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The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has failed to eliminate horse soring for decades. Sports Illustrated exposed horse soring (although the term did not yet exist) in 1956 in an article entitled "Woe for Walkers." It states: Horse business and sharp practice have not traditionally been divorced. But far uglier than mere chicanery is the widespread… Continue reading Will we ever really get rid of the horrible abuse of horse soring?
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports: Former Tennessee Walking Horse trainer Jackie McConnell has been indicted by a Fayette County grand jury on 22 counts of animal cruelty related to alleged horse soring actions. McConnell pleaded guilty last year to similar charges for the same actions in federal court here after Humane Society investigators captured… Continue reading McConnell indicted again in Fayette Co on animal cruelty charges relating to horse soring
COMMENTARY BY ROY EXUM Cross-posted from The Tennessean Beware the 'Big Lick' Just when horse industry observers were ready to declare the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association was going to install an executive board heavily dedicated to sound horses on Saturday, ominous word is coming out of Shelbyville that there will be a… Continue reading ‘Big Lick’ loyalists work to infiltrate board dedicated to sound horses
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration show rides on. by ROY EXUM Cross-posted from The Chattanoogan Roy Exum writes: In what should have been a huge positive step of a show, one that would focus on “clean” and sound horses, it has turned instead into a vicious war of words and, with newspaper readers and… Continue reading Roy Exum: A Dismal Horse Celebration
by BRIAN MOSELEY Cross-posted from the Shelbyville Times-Gazette Sentencing for the remaining defendants in a widely publicized horse soring case has been reset for later in September despite objections from federal prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Harry S. Mattice Jr. has continued sentencing for Jackie L. McConnell, 60, Jeff Dockery, 54, and Joseph R. Abernathy, 30… Continue reading Judge reschedules McConnell sentencing to Sept 18 in horse soring case
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… Continue reading Humane Society release video of convicted Walking Horse horse abuser Davis
by HEIDI HALL Cross-posted from The Tennessean The Tennessee Walking Horse industry is going on the offensive this week after disputes with federal inspectors at the Celebration, the industry's premier event. U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarians are in Shelbyville, Tenn., checking competing horses for signs they've been intentionally injured to induce their unique gait. Frequently… Continue reading Tennessee Walking Horse industry goes on the offensive
By American Veterinary Medical Association SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 23, 2012 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) urge veterinarians, owners, trainers, riders, event spectators, media and the public to redouble their efforts to identify and report sored horses at this year's Tennessee Walking Horse National… Continue reading AVMA and AAEP urge strong enforcement of HPA at Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cross-posted from the Sacramento Bee SHELBVYVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 19, 2012) -- The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is changing procedures that are used to detect signs that a trainer has applied painful chemicals to the horses' legs in a banned practice known as soring. The show in Shelbyville is considered the… Continue reading Celebration changes testing to detect horse abuse
THE TENNESSEAN reports: Bill Crowder, owner of Midway Diner, a meat-and-three in Shelbyville, Tenn., was taken aback at the response he received after not buying a "proud sponsor" sign from the Walking Horse Trainers Association. "I've been here for 15 years, and I've always supported the horse business," Crowder said. "But now they're boycotting me.… Continue reading Walking Horse Trainers Association blacklist local diner
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