Humane Society release video of convicted Walking Horse horse abuser Davis

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) conducted an on-camera interview with Barney Davis, a former Tennessee horse trainer who pleaded guilty to various violations of the Horse Protection Act last November.

This is an exclusive HSUS interview uploaded on YouTube August 28, 2012.

Related HSUS press materials state:

Davis served most of his one-year sentence in prison and was also ordered by the court to cooperate in the production of an educational video describing pervasiveness of the abusive practice of horse “soring.”

The practice causes intentional pain to the feet or legs of horses through the application of caustic chemicals to burn their skin, or by inserting foreign objects to the sensitive areas of their hooves. In reaction to the pain, horses lift their front legs high off the ground, producing the exaggerated “Big Lick” gait rewarded in the show ring.

At his sentencing hearing in February, Davis admitted to routinely soring horses during their training, and explained that this illegal activity is so rampant as to be commonplace throughout the Tennessee walking horse industry.

Increased scrutiny by USDA inspectors and certain approved horse industry groups at this year’s Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville. Extra vigilance is being called for by everyone connected with the show.
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITES STATES IMAGE
HSUS IMAGE

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In the meantime, USDA inspectors attending the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration are being subjected to just as much scrutiny as the alleged abusers, who are protesting citations with the help of veterinarians.

– See “Federal inspectors clash with walking horse groups“; WBNS-10TV, Columbus, Ohio; Aug. 28, 2012.

Walking horse industry leaders invited media from across the region to watch a demonstration of how an uninjured horse acts during an inspection.

It was the group’s latest salvo in a battle against the USDA, which it believes is unfairly citing horses competing in the Celebration as retribution for the industry resisting new USDA rules.

– See “Tennessee Walking Horse industry goes on offensive“; by Heidi Hall; The Tennessean; Aug. 28, 2012

Document describes soring methods inflicted by convicted SSH trainers

Cross-posted from the Shelbyville Times-Gazette
Written by BRIAN MOSELEY

Documents made public recently in a local horse soring case detailed the abusive methods used on the animals.

Last week, Barney Davis, 38, and Jeffery Bradford, 33, both of Lewisburg, and Christen Altman, 25, of Shelbyville, pleaded guilty to charges involving a conspiracy to sore spotted saddle horses and falsify paperwork.

Davis faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine while Altman and Bradford each face a term of up to one year in prison and a $3,000 fine, with sentencing set for Feb. 13.

“Soring” is the brutal practice where items like bolts are screwed against the soles of a horse’s hoofs or chemicals are applied to produce pain and sensitivity in an effort to enhance its gait. The altered gait, or “big lick,” is valued at horse competitions.

The issue of soring has plagued Shelbyville’s equine industry for years, most notably in 2006 when the final class of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was canceled after several competitors were eliminated due to infractions of the federal Horse Protection Act “scar rule.”

However, sources tell the T-G that Davis was never involved with the local Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association or any Tennessee walking horses. Rather, Davis and the others were involved with the National Spotted Saddle Horse Association. Continue reading >>

4th person charged with soring horses in Tennessee case

Cross-posted from the Shelbyville Gazette

Written by BRIAN MOSLEY

A 34-count superseding indictment was returned by a federal grand jury Tuesday against three people already accused of soring horses, with a fourth person also now charged.

Paul Blackburn, 35, of Shelbyville was indicted Tuesday along with Barney Davis, 38, of Lewisburg, Christen Altman, 25, of Shelbyville, and Jeffery Bradford, 33, of Lewisburg.

Altman, Davis and Bradford were indicted by a federal grand jury in March for soring horses and are currently free on no bond.

According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the new indictments charge the four with additional violations of the federal Horse Protection Act “and related financial crimes.”

Davis and Altman have also been charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy and 12 counts of money laundering.

Authorities alleged that as part of Davis’s horse training operation, he and Altman collected payments from out-of-state clients based upon false representations that horses would be trained in accordance with the Horse Protection Act.

Davis and Altman then allegedly used the funds to perpetuate the horse training operation, using methods specifically prohibited by the Horse Protection Act, “including mechanical and chemical soring procedures,” Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard said.

Federal prosecutors are also seeking asset forfeiture in this case from Davis and Altman. Continue reading >>

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