Friends of Sound Horses President nearly run down during Big Lick protest

FOSH President Teresa Bippen is nearly run down and possibly killed by a black truck pulling a trailer during a peaceful protest of horse soring at a Big Lick event in Columbia, Tennessee. That’s Teresa in the pink top on the right, behind the sign she is holding up. Photo: Billy Go Boy.

One of our constituents alerted us to the goings on at a hore soring protest that took place at a Big Lick event in Tennessee this past Friday and Saturday at the Columbia Spring Jubilee.

Horse soring is the act of intentionally inflicting great pain on a gaited horse’s front legs and feet to make them snatch them up unnaturally high in an exaggerated fashion commonly called the Big Lick. If you see a horse performing the Big Lick, they have been sored.

Horses are not sored solely during performances. Horses aimed at these competitions are virtually sored their entire lives in preparation for these fiendish events.

The most commonly sored horse used for competitions like these is the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Although it is a federal crime to sore a horse, the State of Tennessee is a hotbed of animal cruelty because of its failure to rid itself of horse soring although this sadistic practice goes on in other States.

Horses lovers and members of Friends of Sound Horse (FOSH) were in Columbia, Tennessee this past Friday and Saturday to protest the horrific cruelties perpetrated on these gentle animals.

The President of FOSH Teresa Bippen escaped with her life when she was nearly run down by an enraged man driving a black truck pulling a horse trailer.

Billy Go Boy, who covers what took place in words and pictures writes:

This 5’2″ lady from Missouri joined by a Tennessee educator was exercising her constitutional rights by protesting against Animal Cruelty of “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horses when a burly man driving a 3/4 ton Chevrolet Dually truck, in an apparent reckless fit of rage, almost killed her.

There are numerous images and a video at Billy Go Boy’s website. See his report and images here. Or if you prefer, see his Facebook page and read their comments.

What sort of State is Tennessee that allows:

(1) individuals to continually break federal anti horse cruelty laws;

(2) a man who intentionally tries to run down a woman with the intention of inflicting grevious bodily harm or worse in plain view of law enforcement to walk free?

I wouldn’t buy a bottle of water in Tennessee.

Thank you Peggy for alerting us to this story.

RELATED READING

• Learn more about FOSH »
• THF’s Horse Soring Fact Sheet and FAQs »