate. This rate is slightly lower than the 9.5% violation rate from the 2011 Celebration, during which 2,143 horses were inspected and 203 violations were found.
So, here are the facts:
- Soring is still going on, and it is not at the supposed 98% compliance rate the industry wants us to believe.
- When we remove the flat shod only horse shows, the numbers clearly change.
- The number of violations are just barely decreasing.
- Between the 2011 and 2012 Celebration, 294 less horses were shown, with 37 less violations.
So if the number of violations are just barely decreasing, where's all of that amazing work the industry has been doing to clean this up? Shouldn't they be nearly non-existent at this point?
In my truly honest opinion, there is no excuse for these numbers to have to continue. There should be zero violations every single year. This is not just a few bad apples or they'd have been caught 40+ years ago. This is all the same shit, just a different year.
I have some ideas in the works we want to implement starting this month to raise awareness and support for the horses. So hopefully we will see some real changes this year, if not the end to pads and chains.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Happy New Year 2013
Just wanted to tell everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR! May this be the year we see an end to soring and the Big Lick. We'll have a lot of new projects in January and February, and we're going to need all the help we can get to save the horse! So please stay tuned to the blog and our Facebook group. Go out and give your sound horses a kiss! THANK YOU for all your hard work in 2012, and let's look forward to a successful and progressive 2013!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Vacation for FTTWH
We have a lot of activity on our Facebook group, so I wanted to post here that I'm going on "vacation" for the next few days, which in my world means NO COMPUTER! So I'm going to set the Facebook group so no new posts can be made starting tonight (Dec 20) around 10 pm my time. It's simply because I might not be able to sit down and monitor much over Christmas, and I don't want the admin to have to do it either. I will put it back to everyone being able to post starting on Dec 26th. I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Monday, December 17, 2012
GUEST BLOGGER and THOUGHTS: A Response to TWHBEA and A Message To All TWH Enthusiasts
A Response to TWHBEA
TWHBEA posted this small blurb in the latest issue of The Voice this past week.
Our new guest blogger Elizabeth L. Jones has an excellent response to this below. I think she's right on the money and I hope others understand and heed her message as well.
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In the latest issue of the Voice, outgoing president Marty Irby issued a somewhat vague call for training that “ensures the future and longevity of the breed.” Since the article title refers to the “elimination of soring,” I will work from the assumption that this means more humane training practices for the Tennessee Walking show horse. But this call highlights some of the main problems of the breed. First of all, the vague language reflects the lack of transparency regarding the training of Walking Horses. Second, the language in the article implicitly focuses on the trainers. Here is where I think TWHBEA has gone wrong.
The Walking Horse is one of the most tractable and easiest to train of horse breeds. The secret that many people in the Walking Horse world don’t want to admit is that almost anyone with sufficient horsemanship experience can train a Walking Horse – not just to ride but to execute a smooth gait. No special equipment is needed, nor is any special knowledge.
The fact is that many trainers around the country are already doing the right thing, but if they don’t train padded horses, they are barely recognized by the industry. A few names of flat-shod horse have emerged, but many left the traditional Walking Horse years ago and now show in alternative venues like NWHA and FOSH. Many of these people are horsemen and horsewomen first, and Walking Horse trainers second.
I recall some discussions a few years ago about the “industry” investigating new training techniques. In fact, NO new techniques are necessary. The principles of classical horsemanship, dating back thousands of years to ancient Greece and revived during the Renaissance, work with ALL horses, including the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Although I have no special training in horse training, have taken only a few riding lessons and attended a few clinics, I have trained a few Walking Horses to saddle, and I have also developed a smooth, correct running walk for my horses. Over a decade ago, I tried the “traditional” gaited horse techniques of changing hoof angles and bits, but with very limited success. Eventually, I discovered, as have many others, that a Walking Horse can gait correctly in a plain, loose-ring snaffle and a good, basic shoeing or hoof trim.
So why do trainers of the breed get so much attention? One reason is that a trainer is “necessary” is to create the show ring fads because their training methods. In a way, it is a form of protectionism since most horse trainers are not willing to subject horses to the extreme shoeing and the necessary action devices of the Big Lick show horse. Indeed, to get a trainer’s license with the Walking Horse Trainer’s Association doesn’t require a test of horsemanship but the recommendation of other licensed trainers.
Some people were impressed that 2012 World Grand Champion Walk Time Charlie was worked on a regular basis for only five months before he won the title. What it may really show is that the level of competition in the Walking Horse world just isn’t that high. Some people in the “industry” claim it takes more than the pads to create the reach and action of a padded Walking Horse, but a video available on YouTube seems to prove that the pads and action devices are indeed a major factor. This video shows a mare, Dust Bunny, performing a pacing gait in lite-shod or keg shoes. She is reshod with heavy shoes, creating more action, and then reshod again with pads and ridden with a set of chains. The difference in just one day is dramatic and proof of the effect of pads.
This article advocates “programs that recognize and promote the natural abilities of our talented horses,” but these already exist – they are called Versatility, TWHBEA Trails, and the high point programs for Versatility and Pleasure Horses. The most talented horses are those individuals that perform in a variety of divisions and activities, and the most talented trainers and riders those who work with these horses. Instead of trying to encourage the “traditional” Walking Horse trainers to change, TWHBEA should recognize those who are already doing the right thing.
If TWHBEA wants to promote sound horses, they need to recognize the everyday owner/trainer and amateur rider. They need to pay attention to what small training operations around the country are doing. They absolutely MUST reduce the emphasis on showing and pay attention to the average Walking Horse owner, who may spend most of their time trail riding. These people don’t want to be part of an “industry” but part of a “community” of fellow Walking Horse owners. They want national leadership, not an organization controlled primarily by one region.
~ Elizabeth L. Jones
Ms. Jones has ridden and owned Walking Horses since she was seven years old and has competed in pleasure classes, equitation, and gaited dressage. Most of her dressage competition has been at open schooling shows where she had the only gaited horse. She has also ridden trails on her Walking Horses and other breeds in Missouri, Colorado, California, and Illinois. She edited the Sound Advocate for two years, and also contributed articles to The Gaited Horse. Ms. Jones is currently working full-time as a college instructor while she works on a Ph.D. in English. She has conducted some preliminary research into the rhetoric of horse welfare and hopes to incorporate further research in her dissertation. She is also an avid snowboarder and qualified for the NASTAR Nationals (amateur ski and snowboard racing) in 2011.
A Message to All Tennessee Walking Horse Enthusiasts
Hello again, friends and sound horse warriors. Many of you follow our Facebook group and know of a lot of the current happenings going on within the TWH world with H.R. 6388 quietly waiting to be approved. I've been thinking a lot these past couple of weeks about what's been going on. I know I've started sounding perhaps more than a bit crazy sometimes on the group, so I decided I need to explain to all of you where I come from on the issues concerning the TWH.
I have been riding horses since I was 3 years old, but I didn't start owning horses until the late 90s. I was originally taught the "cowboy" methods to train a horse: kick him belly when he won't suck in, jerk him in the mouth when he's bad on the trail, hit them in the head when they won't take their deworming paste, beat them when they won't stand still to be saddled. But my husband and I both felt that something was really wrong, and it needed to change. So we started looking for trainers and other methods to work with our horses. Now, we have realized that training has everything to do with partnering with your horse and to communicate to him the way horses communicate with each other. Our cardinal rule is never do anything to a horse that he wouldn't do to another horse. Yes, if he bites me, I'll bite back (which I have literally done before--bit a horse on his nose and he never tried to bite me again), but that doesn't mean I'm allowed to grab a shovel and hit him in the head if he bites me. Our goal is to always look at our own behavior first when a horse doesn't understand something and see where we're communicating wrong. Yes, I still make mistakes, and yes I'm still learning (anyone who thinks they know it all is a fool in the true definition of the word). Yes, I will kick a horse if he kicks me, or threaten to kick him if he threatens me. I will protect myself. But I will never go beyond the punishment fitting the crime.
I named the blog "For the Tennessee Walking Horse" for two reasons. First, I always heard things like I'm for the sound horse or I'm for the performance horse, but no one ever said they were For the TWH. Second, that is truly how I feel. I am literally for the horse and no one else. I am not for X HIO, I am not for the flat shod horse, I'm not for the barefoot horse, I'm not for dressage, I'm not for John Doe's training methods, I'm not for the horse show world. I'm for the health and well being of every single Tennessee Walking Horse, and all horses in general. So if the U.S. government has to ban TWH horse shows to end soring, then I'm all for it. If ending soring means people like Jackie McConnell and Barney Davis and Chad Way are going to lose their jobs and have to work at Walmart, I'm all for it. If ending soring means sound horse trainers are going to have to switch breeds, I'm all for it. This is not about what size shoes your horse wears. This is not about who's footing the bill for a horse show. This is not about which HIO has the least amount of violations reported. It's about two things that are extremely simple: the welfare of the horse and upholding the law. And if the bad guys are going to continue to break the law to where the toys have to be taken away form both the bad guys and the good guys, then so be it.
Here's the rub: All of us have chosen to own Tennessee Walking Horses. No one is putting a gun to our heads to make us put them in the show ring. It is our choice to do so. So truly in my honest opinion, if exhibitors/owners/trainers/breeders cannot choose to obey the law AND give up vanity, pride and greed, then we are ALL guilty of not caring about the welfare of the horse. Competition does horrible things to people, but what's worse is forcing our vanity, greed, and pride on other beings that have no choice in the matter. Showing horses is a luxury, not a necessity, and if we stop caring about the welfare of the horse merely because of shoe size or bit type or how much the horse can do, than the horse loses every single time.
I'm going to be brutally honest right now. In all this time in the gaited horse world, I have found that no HIO is truly for the horse, even those that have sound venues. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about bashing other people and HIOs to get what you want. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about worrying about the shoes you want to put on your horse's feet in the show ring when heavy shoes are a luxury, not a necessity. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about allowing BL horses at shows even when you think they're sound because we all know what stacks can do to a horse long term. HIOs no longer exist to protect the horse, but to protect and coddle those who want to show or force their ideas on other people, whether sound or sore. I think ALL of the HIOs have lost their vision as to why they were started in the first place. I think ALL HIOs are not capable of thinking past the end of their own noses. I think ALL HIOs have become places where new ideas are shunned. If you don't think they way they do, then to hell with you. And at this point, that means we don't need HIOs any more than we need horse shows.
I'm tired. I'm tired and I'm angry and I'm very hurt by the simple fact that pride, vanity and greed are prevailing right now. We live in an heavily social society right now that rewards excess and fast results. Whatever happened to pride being based in bringing a horse along from the bottom up, turning him into a master when he's in his teens rather than assuming he's finished at 4 years old? Whatever happened to pride being related to the best quality ride being rewarded in the ring rather than the horse that's doing the most or the trainer that paid the judge the most? What happened to training that isn't based in bits, equipment, and shoes but rather on communication and fairness to both horse and rider? I think I echo Elizabeth's response above in saying that all of that seems to be gone, and it's most prevalent that it's gone in the gaited horse world. No one cares about the horse--they only care about showing off as to how much their horse can do, how fast he can go, how much he can crouch, and all of it by the time he's 4 years old. And this mentality has GOT to change for the sake of the horse.
I learned a very valuable lesson after I sold a very, very special horse to me. Indigo was my pride and joy. After years of trial and error, I had finally found my perfect show horse that was also a trail horse. I did everything with him--went to clinics, went to lessons, and showed. We were always in the top three and I have a lot of blues from showing him. I had a strict training schedule that I stuck to, and I had a hell of a walkin' and noddin' horse in simply an off-the-shelf keg shoe and a snaffle bit. I was so proud of Indy and me. But eventually, Indy developed ulcers. I was able to get them under control, but riding him became a battle. He would fight me and buck and our training sessions became lessons in frustration and embarrassment. I decided that showing him wasn't worth it anymore because he was so miserable, so I sold Indy to a guest ranch where I have sold them 21 gaited horses. When I went to see Indy, I discovered a very, very happy horse. He is carrying kids and timid adults on trail rides, and he carries handicapped riders in the arena. He is turned out in a very large pasture with dozens of pasture mates and gets to "be a horse" when he's not on duty. I could see in his eyes that he is happy and content, and that in the end I had done what was right for him. It was not about me all along. It was about finding Indy's happiness. This also led to me getting my beautiful mutt mare who was my very first horse back home, who is my soulmate. I realize now I never should have sold her in the first place. I accept her that she is not a show horse and just loves to trail ride, just as she accepts my flaws in the saddle. We are perfect partners together. I had let pride and vanity get in the way of what was right for the horse. Apache is and was everything I need in a horse, and I finally learned it.
So, a question we can all ask ourselves: Why do I own a horse? I think everyone can answer that it's truly for self-satisfaction. So, ask yourself this: where does my self-satisfaction come from? Does it come from getting a blue ribbon at any cost? Does it come from sitting in the field reading a book while you hand-graze your horse? But overall, does my self-satisfaction benefit the horse in any way? If it doesn't, then I believe we must ALL take responsibility and rethink why we're doing this in the first place. And perhaps we need to rethink whether or not we should be horse owners in general.
TWHBEA posted this small blurb in the latest issue of The Voice this past week.
Our new guest blogger Elizabeth L. Jones has an excellent response to this below. I think she's right on the money and I hope others understand and heed her message as well.
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In the latest issue of the Voice, outgoing president Marty Irby issued a somewhat vague call for training that “ensures the future and longevity of the breed.” Since the article title refers to the “elimination of soring,” I will work from the assumption that this means more humane training practices for the Tennessee Walking show horse. But this call highlights some of the main problems of the breed. First of all, the vague language reflects the lack of transparency regarding the training of Walking Horses. Second, the language in the article implicitly focuses on the trainers. Here is where I think TWHBEA has gone wrong.
The Walking Horse is one of the most tractable and easiest to train of horse breeds. The secret that many people in the Walking Horse world don’t want to admit is that almost anyone with sufficient horsemanship experience can train a Walking Horse – not just to ride but to execute a smooth gait. No special equipment is needed, nor is any special knowledge.
The fact is that many trainers around the country are already doing the right thing, but if they don’t train padded horses, they are barely recognized by the industry. A few names of flat-shod horse have emerged, but many left the traditional Walking Horse years ago and now show in alternative venues like NWHA and FOSH. Many of these people are horsemen and horsewomen first, and Walking Horse trainers second.
I recall some discussions a few years ago about the “industry” investigating new training techniques. In fact, NO new techniques are necessary. The principles of classical horsemanship, dating back thousands of years to ancient Greece and revived during the Renaissance, work with ALL horses, including the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Although I have no special training in horse training, have taken only a few riding lessons and attended a few clinics, I have trained a few Walking Horses to saddle, and I have also developed a smooth, correct running walk for my horses. Over a decade ago, I tried the “traditional” gaited horse techniques of changing hoof angles and bits, but with very limited success. Eventually, I discovered, as have many others, that a Walking Horse can gait correctly in a plain, loose-ring snaffle and a good, basic shoeing or hoof trim.
So why do trainers of the breed get so much attention? One reason is that a trainer is “necessary” is to create the show ring fads because their training methods. In a way, it is a form of protectionism since most horse trainers are not willing to subject horses to the extreme shoeing and the necessary action devices of the Big Lick show horse. Indeed, to get a trainer’s license with the Walking Horse Trainer’s Association doesn’t require a test of horsemanship but the recommendation of other licensed trainers.
Some people were impressed that 2012 World Grand Champion Walk Time Charlie was worked on a regular basis for only five months before he won the title. What it may really show is that the level of competition in the Walking Horse world just isn’t that high. Some people in the “industry” claim it takes more than the pads to create the reach and action of a padded Walking Horse, but a video available on YouTube seems to prove that the pads and action devices are indeed a major factor. This video shows a mare, Dust Bunny, performing a pacing gait in lite-shod or keg shoes. She is reshod with heavy shoes, creating more action, and then reshod again with pads and ridden with a set of chains. The difference in just one day is dramatic and proof of the effect of pads.
This article advocates “programs that recognize and promote the natural abilities of our talented horses,” but these already exist – they are called Versatility, TWHBEA Trails, and the high point programs for Versatility and Pleasure Horses. The most talented horses are those individuals that perform in a variety of divisions and activities, and the most talented trainers and riders those who work with these horses. Instead of trying to encourage the “traditional” Walking Horse trainers to change, TWHBEA should recognize those who are already doing the right thing.
If TWHBEA wants to promote sound horses, they need to recognize the everyday owner/trainer and amateur rider. They need to pay attention to what small training operations around the country are doing. They absolutely MUST reduce the emphasis on showing and pay attention to the average Walking Horse owner, who may spend most of their time trail riding. These people don’t want to be part of an “industry” but part of a “community” of fellow Walking Horse owners. They want national leadership, not an organization controlled primarily by one region.
~ Elizabeth L. Jones
Ms. Jones has ridden and owned Walking Horses since she was seven years old and has competed in pleasure classes, equitation, and gaited dressage. Most of her dressage competition has been at open schooling shows where she had the only gaited horse. She has also ridden trails on her Walking Horses and other breeds in Missouri, Colorado, California, and Illinois. She edited the Sound Advocate for two years, and also contributed articles to The Gaited Horse. Ms. Jones is currently working full-time as a college instructor while she works on a Ph.D. in English. She has conducted some preliminary research into the rhetoric of horse welfare and hopes to incorporate further research in her dissertation. She is also an avid snowboarder and qualified for the NASTAR Nationals (amateur ski and snowboard racing) in 2011.
A Message to All Tennessee Walking Horse Enthusiasts
Hello again, friends and sound horse warriors. Many of you follow our Facebook group and know of a lot of the current happenings going on within the TWH world with H.R. 6388 quietly waiting to be approved. I've been thinking a lot these past couple of weeks about what's been going on. I know I've started sounding perhaps more than a bit crazy sometimes on the group, so I decided I need to explain to all of you where I come from on the issues concerning the TWH.
I have been riding horses since I was 3 years old, but I didn't start owning horses until the late 90s. I was originally taught the "cowboy" methods to train a horse: kick him belly when he won't suck in, jerk him in the mouth when he's bad on the trail, hit them in the head when they won't take their deworming paste, beat them when they won't stand still to be saddled. But my husband and I both felt that something was really wrong, and it needed to change. So we started looking for trainers and other methods to work with our horses. Now, we have realized that training has everything to do with partnering with your horse and to communicate to him the way horses communicate with each other. Our cardinal rule is never do anything to a horse that he wouldn't do to another horse. Yes, if he bites me, I'll bite back (which I have literally done before--bit a horse on his nose and he never tried to bite me again), but that doesn't mean I'm allowed to grab a shovel and hit him in the head if he bites me. Our goal is to always look at our own behavior first when a horse doesn't understand something and see where we're communicating wrong. Yes, I still make mistakes, and yes I'm still learning (anyone who thinks they know it all is a fool in the true definition of the word). Yes, I will kick a horse if he kicks me, or threaten to kick him if he threatens me. I will protect myself. But I will never go beyond the punishment fitting the crime.
I named the blog "For the Tennessee Walking Horse" for two reasons. First, I always heard things like I'm for the sound horse or I'm for the performance horse, but no one ever said they were For the TWH. Second, that is truly how I feel. I am literally for the horse and no one else. I am not for X HIO, I am not for the flat shod horse, I'm not for the barefoot horse, I'm not for dressage, I'm not for John Doe's training methods, I'm not for the horse show world. I'm for the health and well being of every single Tennessee Walking Horse, and all horses in general. So if the U.S. government has to ban TWH horse shows to end soring, then I'm all for it. If ending soring means people like Jackie McConnell and Barney Davis and Chad Way are going to lose their jobs and have to work at Walmart, I'm all for it. If ending soring means sound horse trainers are going to have to switch breeds, I'm all for it. This is not about what size shoes your horse wears. This is not about who's footing the bill for a horse show. This is not about which HIO has the least amount of violations reported. It's about two things that are extremely simple: the welfare of the horse and upholding the law. And if the bad guys are going to continue to break the law to where the toys have to be taken away form both the bad guys and the good guys, then so be it.
Here's the rub: All of us have chosen to own Tennessee Walking Horses. No one is putting a gun to our heads to make us put them in the show ring. It is our choice to do so. So truly in my honest opinion, if exhibitors/owners/trainers/breeders cannot choose to obey the law AND give up vanity, pride and greed, then we are ALL guilty of not caring about the welfare of the horse. Competition does horrible things to people, but what's worse is forcing our vanity, greed, and pride on other beings that have no choice in the matter. Showing horses is a luxury, not a necessity, and if we stop caring about the welfare of the horse merely because of shoe size or bit type or how much the horse can do, than the horse loses every single time.
I'm going to be brutally honest right now. In all this time in the gaited horse world, I have found that no HIO is truly for the horse, even those that have sound venues. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about bashing other people and HIOs to get what you want. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about worrying about the shoes you want to put on your horse's feet in the show ring when heavy shoes are a luxury, not a necessity. In the sound horse world, being for the horse isn't about allowing BL horses at shows even when you think they're sound because we all know what stacks can do to a horse long term. HIOs no longer exist to protect the horse, but to protect and coddle those who want to show or force their ideas on other people, whether sound or sore. I think ALL of the HIOs have lost their vision as to why they were started in the first place. I think ALL HIOs are not capable of thinking past the end of their own noses. I think ALL HIOs have become places where new ideas are shunned. If you don't think they way they do, then to hell with you. And at this point, that means we don't need HIOs any more than we need horse shows.
I'm tired. I'm tired and I'm angry and I'm very hurt by the simple fact that pride, vanity and greed are prevailing right now. We live in an heavily social society right now that rewards excess and fast results. Whatever happened to pride being based in bringing a horse along from the bottom up, turning him into a master when he's in his teens rather than assuming he's finished at 4 years old? Whatever happened to pride being related to the best quality ride being rewarded in the ring rather than the horse that's doing the most or the trainer that paid the judge the most? What happened to training that isn't based in bits, equipment, and shoes but rather on communication and fairness to both horse and rider? I think I echo Elizabeth's response above in saying that all of that seems to be gone, and it's most prevalent that it's gone in the gaited horse world. No one cares about the horse--they only care about showing off as to how much their horse can do, how fast he can go, how much he can crouch, and all of it by the time he's 4 years old. And this mentality has GOT to change for the sake of the horse.
I learned a very valuable lesson after I sold a very, very special horse to me. Indigo was my pride and joy. After years of trial and error, I had finally found my perfect show horse that was also a trail horse. I did everything with him--went to clinics, went to lessons, and showed. We were always in the top three and I have a lot of blues from showing him. I had a strict training schedule that I stuck to, and I had a hell of a walkin' and noddin' horse in simply an off-the-shelf keg shoe and a snaffle bit. I was so proud of Indy and me. But eventually, Indy developed ulcers. I was able to get them under control, but riding him became a battle. He would fight me and buck and our training sessions became lessons in frustration and embarrassment. I decided that showing him wasn't worth it anymore because he was so miserable, so I sold Indy to a guest ranch where I have sold them 21 gaited horses. When I went to see Indy, I discovered a very, very happy horse. He is carrying kids and timid adults on trail rides, and he carries handicapped riders in the arena. He is turned out in a very large pasture with dozens of pasture mates and gets to "be a horse" when he's not on duty. I could see in his eyes that he is happy and content, and that in the end I had done what was right for him. It was not about me all along. It was about finding Indy's happiness. This also led to me getting my beautiful mutt mare who was my very first horse back home, who is my soulmate. I realize now I never should have sold her in the first place. I accept her that she is not a show horse and just loves to trail ride, just as she accepts my flaws in the saddle. We are perfect partners together. I had let pride and vanity get in the way of what was right for the horse. Apache is and was everything I need in a horse, and I finally learned it.
So, a question we can all ask ourselves: Why do I own a horse? I think everyone can answer that it's truly for self-satisfaction. So, ask yourself this: where does my self-satisfaction come from? Does it come from getting a blue ribbon at any cost? Does it come from sitting in the field reading a book while you hand-graze your horse? But overall, does my self-satisfaction benefit the horse in any way? If it doesn't, then I believe we must ALL take responsibility and rethink why we're doing this in the first place. And perhaps we need to rethink whether or not we should be horse owners in general.
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| Indigo, who changed my road to horse victory, 2008 |
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| Apache, my soulmate and my horse victory, 2010 |
EDIT 12-18-12: With my last sentence, I am not suggesting that all horses should run wild and free and never be "owned." What I mean is that they have been domesticated by man's hand, and therefore we must take responsibility for their health and well being first and foremost. If a person's desire to own horses is based in self-satisfaction only, then it's time to rethink that particular person's ownership.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
NEWS and ARTICLES - Senator Robin Webb Busted; Roy Exum Honored; AVMA Bites Back at Industry
Senator Robin Webb Busted for Scar Rule
So many of you may already know that Senator Robin Webb (D-KY) is all for the Big Lick horse. She's also been using her political influence to the industry's advantage. Never mind the plethora of nasty posts about those who want to end soring on various forums and chats on the Internet, of which I have screenshots. Doesn't she know that the Internet is not safe? Politicians crack me up.
Anyway, this is her response to TWHBEA at the annual members' meeting they had last Saturday to elect new board members (some of them are, of course, violators or have their horses in training with violators--nothing new there). To wit, here it is quoted:
There are entities in this country and internationally that want to do away with our animals. Want to do away with our recreation. That want to do away with our livelihood. Now, we have got—and the AAEP, they’re from Lexington Kentucky. Friends of mine are members. We’ve already heard that at least one has some retribution perhaps to pass out. Because of past treatment. They have sixty four countries represented in their organization. I sort of jokingly refer to them as the United Nations of veterinary medicine. We don’t need international influence. With all due respect, The United States of America has the best agricultural models in the world. People aspire to be like us. We have the best fish and game models in the world. People aspire to be like us. Make your decision based on science. Credible evidence. And I beg you too, not on emotion, and not on what’s gonna be outside that door with a microphone tomorrow. Education and what’s best—you’ve got a charge to do here people that elected you from different constituencies just like I do with my public life. You gotta take all that into consideration. To show leadership. And don’t let agenda driven entities sway you for what’s best for the future of this breed.
Well, I think she's right: we need to base this decision on science and credible evidence. All you gotta do is read the AVMA's response to TWHBEA (below) and Dr. Vaughan's letter to get some science. And here's some credible evidence for you:
Two scar rule violations on two different horses at the NCWHA Championship on October 4, 2012. This is from the USDA's current Responsible Party for Horse Found in Violation list for 12-1-12 through 12-31-12 as of 12-4-12. (Page 154 if you don't want to search.)
(I can't make this s**t up, folks. Here it is, in brilliant color, for everyone to see and hear.)
So please, let's not "let agenda driven entities sway [us] from what's best for the future of the breed." Ms. Webb certainly hit the nail on the head. Click here for her webpage if you need it.
A side note: I'm not going to post all of the crap that went on at the TWHBEA meeting. Suffice to say the cheaters and burners were out in force and are continuing NOT to make any real changes. That's about it. It's what I expected.
Roy Exum Honored by the HSUS as Humane Horseman of the Year
This is just too cool! Congratulations, Roy, and THANK YOU to the HSUS for this wonderful honor to one of our humble sound horse warriors! Click here for the article (copied and pasted below).
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December 3, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States Honors Roy Exum as Humane Horseman of the Year
Journalist recognized as a champion for Tennessee walking horses and the Horse Protection Act
The Humane Society of the United States has named Roy Exum the 2012 Humane Horseman of the Year. Each year, this award is given to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to protect America’s Horses.
The HSUS chose Exum as this year’s recipient because of his unwavering commitment to exposing the cruel reality of the Tennessee walking horse show industry. In his opinion column in The Chattanoogan, Exum shined a light on the corruption and abuse behind the celebrated “Big Lick” gait, which is achieved by torturing horses through a practice known as “soring.” Exum reported on The HSUS’ undercover investigation into the industry and closely monitored the industry’s biggest competition, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn.
“The Humane Society of the United States applauds Roy Exum for his perseverance in the months leading up to the Celebration,” said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The HSUS. “Roy helped The HSUS lay bare the torture these horses endure, and he advocated that they be treated with kindness and respect. His newspaper columns played a key role in exposing and publicizing of the mistreatment of these beautiful creatures and greatly helped The HSUS in its mission to put an end to the cruelty.”
In nearly 20 columns and counting on the topic, Exum held nothing back when criticizing the Tennessee walking horse industry. In response to the federal sentencing of Jackie McConnell for Horse Protection Act violations, Exum wrote: “The ruling, although just, dashed the hopes of ‘many, many hundreds’ who had written Judge Mattice to ask for stronger justice. But because of woefully-inadequate federal laws against the depravity that has plagued the walking horse industry for well over half a century, the Horse Protection Act has been as lame as the horses it meant to protect and a plea arrangement was deemed at the very onset as the best ‘legal solution.’”
In a column praising the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new regulations to crack down on soring, Exum opined, “Call me callused or a cynic but when the top 20 trainers in the fabled Rider’s Cup standings have a total of 161 violations in the past two years and eight of the last 10 ‘Trainers of the Year’ have violated the Horse Protection Act, the only thing that will ever make a difference is placing anyone who would purposely injure a horse in the dark and dank basement of a jail.”
In response to public outcry about the cruel treatment of Tennessee walking horses for the show ring, Congress has introduced H.R. 6388, the Horse Protection Act Amendments of 2012. The bill will significantly strengthen the Horse Protection Act, originally passed in 1970 to stop the cruel practice of “soring” – the deliberate infliction of pain to Tennessee walking horses’ hooves and legs in order to produce a high-stepping gait and gain unfair competitive advantage at horse shows.
H.R. 6388 would end the failed system of industry self-policing, ban the use of certain devices associated with soring, strengthen penalties, and hold accountable all those involved in this cruel practice. H.R. 6388 is a necessary step to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement capabilities and end this torture for good. In a recent column, Exum expressed his support for the bill, writing, “The amendments are badly needed since there has been continued and rampant abuse of soring in the Tennessee walking horse industry this year.”
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The AVMA Bites Back at the Industry
This is really self explanatory, but I highlighted my favorite part in bold and red text. I also included the links they have in their article. What I love about this is that the AVMA bit back. Seriously, TWHBEA, do you really think you can write this kind of response and get away with it? It's so absolutely clear that you just don't care about the welfare of the horse. When two national veterinary associations say no more pads and chains, you STILL can't accept that what you're doing is wrong. Click here for the article.
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It’s Time to End Soring – Take Action Now on H.R. 6388, the Amendments to the HPA
December 3, 2012
Dr. Gail Golab
On November 20th the AVMA and AAEP released a statement indicating our support of HR 6388, the Amendments to the Horse Protection Act (HPA). Expressions of support for the AVMA and AAEP decision from veterinarians and other stakeholders came in enthusiastically and quickly. And, on November 27 and 28, responses from the Walking Horse industry began to trickle in. One of those came from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA), the other via a letter to the presidents of the AVMA and AAEP from the Tennessee Walking Show Horse Organization (TWSHO). Not surprisingly, they were not supportive and their comments were as expected: “Only a few bad actors,” “Incidence of soring is less than 1%,” and “Chains and pads aren’t bad, it’s the people who abuse them.”
With respect to “a few bad actors,” we’d have an easier time believing that if we didn’t have evidence of a culture of abuse that has existed for more than four decades. When you have 37 of the 52 horses at the 2011 National Celebration testing positive for one or more anesthetic agents; convictions of trainers like Barney Davis and Jackie McConnell (now with a lifetime disqualification); a 9% HPA violation rate at the 2012 National Celebration (virtually no change from the 9.5% rate at the 2011 event); and violation detection rates that are consistently 5 to 10 times higher when USDA is present at shows to inspect, compared with shows where the industry self-polices; it becomes apparent that this is not “a few bad actors,” it’s a real industry problem.
As regards chains and pads, the industry says “there’s no science to suggest that chains and pads cause problems.” What the science says is that raising the heels (placing a horse on pads and wedges) 8 degrees can cause the horse to stumble and tire easily. Additionally, horses placed on pads and wedges showed inflammation in the flexor tendon area of the pastern. Chains that weigh 6 ounces will start to cause hair loss without the use of chemical irritants. Chains heavier than 6 ounces used on horses that have been previously sored will cause open lesions within two weeks. We’re happy to say we did our homework and, yes, the science that’s available appears to support our position. However, the industry has (once again) missed the point of the AVMA’s and AAEP’s decision. The AVMA’s and AAEP’s primary concern is that chains and pads are used to exacerbate and/or hide soring. And they can do so irrespective of their size and/or weight. And, if you had any question about whether we’re really talking about 6-ounce chains and small “packages” (as suggested by the industry) our photos that were provided by an AAEP member should resolve them.To remove opportunity and incentive to sore, and to facilitate the inspection process under the HPA, the AVMA and AAEP agree with the authors of HR 6388 that self-policing, and chains and pads, have to go.
We mentioned that AVMA member and numerous stakeholder responses to the AVMA’s and AAEP’s action suggest great support for our decision. We urge you to take those expressions of support one step further by helping us shut down this culture of abuse. Contact your member of Congress and urge them to support HR 6388. Do it today—we’ll make it easy for you. Visit our website and Take Action!
So many of you may already know that Senator Robin Webb (D-KY) is all for the Big Lick horse. She's also been using her political influence to the industry's advantage. Never mind the plethora of nasty posts about those who want to end soring on various forums and chats on the Internet, of which I have screenshots. Doesn't she know that the Internet is not safe? Politicians crack me up.
Anyway, this is her response to TWHBEA at the annual members' meeting they had last Saturday to elect new board members (some of them are, of course, violators or have their horses in training with violators--nothing new there). To wit, here it is quoted:
There are entities in this country and internationally that want to do away with our animals. Want to do away with our recreation. That want to do away with our livelihood. Now, we have got—and the AAEP, they’re from Lexington Kentucky. Friends of mine are members. We’ve already heard that at least one has some retribution perhaps to pass out. Because of past treatment. They have sixty four countries represented in their organization. I sort of jokingly refer to them as the United Nations of veterinary medicine. We don’t need international influence. With all due respect, The United States of America has the best agricultural models in the world. People aspire to be like us. We have the best fish and game models in the world. People aspire to be like us. Make your decision based on science. Credible evidence. And I beg you too, not on emotion, and not on what’s gonna be outside that door with a microphone tomorrow. Education and what’s best—you’ve got a charge to do here people that elected you from different constituencies just like I do with my public life. You gotta take all that into consideration. To show leadership. And don’t let agenda driven entities sway you for what’s best for the future of this breed.
Well, I think she's right: we need to base this decision on science and credible evidence. All you gotta do is read the AVMA's response to TWHBEA (below) and Dr. Vaughan's letter to get some science. And here's some credible evidence for you:
Two scar rule violations on two different horses at the NCWHA Championship on October 4, 2012. This is from the USDA's current Responsible Party for Horse Found in Violation list for 12-1-12 through 12-31-12 as of 12-4-12. (Page 154 if you don't want to search.)
(I can't make this s**t up, folks. Here it is, in brilliant color, for everyone to see and hear.)
So please, let's not "let agenda driven entities sway [us] from what's best for the future of the breed." Ms. Webb certainly hit the nail on the head. Click here for her webpage if you need it.
A side note: I'm not going to post all of the crap that went on at the TWHBEA meeting. Suffice to say the cheaters and burners were out in force and are continuing NOT to make any real changes. That's about it. It's what I expected.
Roy Exum Honored by the HSUS as Humane Horseman of the Year
This is just too cool! Congratulations, Roy, and THANK YOU to the HSUS for this wonderful honor to one of our humble sound horse warriors! Click here for the article (copied and pasted below).
**********
December 3, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States Honors Roy Exum as Humane Horseman of the Year
Journalist recognized as a champion for Tennessee walking horses and the Horse Protection Act
The Humane Society of the United States has named Roy Exum the 2012 Humane Horseman of the Year. Each year, this award is given to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to protect America’s Horses.
The HSUS chose Exum as this year’s recipient because of his unwavering commitment to exposing the cruel reality of the Tennessee walking horse show industry. In his opinion column in The Chattanoogan, Exum shined a light on the corruption and abuse behind the celebrated “Big Lick” gait, which is achieved by torturing horses through a practice known as “soring.” Exum reported on The HSUS’ undercover investigation into the industry and closely monitored the industry’s biggest competition, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn.
“The Humane Society of the United States applauds Roy Exum for his perseverance in the months leading up to the Celebration,” said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The HSUS. “Roy helped The HSUS lay bare the torture these horses endure, and he advocated that they be treated with kindness and respect. His newspaper columns played a key role in exposing and publicizing of the mistreatment of these beautiful creatures and greatly helped The HSUS in its mission to put an end to the cruelty.”
In nearly 20 columns and counting on the topic, Exum held nothing back when criticizing the Tennessee walking horse industry. In response to the federal sentencing of Jackie McConnell for Horse Protection Act violations, Exum wrote: “The ruling, although just, dashed the hopes of ‘many, many hundreds’ who had written Judge Mattice to ask for stronger justice. But because of woefully-inadequate federal laws against the depravity that has plagued the walking horse industry for well over half a century, the Horse Protection Act has been as lame as the horses it meant to protect and a plea arrangement was deemed at the very onset as the best ‘legal solution.’”
In a column praising the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new regulations to crack down on soring, Exum opined, “Call me callused or a cynic but when the top 20 trainers in the fabled Rider’s Cup standings have a total of 161 violations in the past two years and eight of the last 10 ‘Trainers of the Year’ have violated the Horse Protection Act, the only thing that will ever make a difference is placing anyone who would purposely injure a horse in the dark and dank basement of a jail.”
In response to public outcry about the cruel treatment of Tennessee walking horses for the show ring, Congress has introduced H.R. 6388, the Horse Protection Act Amendments of 2012. The bill will significantly strengthen the Horse Protection Act, originally passed in 1970 to stop the cruel practice of “soring” – the deliberate infliction of pain to Tennessee walking horses’ hooves and legs in order to produce a high-stepping gait and gain unfair competitive advantage at horse shows.
H.R. 6388 would end the failed system of industry self-policing, ban the use of certain devices associated with soring, strengthen penalties, and hold accountable all those involved in this cruel practice. H.R. 6388 is a necessary step to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement capabilities and end this torture for good. In a recent column, Exum expressed his support for the bill, writing, “The amendments are badly needed since there has been continued and rampant abuse of soring in the Tennessee walking horse industry this year.”
**********
The AVMA Bites Back at the Industry
This is really self explanatory, but I highlighted my favorite part in bold and red text. I also included the links they have in their article. What I love about this is that the AVMA bit back. Seriously, TWHBEA, do you really think you can write this kind of response and get away with it? It's so absolutely clear that you just don't care about the welfare of the horse. When two national veterinary associations say no more pads and chains, you STILL can't accept that what you're doing is wrong. Click here for the article.
*********
It’s Time to End Soring – Take Action Now on H.R. 6388, the Amendments to the HPA
December 3, 2012
Dr. Gail Golab
On November 20th the AVMA and AAEP released a statement indicating our support of HR 6388, the Amendments to the Horse Protection Act (HPA). Expressions of support for the AVMA and AAEP decision from veterinarians and other stakeholders came in enthusiastically and quickly. And, on November 27 and 28, responses from the Walking Horse industry began to trickle in. One of those came from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA), the other via a letter to the presidents of the AVMA and AAEP from the Tennessee Walking Show Horse Organization (TWSHO). Not surprisingly, they were not supportive and their comments were as expected: “Only a few bad actors,” “Incidence of soring is less than 1%,” and “Chains and pads aren’t bad, it’s the people who abuse them.”
With respect to “a few bad actors,” we’d have an easier time believing that if we didn’t have evidence of a culture of abuse that has existed for more than four decades. When you have 37 of the 52 horses at the 2011 National Celebration testing positive for one or more anesthetic agents; convictions of trainers like Barney Davis and Jackie McConnell (now with a lifetime disqualification); a 9% HPA violation rate at the 2012 National Celebration (virtually no change from the 9.5% rate at the 2011 event); and violation detection rates that are consistently 5 to 10 times higher when USDA is present at shows to inspect, compared with shows where the industry self-polices; it becomes apparent that this is not “a few bad actors,” it’s a real industry problem.
As regards chains and pads, the industry says “there’s no science to suggest that chains and pads cause problems.” What the science says is that raising the heels (placing a horse on pads and wedges) 8 degrees can cause the horse to stumble and tire easily. Additionally, horses placed on pads and wedges showed inflammation in the flexor tendon area of the pastern. Chains that weigh 6 ounces will start to cause hair loss without the use of chemical irritants. Chains heavier than 6 ounces used on horses that have been previously sored will cause open lesions within two weeks. We’re happy to say we did our homework and, yes, the science that’s available appears to support our position. However, the industry has (once again) missed the point of the AVMA’s and AAEP’s decision. The AVMA’s and AAEP’s primary concern is that chains and pads are used to exacerbate and/or hide soring. And they can do so irrespective of their size and/or weight. And, if you had any question about whether we’re really talking about 6-ounce chains and small “packages” (as suggested by the industry) our photos that were provided by an AAEP member should resolve them.To remove opportunity and incentive to sore, and to facilitate the inspection process under the HPA, the AVMA and AAEP agree with the authors of HR 6388 that self-policing, and chains and pads, have to go.
We mentioned that AVMA member and numerous stakeholder responses to the AVMA’s and AAEP’s action suggest great support for our decision. We urge you to take those expressions of support one step further by helping us shut down this culture of abuse. Contact your member of Congress and urge them to support HR 6388. Do it today—we’ll make it easy for you. Visit our website and Take Action!
Monday, December 3, 2012
RESEARCH - Letters That Still Ring True: Auburn Study Cover Letter and 2007 Auburn Univ. Letter
The Auburn Study Cover Letter
I don't know if I had posted this yet or not, but I finally received the letter that went with the Auburn Study of 1982. If you haven't read what I've written about the Auburn Study, you can read it here.
Below is a jpg image of the letter. In case you can't read it, I copied what it says verbatim below the jpgs.
I don't know if I had posted this yet or not, but I finally received the letter that went with the Auburn Study of 1982. If you haven't read what I've written about the Auburn Study, you can read it here.
Below is a jpg image of the letter. In case you can't read it, I copied what it says verbatim below the jpgs.
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February 19, 1982
February 19, 1982
Dear Dr. Schwindaman:
We have yet to carry out the formal steps to determine the effects of built-up pads on Tennessee Walking Horses. Over the years, however, we have experienced what the group considers a high rate of thrush in the horses we have shod with pads and used in tests. Although it is not readily apparent on clinical observation we have observed with thermovision varying degrees of abnormal inflammation on the posterior aspect of the metacarpal area where the flexor bundle is located. This usually occurs the day after a horse has been freshly shod, whether or not he is exercised daily, and lasts from a few days to two weeks.
Attached are some questions we asked of our farrier and four clinic veterinarians who devote their professional time almost exclusively to equines. They all answered 'yes' to the first two questions and suggested sheared heels, quarter cracks, and laminitis as other abnormalities of the forefeet of Tennessee Walking Horses shod with conventional pads. They all answered 'yes' to the fourth question, giving their reason that they could not adequately examine the feet unless the sole was exposed.
Sincerely,
R.S. Sharman, DVM
Assistant Professor
1. Do you associate , from your observation, increased incidence of thrush with pads covering the sole of horses hooves? [YES]
2. Contracted Heels? [YES]
3. Other abnormalities? [YES - sheared heels, quarter cracks and laminitis]
4. Would you consider it necessary to remove pads and shoes from a horse to do an adequate foot examination? Why? [YES - The foot cannot be adequately examined without the sole exposed.]
**********
I really don't understand how this can't be considered evidence that pads are bad. This industry continues to kid itself...will they ever learn? Well, I think we know the answer to that one.
Auburn University Letter 2007
In 2007, Dr. J.T. Vaughan wrote the following letter to the TWH industry. He was one of the original vets who worked on the Auburn Study, which included the cover letter above. He was also one of the drafters of the Atlanta Protocol of 1991, which basically was an attempt to overthrow the HPA that fizzled. The courts recognized that the Atlanta Protocol was a farce; excerpt: "The general consensus of the July 24, 1991, meeting (RX 4) [aka Altanta Protocol] is, in effect, a prescription for repealing the Horse Protection Act, while leaving in its place a facade to give lip-service to the purposes of the Horse Protection Act. If the Department were to accede to the principles set forth in RX 4, soring, as it exists today, could be practiced virtually with impunity." Click here to read the case itself; quote is from page 34.
However, Mr. Vaughan has certainly seen the industry for what it is. He certainly still holds true to the facts that were found in the Auburn Study. His points are
Here are the thumbnails from the letter in three pages so you can see they're real. If you click on the thumbnail, it will take you to the letter on the FTTWH Photobucket page.
Here's the text of the letter verbatim. Honestly, I think the entire letter speaks for itself and Dr. Vaughan clearly wants to see a sound, natural, FS horse in the ring. He points out that the problem is the politics and the continued need for power and money and there is no concern for the welfare of the horse. This is a great letter that really deserves more attention.
**********
Auburn University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Office of the Dean Emeritus
April 2, 2007
Thoughts on the Tennessee Walking Horse Problems
1. The physical examination described in the Atlanta Protocol of 1991 is sound and subject to change only with the evolution of the species, the horse and the human.
2. The problem lies in its application by unskilled inspectors - more VMOs than DQPs. Basic horsemanship is not conferred with the DVM degree. It usually comes from experience acquired before or outside of veterinary school.
3. The inequality in those skills puts the VMOs on the defensive and breeds resentment toward the DQPs.
4. The solution lies in using VMOs better trained and more familiar with horses.
5. There have always been lay inspectors to assist regulatory vets in many different operations. In this case, however, DQPs are seen by VMOs as siding with the industry (they are hired by the industry) and in opposition to the government. In an effort to assert their authority, VMOs make a conscious effort to "catch" the DQPs in an oversight or too lenient an interpretation. Thus, innocuous calluses or inconsequential scurfing is ruled a scar violation. Borderline sensitivity is ruled soreness. Mistakes occur on both sides, but reconciliation and agreement is difficult and the VMO simply overrules the DQP.
6. Exhuming old data from previous research is subject to the errors of revised interpretations, and they are not apt to be accepted at the same level of credibility as before. The simple fact remains that scars are the result of chronic inflammation, whether from chains (legal or otherwise) or from chemical irritants. There is no "litmus test" to distinguish the cause. It is inevitably a judgment call in the inspection station, and the law should be governed by reason. Endless revisitation of the scar rule in hope of finding something new is likely to be no more productive. Both sides accuse the other of splitting hairs, and the tie rarely ever goes to the runner (i.e., the horse).
7. Of greater concern to me than what happens at the pastern is what goes on under the shoe and pad. Close-nailed shoes, pared-down feet, and pressure applied to the soles by various devices are abominations. Frankly, I have to go on record as finding the elongated feet objectionable. I greatly favor the flat-shod horse. It's more natural and more humane. I know that puts me in diametric opposition to the industry.
8. Old ways die slowly and never graciously, and intermittent reinforcement is habituating. There will always be those who skirt the law, and every time they succeed makes them all the more determined. Recidivism is a perennial weed that flourishes in the Walking Horse industry. The sad thing is that it crops up so frequently among the leadership, just like in politics. Affluence is the fertilizer that keeps it growing, and it is power that corrupts. As you can see, I'm not optimistic that much will change sort of the death penalty.
9. Now what difference can be done? The industry has always relied on exercising their influence through lobbyists in Washington, DC to gain the favor of the congressional representatives, who, in turn, were to apply pressure on government regulatory agencies, in this case, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), by such means as threatening to reduce their funding. The benefits of this strategy are short term at best and, in the long term, loses ground by lack of cooperation and passive aggression (or by surprise rewritings of the law). You may make a few points at the time, but like instant gratification, it is soon replaced by reinforced regulations, tighter restrictions, and stricter interpretations. Bureaucracy can be a friend or a beast according to how it's handled. And like an elephant, it has a long memory. Elected officials come and go. Bureaucracies staffed by civil servants have long tenures.
10. What I'm leading up to will be viewed by the big mules of industry as comparable to George W. sitting down with Iran and Syria. But I am convinced what is needed is for industry and government to enter into bipartisan, multilateral summit meetings and strive for some reconciliation that is free from the old unilateral, political pressures, and to have successive meetings to correct problems before they occur, bringing pressure to bear on their own ranks - the incompetents and the malefactors, rather than on each other. If the two sides - government and industry - can meet in a spirit of good will and a sincere desire to solve problems, the show walking horse may survive. Otherwise, it may return to its roots - the plantation walking horse, which may not be a bad thing.
11. Thus far, I've said nothing about the humane activists who you may condemn as being at the root of the problem. Well, this requires another change of mindset, for, if you think like Hamlet, "to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them," you are sadly mistaken. That is tantamount to fighting the modernization of society. What is needed is the same thing that is lacking in Bush's flawed Iran policy, and this is allies, such as the American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. I can't speak officially for either (and individual members may disagree), but I can tell you that the Walking Horse show horse has lost the support of the hierarchy of the AAEP, which it had until near the turn of the 20th Century. The AAEP has to live with the humane groups. They know that much, and the same image problems face the Walking Horse industry. As long as they are branded an inhumane group, the rank and file of society will reject them. The best way to address that problem is to make peace with the USDA and the allied horse organizations. As long as the industry determines to fight unilaterally, they travel a path of self-destruction.
12. I'm sure the industry can get a rosier opinion from another source, but it's apt to be viewed through rose-colored glasses. The experiences of the previous year should be evidence of that. Be that as it may, I should be surprised if anyone took this advice. At least it didn't cost the industry but maybe a twinge of conscience.
In conclusion, I would consider attending a summit meeting of industry and government only upon the invitation of the USDA. I have no agenda, and refuse any compensation for my services other than travel expenses and per diem. I represent not institution or organization, and am responsible only to my own conscience.
Respectfully,
Dr. J.T. Vaughan, DVM
Dean Emeritus of Veterinary Medicine
I really don't understand how this can't be considered evidence that pads are bad. This industry continues to kid itself...will they ever learn? Well, I think we know the answer to that one.
Auburn University Letter 2007
In 2007, Dr. J.T. Vaughan wrote the following letter to the TWH industry. He was one of the original vets who worked on the Auburn Study, which included the cover letter above. He was also one of the drafters of the Atlanta Protocol of 1991, which basically was an attempt to overthrow the HPA that fizzled. The courts recognized that the Atlanta Protocol was a farce; excerpt: "The general consensus of the July 24, 1991, meeting (RX 4) [aka Altanta Protocol] is, in effect, a prescription for repealing the Horse Protection Act, while leaving in its place a facade to give lip-service to the purposes of the Horse Protection Act. If the Department were to accede to the principles set forth in RX 4, soring, as it exists today, could be practiced virtually with impunity." Click here to read the case itself; quote is from page 34.
However, Mr. Vaughan has certainly seen the industry for what it is. He certainly still holds true to the facts that were found in the Auburn Study. His points are
Here are the thumbnails from the letter in three pages so you can see they're real. If you click on the thumbnail, it will take you to the letter on the FTTWH Photobucket page.
 |
| Page 1 |
 |
| Page 2 |
 |
| Page 3 |
Here's the text of the letter verbatim. Honestly, I think the entire letter speaks for itself and Dr. Vaughan clearly wants to see a sound, natural, FS horse in the ring. He points out that the problem is the politics and the continued need for power and money and there is no concern for the welfare of the horse. This is a great letter that really deserves more attention.
**********
Auburn University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Office of the Dean Emeritus
April 2, 2007
Thoughts on the Tennessee Walking Horse Problems
1. The physical examination described in the Atlanta Protocol of 1991 is sound and subject to change only with the evolution of the species, the horse and the human.
2. The problem lies in its application by unskilled inspectors - more VMOs than DQPs. Basic horsemanship is not conferred with the DVM degree. It usually comes from experience acquired before or outside of veterinary school.
3. The inequality in those skills puts the VMOs on the defensive and breeds resentment toward the DQPs.
4. The solution lies in using VMOs better trained and more familiar with horses.
5. There have always been lay inspectors to assist regulatory vets in many different operations. In this case, however, DQPs are seen by VMOs as siding with the industry (they are hired by the industry) and in opposition to the government. In an effort to assert their authority, VMOs make a conscious effort to "catch" the DQPs in an oversight or too lenient an interpretation. Thus, innocuous calluses or inconsequential scurfing is ruled a scar violation. Borderline sensitivity is ruled soreness. Mistakes occur on both sides, but reconciliation and agreement is difficult and the VMO simply overrules the DQP.
6. Exhuming old data from previous research is subject to the errors of revised interpretations, and they are not apt to be accepted at the same level of credibility as before. The simple fact remains that scars are the result of chronic inflammation, whether from chains (legal or otherwise) or from chemical irritants. There is no "litmus test" to distinguish the cause. It is inevitably a judgment call in the inspection station, and the law should be governed by reason. Endless revisitation of the scar rule in hope of finding something new is likely to be no more productive. Both sides accuse the other of splitting hairs, and the tie rarely ever goes to the runner (i.e., the horse).
7. Of greater concern to me than what happens at the pastern is what goes on under the shoe and pad. Close-nailed shoes, pared-down feet, and pressure applied to the soles by various devices are abominations. Frankly, I have to go on record as finding the elongated feet objectionable. I greatly favor the flat-shod horse. It's more natural and more humane. I know that puts me in diametric opposition to the industry.
8. Old ways die slowly and never graciously, and intermittent reinforcement is habituating. There will always be those who skirt the law, and every time they succeed makes them all the more determined. Recidivism is a perennial weed that flourishes in the Walking Horse industry. The sad thing is that it crops up so frequently among the leadership, just like in politics. Affluence is the fertilizer that keeps it growing, and it is power that corrupts. As you can see, I'm not optimistic that much will change sort of the death penalty.
9. Now what difference can be done? The industry has always relied on exercising their influence through lobbyists in Washington, DC to gain the favor of the congressional representatives, who, in turn, were to apply pressure on government regulatory agencies, in this case, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), by such means as threatening to reduce their funding. The benefits of this strategy are short term at best and, in the long term, loses ground by lack of cooperation and passive aggression (or by surprise rewritings of the law). You may make a few points at the time, but like instant gratification, it is soon replaced by reinforced regulations, tighter restrictions, and stricter interpretations. Bureaucracy can be a friend or a beast according to how it's handled. And like an elephant, it has a long memory. Elected officials come and go. Bureaucracies staffed by civil servants have long tenures.
10. What I'm leading up to will be viewed by the big mules of industry as comparable to George W. sitting down with Iran and Syria. But I am convinced what is needed is for industry and government to enter into bipartisan, multilateral summit meetings and strive for some reconciliation that is free from the old unilateral, political pressures, and to have successive meetings to correct problems before they occur, bringing pressure to bear on their own ranks - the incompetents and the malefactors, rather than on each other. If the two sides - government and industry - can meet in a spirit of good will and a sincere desire to solve problems, the show walking horse may survive. Otherwise, it may return to its roots - the plantation walking horse, which may not be a bad thing.
11. Thus far, I've said nothing about the humane activists who you may condemn as being at the root of the problem. Well, this requires another change of mindset, for, if you think like Hamlet, "to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them," you are sadly mistaken. That is tantamount to fighting the modernization of society. What is needed is the same thing that is lacking in Bush's flawed Iran policy, and this is allies, such as the American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. I can't speak officially for either (and individual members may disagree), but I can tell you that the Walking Horse show horse has lost the support of the hierarchy of the AAEP, which it had until near the turn of the 20th Century. The AAEP has to live with the humane groups. They know that much, and the same image problems face the Walking Horse industry. As long as they are branded an inhumane group, the rank and file of society will reject them. The best way to address that problem is to make peace with the USDA and the allied horse organizations. As long as the industry determines to fight unilaterally, they travel a path of self-destruction.
12. I'm sure the industry can get a rosier opinion from another source, but it's apt to be viewed through rose-colored glasses. The experiences of the previous year should be evidence of that. Be that as it may, I should be surprised if anyone took this advice. At least it didn't cost the industry but maybe a twinge of conscience.
In conclusion, I would consider attending a summit meeting of industry and government only upon the invitation of the USDA. I have no agenda, and refuse any compensation for my services other than travel expenses and per diem. I represent not institution or organization, and am responsible only to my own conscience.
Respectfully,
Dr. J.T. Vaughan, DVM
Dean Emeritus of Veterinary Medicine
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
NEWS - Spectator Kicked Out of TWH Show for Wearing Anti-Soring T-Shirt; Letter from TWHBEA President
Spectator Kicked out of TWH Show for Wearing Anti-Soring Shirt
One of our posters on our FTTWH Facebook group was recently kicked out of a TWH show for wearing an anti-soring shirt by none other than Mike Inman, the Celebration CEO. The show was the Tunica Fall Classic, November 8-10, in Tunica, MS. She was there on Saturday the 10th.
Here's a photo of said shirt:
Her story as posted on Facebook:
First, I cut my head off [of the photo] because of retaliation. 2nd my 75 year old mothers hands were shaking because we got kicked out of the show [which is why the photo is blurry]. There was not much of a crowd, I've seen more spectators at a saddle club show. There was no gate fee, we stood where the horses entered and exited the arena. It was like no one wanted to make eye contact with me, no one said anything, but you could tell they were grinding their teeth. Then we went concession stand, ate. I kept seeing people with coconut cake, I asked where we could get the cake, the lady pointed to a buffet down on the floor. We walked over and it was sponsor, donors buffet. I ask if I could have some cake, the lady said I needed a ticket. The man that catered the event came over, and offered a piece of free cake, he was very nice. We walked around and found a empty sponsor table and sat down. A girl came up to my 75 year mother and said that it was her table. We moved to another sponsor table, we were there for 3 hours, no one said anything, but they were staring. I got cold and was ready to leave, we were walking towards the exit, Mike Inman, stopped us. He said he had had enough, I was only there to cause trouble and my shirt was inappropriate and we had to leave. I Never said a word to anyone, except in polite conversation, never mentioned soring. Look in my hand, Pepsi, because I will never purchase or drink coke again. Why did Inman wait until we were walking toward the exit, to ask us to leave?
I want to ask the same question. Per your TWHBEA Position Statement dated 3/2/11 on your website, TWHBEA says: "The primary consideration for the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder’s and Exhibitor’s Association (TWHBEA) has been and remains the humane treatment and care of the Walking Horse and his equine cousins." So how is an anti-soring shirt a problem? Why react with such anger? You know, if you were truly against soring, why not react with a wink and a smile and a "cool shirt" comment as you walked by her?
Letter from President of TWHBEA
To continue to prove that actions speak louder than words, Marty Irby, President of TWHBEA, just came out with this letter to TWHBEA members on November 28. I'll look for the other letters he mentions as well, but this one really says the most about what you're doing here. My comments follow the letter.
**********
Tennessee Walking Horse
Breeders' & Exhibitors' Association
the Official Breed Registry
November 28, 2012
Where We Are Today
My Fellow Members:
This will not be the most popular letter of the week, but it is the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts. As the third of my series of six letters this week, I hope the information contained herein will serve you, TWHBEA, and our great horse well. Please keep in mind that I am a very positive individual, and as our Executive Director Mr. Thomas frequently says "I am not being negative, just facing reality."
I am thankful to have been blessed with such a professional, talented, and world class Executive Director as Ron Thomas during my time as President. He is the most straight forward, direct, to the point, and honest man I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I thank him for his willingness to serve TWHBEA, and for stepping out of retirement to help further the breed registry and great horse we all love so much.
More than one year ago Dr. Chester Gipson, USDA APHIS Deputy Director traveled to Lewisburg to meet with our TWHBEA EC, and present the hard cold truth that we as a breed were in danger of losing our pads and action devices. He delivered the same message in a joint meeting with the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) the next day, and again later with the Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA). Mr. Thomas was one of the first men to step forward and present the word Dr. Gipson had delivered, and as your President I felt it my duty to deliver the message as well.
On a number of occasions, during group meetings of TWHBEA, WHTA, WHOA, & The Celebration I reminded many of what the original intent of our meetings was, and that was to discuss the performance horse pads and action devices, and to help establish "One Voice" for our industry. Dr. Gipson specifically said that he was willing to help us, but the matter was a separate issue from inspections, inspection processes, and inspection services. Over the course of several meetings, a number of our TWHBEA representatives were ridiculed, and slandered for merely delivering a message from the government. A short time later, the USDA held listening sessions around the country regarding pads, action devices, the HIO system & inspections, and the all too common topic of soring. We as an industry and we as a TWHBEA Executive Committee drew our line in the sand and said "no" to making any changes or modifications to the pads and action devices.
A short time later came the release of the Jackie McConnell video. When the release came out I was quite shocked, and in the middle of judging the German Championship in Wemding, Germany. Being located in a foreign country while President of TWHBEA when the video was released really showed me a different perspective, and how our horse, breed, owners, exhibitors, and trainers were viewed internationally. Most compared performance horse people to barbarians, and many have thrown all of us in the same category as Michael Vick. Please understand I am not saying they are right, just merely delivering a message that "perception is reality."
I recognize and realize many of those in our industry have been in denial about training techniques applied to horses in all divisions of our show horse segment. At the same time, I realize, understand, have enough knowledge, and have been involved with enough truly great and talented animals that I believe we do have sound padded performance horses. What percentage, I honestly don't know. I do believe in what we have bred over the past 70 years. I believe in our show horse, its talent, ability, stamina, and gifted kindness. The problem does not lie in the performance horse, its pads, or action devices. The problem lies within people who are willing to cheat and abuse a horse to make him mimic or imitate a truly great and natural show horse.
How will we ever stop the cheating? We won't. Someone will always try to cheat. Someone will always try to take advantage of the kindness and love a horse has for them. Please realize and recognize that no law or amendment eliminates a problem, it merely regulates it. That is the unfortunate truth of government regulation and humanity. There will always be people that run stop signs, and there will always be people that will rob banks.
I am believer in the old saying "you are what you think." Far too often we think about the issue of soring and catching people who break the law, when we should equally be focusing on promoting sound horses, education in training, and rewarding those who are doing the right things. Our industry has very little record of being proactive, and has become far too reactive.
In the upcoming days you will see the beginnings of a new program at TWHBEA, under our Horse Shows Division that will start the process of rewarding those who are doing the right thing, and those who are showing sound horses.
This program is long overdue. The concept of "The Champions Cup" which has been approved in concept by our Horse Show Committee and our current EC will be presented at the upcoming meetings.
In recent weeks and months we have seen major veterinary organizations speak out against our show horse. We have few friends, and very little time to work together to save our show horse. So many have asked for "One Voice" and if it is not too late already, that "One Voice" must be the voice at TWHBEA, The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Association which remains the oldest and largest organization in our industry since its inception in 1935. As a Lifetime Member I stand behind TWHBEA as the leader of our industry, as do thousands of others. I hope you will all stand up for TWHBEA, and voice your opinions and become a vocal part of this association at the upcoming General Membership meeting on Friday and International Board of Directors Meeting & Election on Saturday! Our association and our great horse need you!
With truth and dedication,
Marty Irby
**********
These were my immediate thoughts as I read this letter.
First thought: "When the release came out I was quite shocked." Yeah, I bet you were. SHOCKED THAT YOU WERE FINALLY CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Thought you were safe behind closed barn doors, didn't ya?
Second thought: " The problem does not lie in the performance horse, its pads, or action devices. The problem lies within people who are willing to cheat and abuse a horse to make him mimic or imitate a truly great and natural show horse." No to the first sentence, yes to the second. Forcing a horse to stand at an unnatural angle merely for fashion and vanity and to win IS a problem. Requiring chains in the show ring so the cheaters can cheat IS a problem.
Third thought: "How will we ever stop the cheating? We won't. Someone will always try to cheat." I agree. The problem is you guys ENCOURAGE the cheaters to cheat! You give them awards and accolades and continue to allow them to show. So why shouldn't they cheat when there's no serious consequences when they get caught?
Fourth thought: "Our association and our great horse need you!" Because we want to keep our pads and chains, dammit, and we all have to come together and FORCE it to happen!
The second to last paragraph: I'll believe it when I start seeing you people keep the cheaters and burners OUT of the ring. Get rid of these horrible men and women with multiple violations. DON'T LET THEM SHOW ANYMORE. You are already giving out plenty of rewards, both in the public eye and under the table. It's time for you guys to get serious about punishment.
These morons are like the band on the Titanic: they will continue to play their song and dance to try to calm the members who are jumping ship and will ultimately go down with the ship. Let's just hope they do, because I know I am really tired of this nonsense.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
NEWS and ARTICLES - AVMA & AAEP Release Joint Statement
The AVMA and AAEP released a joint statement today announcing their full support of HR 6388! The press release can be read here. I've copied and pasted the article below.
I also found out that at Shelbyville show over the weekend, a BL horse's hoof was sheered off while in the ring. This can be caused by the band being too tight and the package being too heavy. The horse was bleeding everywhere, and the rider didn't get off at first and rode the horse into the lineup, then waited for the groom to come help her.
The worst part? NO ONE DID ANYTHING. The horse's hoof was bandaged and he was seen limping back to his trailer. On the thread I was reading, people were saying it was no big deal and a new hoof can be made out of epoxy while the old one grows back. They were saying it wasn't unusual for this to happen, and lots of people have witnessed it.
Look, I don't know about you, but I once slammed my finger in a car door. My entire nail down to the nail bed came off. And it HURT, and I CRIED, and there was lots of blood. And I don't even walk on my fingers the way a horse has to walk on its hoof. I can only imagine the agony this poor animal was in, and having to continue to carry his rider to boot...at least in the racehorse world with horses like Eight Belles and Barbaro, the jockey came off as fast as possible and stopped the horse from continuing to run.
This is just another example of why we need the pads and bands out of the show ring. While nothing can be done about this situation legally, there is no reason why it should be happening in the first place.
This is another excellent opportunity to contact your Congress person and ask them to support HR 6388. Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov and go to the upper right corner to find your Congress person. Feel free to include the link to the press release so they can see that not only do groups like the HSUS support this, but true veterinarians do as well. If vets are saying it's time to get rid of stacks and chains, then that's what we need to do. And if you've already contacted them, contact them again, especially now that the elections are over with. Make your voices heard when the horses can't!
**********
AAEP, AVMA Call for Passage of H.R. 6388 - Amendments to the Horse Protection Act
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November 19, 2012
Today the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners issued a joint statement of support for the Amendments to the Horse Protection Act, H.R. 6388.
“Soring is an unconscionable abuse of horses that is used to produce a high-stepping gait—the “Big Lick”—and gain an unfair competitive advantage in the show ring. For decades we’ve watched irresponsible individuals become more creative about finding ways to sore horses and circumvent the inspection process, and have lost faith in an industry that seems unwilling and/or unable to police itself. The AVMA and AAEP are committed to strengthening the USDA’s ability to enforce the Horse Protection Act and ending this abuse for good. We strongly encourage everyone who cares about the welfare of horses to contact their member of Congress and urge them to pass H.R. 6388,” said Dr. Doug Aspros, AVMA President.
Specifically, H.R. 6388:
- Makes the actual act of soring, or directing another person to cause a horse to become sore, illegal;
- Requires the USDA (rather than the industry) to license, train, assign and oversee inspectors enforcing the Horse Protection Act;
- Prohibits the use of action devices (e.g., boot, collar, chain, roller, or other device that encircles or is placed upon the lower extremity of the leg of a horse) on any limb of Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle horses, or Racking horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions and bans weighted shoes, pads, wedges, hoof bands, or other devices that are not used for protective or therapeutic purposes;
- Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations, and creates a penalty structure that requires horses to be disqualified for increasing periods of time based on the number of violations; and
- Allows for permanent disqualification from the show ring after three or more violations.
"The passage of H.R. 6388 will strengthen the Horse Protection Act and significantly increase the effort to end the abuse of the Tennessee Walking Horse," said AAEP President Dr. John Mitchell. "The AAEP encourages all veterinarians to contact their legislators to voice support for the bill and help end the cruel soring of these beautiful animals."
For more information on the AVMA and AAEP’s efforts to stop this egregious abuse of horses, visit the AVMA's Soring Resource Page.
# # #
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 82,500 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. For more information, visit www.avma.org.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
NEWS, ARTICLES and HOW YOU CAN HELP - Post Election Post
Well, here we are, post-election 2012. Now we can look forward to no more negative campaign ads online or on the television...well, for another four years, at least! So it's onward and upward: let's talk about how we can further protect the horse!
McConnell Goes Back to Court November 13
As one of our posters on Facebook reminded us, Jackie the Jerk goes back to court on November 13 to face state charges. This includes approximately 15 counts of animal cruelty, but it doesn't fall under the new Tennessee law making animal abuse a felony because Jackie was caught in March and the law was passed in July.
We need to send our letters and emails and make phone calls to District Attorney Michael Dunavant to let him know we haven't forgotten about this case. Mr. Dunavant can be contacted at the following.
D. Michael Dunavant
District Attorney General
25th Judicial District of Tennessee
Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman & McNairy counties
121 North Main Street
Ripley, Tennessee 38063
(731) 635-5163
dmdunavant@tndagc.org
He has been sending out a "canned" response, but the message is very good--clearly, he is getting enough emails to need to send a specific response concerning this case. It seems he really cares about upholding the law and making sure justice is served. But still, we need your voice to help keep this issue foremost in his mind!
HR 6388 Sponsors and Co-Sponsors - Contact the NEW Senators and Reps!
Good news! Sponsor Rep. Edward Whitfield (R, KY) was reelected! As were lots of the co-sponsors. But some of them were not relected. Those are highlighted below in red. I put the new person's name in with a link to their website. The amendment is still sitting in the committee waiting to be reviewed, so this means we need to contact the new Senators and Representatives and ask for their support! And here's the entire list of new and reelected Congress persons--click here. The new ones have links attached to their names, so they need to be contacted as well.
The best way to track all of this is via POPVOX--click here. And don't forget: be sure to post your support of HR 6388 as well. Do your best to word your response logically and clearly--cursing or negative language does not help our cause.
Extension on the FTTWH Letter
I've extended the date to sign our FTTWH letter that we'll be sending out to various horse organizations. I have a lot of "real" work to do and won't be able to send it out for the next couple of weeks. So please have your signatures added by NOVEMBER 14, 2012. To add your signature, click here, choose the Comments box in the upper right corner, and comment. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME - real names are what get us the most support! Click here for the blog post about the letter and how I'll be distributing it. And pass this info on to your horsey friends--the more the better!
Tennessee State University Changes the TWH Homecoming Presentation from Big Lick to Flat Shod
From the HSUS article: "In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which funds the protection of natural habitat, the University has partnered with the state of Tennessee 4-H organization to celebrate the Tennessee walking horse. Although a Tennessee walking horse demonstration is one of Tennessee’s homecoming traditions, this year the University has decided to showcase a sound, flat shod horse in lieu of their customary “Big Lick” demonstration – following exposes and law enforcement actions against the cruel practice of soring these competitive horses." Click here for the article. More about the Morrill Act is here.
From the University of Tennessee article: "To reflect the Morrill Act’s mission, the university has updated its traditional Tennessee Walking Horse exhibition at this year’s Homecoming. Prior to kickoff, A Daring Affair, a flat-shod walking horse, will circle the field with rider Kimbrell Hines, a high-school senior from Winchester, Tennessee. Hines is a longtime member of the Tennessee 4-H program, and she and the horse, known affectionately as Summer, have won many horse shows around the state." Click here for the article.
I love that the University says they have "updated" the exhibition! This is wonderful news for the Tennessee Walking Horse and is a clear message to the industry that the Big Lick is no longer a quality or proper representation of the TWH.
If you'd like to send a thank you letter to the University for making this choice, here's the contact information for the All Campus Events, the group that puts together the homecoming events.
All Campus Events
A member of the Central Program Council
Phone: (865) 974-5455
Fax: (865) 974-9252
Website: http://activities.utk.edu
Email: ace@utk.edu
Lanier Loftin, Director’s Chair
Ashton Rummage, Co-Homecoming Chair
Paige Sabo, Co-Homecoming Chair
Keith Becklin, Advisor
Click for Facebook page
And congratulations to University of Tennessee for their homecoming win in 2012! I think switching to a Flat Shod horse gave you good luck!
McConnell Goes Back to Court November 13
As one of our posters on Facebook reminded us, Jackie the Jerk goes back to court on November 13 to face state charges. This includes approximately 15 counts of animal cruelty, but it doesn't fall under the new Tennessee law making animal abuse a felony because Jackie was caught in March and the law was passed in July.
We need to send our letters and emails and make phone calls to District Attorney Michael Dunavant to let him know we haven't forgotten about this case. Mr. Dunavant can be contacted at the following.
D. Michael Dunavant
District Attorney General
25th Judicial District of Tennessee
Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman & McNairy counties
121 North Main Street
Ripley, Tennessee 38063
(731) 635-5163
dmdunavant@tndagc.org
He has been sending out a "canned" response, but the message is very good--clearly, he is getting enough emails to need to send a specific response concerning this case. It seems he really cares about upholding the law and making sure justice is served. But still, we need your voice to help keep this issue foremost in his mind!
HR 6388 Sponsors and Co-Sponsors - Contact the NEW Senators and Reps!
Good news! Sponsor Rep. Edward Whitfield (R, KY) was reelected! As were lots of the co-sponsors. But some of them were not relected. Those are highlighted below in red. I put the new person's name in with a link to their website. The amendment is still sitting in the committee waiting to be reviewed, so this means we need to contact the new Senators and Representatives and ask for their support! And here's the entire list of new and reelected Congress persons--click here. The new ones have links attached to their names, so they need to be contacted as well.
- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6] to Rep. John Delaney [D, MD-6]
- Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13] to Rep. Rodney Davis [R, IL-13]
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
- Del. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
- Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
- Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
- Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
- Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-18]
- Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-20]
- Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24]
- Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
- Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-17]
- Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
- Rep. Walter Jones [R, NC-3]
- Rep. James Langevin [D, RI-2]
- Rep. Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
- Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
- Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2]
- Rep. Stephen Lynch [D, MA-8]
- Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-2]
- Rep. Gary Miller [R, CA-31]
- Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8]
- Del. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]
- Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
- Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
- Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9] to Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (might be incorrect)
- Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-40]
- Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
- Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-30]
- Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13] to Rep. Barbara Lee (might be incorrect)
- Rep. John Tierney [D, MA-6]
- Rep. Nydia Velázquez [D, NY-07]
- Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6] to Rep. Doris Matsui (might be incorrect)
- Rep. Bill Young [R, FL-13]
- Rep. Brian Bilbray [R, CA-50] to Rep. Duncan Hunter (might be incorrect)
- Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
- Rep. John Campbell [R, CA-45]
- Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2] to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard [D, HI-2]
- Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
- Rep. James Himes [D, CT-4]
- Rep. Gary Peters [D, MI-14]
- Rep. Paul Tonko [D, NY-20]
- Rep. Bob Dold [R, IL-10] to Rep. Brad Schneider [D, IL-10]
- Rep. Hansen Clarke [D, MI-13]
- Rep. Michael Grimm [R, NY-13] to John Conyers Jr. (might be incorrect)
- Rep. Steve Stivers [R, OH-15]
The best way to track all of this is via POPVOX--click here. And don't forget: be sure to post your support of HR 6388 as well. Do your best to word your response logically and clearly--cursing or negative language does not help our cause.
Extension on the FTTWH Letter
I've extended the date to sign our FTTWH letter that we'll be sending out to various horse organizations. I have a lot of "real" work to do and won't be able to send it out for the next couple of weeks. So please have your signatures added by NOVEMBER 14, 2012. To add your signature, click here, choose the Comments box in the upper right corner, and comment. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME - real names are what get us the most support! Click here for the blog post about the letter and how I'll be distributing it. And pass this info on to your horsey friends--the more the better!
Tennessee State University Changes the TWH Homecoming Presentation from Big Lick to Flat Shod
From the HSUS article: "In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which funds the protection of natural habitat, the University has partnered with the state of Tennessee 4-H organization to celebrate the Tennessee walking horse. Although a Tennessee walking horse demonstration is one of Tennessee’s homecoming traditions, this year the University has decided to showcase a sound, flat shod horse in lieu of their customary “Big Lick” demonstration – following exposes and law enforcement actions against the cruel practice of soring these competitive horses." Click here for the article. More about the Morrill Act is here.
From the University of Tennessee article: "To reflect the Morrill Act’s mission, the university has updated its traditional Tennessee Walking Horse exhibition at this year’s Homecoming. Prior to kickoff, A Daring Affair, a flat-shod walking horse, will circle the field with rider Kimbrell Hines, a high-school senior from Winchester, Tennessee. Hines is a longtime member of the Tennessee 4-H program, and she and the horse, known affectionately as Summer, have won many horse shows around the state." Click here for the article.
I love that the University says they have "updated" the exhibition! This is wonderful news for the Tennessee Walking Horse and is a clear message to the industry that the Big Lick is no longer a quality or proper representation of the TWH.
If you'd like to send a thank you letter to the University for making this choice, here's the contact information for the All Campus Events, the group that puts together the homecoming events.
All Campus Events
A member of the Central Program Council
Phone: (865) 974-5455
Fax: (865) 974-9252
Website: http://activities.utk.edu
Email: ace@utk.edu
Lanier Loftin, Director’s Chair
Ashton Rummage, Co-Homecoming Chair
Paige Sabo, Co-Homecoming Chair
Keith Becklin, Advisor
Click for Facebook page
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