Congress needs to pass the PAST Act to end Tennessee walking horse soring

By CLANT SEAY, Guest Columnist
THE TENNESSEAN

For the past seven years, I have spent my time and energy combating the animal abuse that U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander calls a Tennessee tradition and the rest of the country calls Animal Cruelty.
I speak of the cruelty and illegal activity involved with making “big lick” Tennessee walking horses.

I am a fifth-generation Mississippian and have raised and owned Tennessee walking horses, which won World Grand Championships under saddle and at halter at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville. Now, I’m raising awareness through the grassroots ‘We, the People” Citizens Campaign Against Big Lick Animal Cruelty, or CCABLAC, and working to see that this cruelty is stopped. It’s been a long time coming and a hard fight.

Congress could help soon

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on a bill to end the “big lick” animal cruelty to Tennessee walking horses. The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, or PAST Act, will remove the approximately 8-pound stack shoes and CHAINS necessary to create the morally reprehensible “big lick” show gait.

“Big lick” proponents say it’s a sport. Legendary former Tennessean sport columnist David Climer said, “For years, many of those involved in the Tennessee walking horse industry have yearned for its competitions to be taken seriously as a legitimate sport. Blood sport, yes. Legitimate sport, no. Read more »