Industry News

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Industry News

Horse Show Postponed After Conflict
08/26/2006
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was cut short after a few horses did not pass federal guidelines governing the treatment of horses.
      The performance was suspended after two classes of competition had been completed, the Nashville Tennessean said Saturday.
      A report in the Walking Horse Report Online, a trade publication based in Shelbyville, said inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and trainers disagreed when several horses were denied a place in the show after inspection.
      Competition classes would go on, even officials said, and a decision would be made on when the suspended classes from Friday night will be made up.
      Tennessee Walking Horses, popular throughout the South, are known for their high-stepping gaits, but the industry has faced allegations of animal cruelty for decades.
      Some trainers try to enhance the breed's distinctive stride through a practice called "soring." It involves irritating a horse's forelegs, often with caustic chemicals, so the horse raises its front legs high to take pressure off painful areas, the Tennessean said.
      The 1970 Horse Protection Act made it illegal for people to "sore" show horses.

FOSH Analyzes Soring Violations Data
(05/31/2006)

Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) has analyzed data from over 2,800 suspensions imposed by the USDA and Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) under the Horse Protection Operating Plans since 2002. Horse Protection Act (HPA) violations that resulted in the suspensions include soring, scarring, pressure shoeing, and the use of foreign substances on horses’ legs.

Some interesting facts have been highlighted through analysis of the data:

·        The actual number of violations was 35% higher in 2005 than in the previous three years’ average.

·        During the four year period 2002 - 2005, over 450 people were suspended for multiple violations.

·        Almost 70% of the reported violations resulted from shows held in four states. Tennessee shows had the most violations, with 39%, followed by Kentucky shows with 14%, Alabama with 9%, and North Carolina with 6%.

·        Sixteen of the directors serving terms during 2005 for the national breed registry, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA), were suspended at some point during the 2002-2005 period. (Note: Under 2005 TWHBEA by-laws, only USDA suspensions disqualify seated directors; HIO suspensions do not result in disqualifications)

·        Twenty-two of the 25 trainers honored as 2005 top performers at the Riders Cup competition, a combined program with the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association and Walking Horse Report, were suspended at some point during the 2002-2005 period.

The violations most frequently leading to suspensions were scarring (35%) and soring, including violations involving one or both front legs (52%).

Of the Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) reporting this data, 93% of the violations were reported by two HIOs. The National Horse Show Commission (NHSC) had 72% of the violations. NHSC is the dominant Tennessee Walking Horse show organization, reporting just under 50% of the show entries during this period. Although TWHBEA recently discontinued its alliance with NHSC, the breed registry is one of three industry organizations that formed and managed the NHSC from 1990 through 2005. The Kentucky Walking Horse Association (KWHA) had 21% of the violations.

Specific data about the HPA and soring violations can be requested from the
USDA APHIS Horse Protection Coordinator,

Dr. Todd Behre,
4700 River Road,
Suite 6A02-7,
Riverdale, MD 20737,
(301) 734-5784.

TWHBEA Presents HIO Plan to WHOA
Thursday, December 01, 2005
by Christy Howard Parsons
© 2005 WHR

      TWHBEA President Jerrold Pedigo and his TWHBEA committee of Larry Lowman, Jane Meredith, Charles Wharton and Craig Evans presented their plan for the new TWHBEA HIO sanctioning program to members of the WHOA Board of Directors.

       Complete with a PowerPoint presentation, the TWHBEA committee presented their goal as “A Stronger United Industry. We want to protect and grow our show industry.”...read