Reposted from
SnarkyRider and
Fugly Horse of the Day
SweetPea in: I hate animal abuse. I especially hate horse abuse. And the abuse that the Tennessee Walking Horses endure in the name of winning disgusts me to no end. Please read the article posted below and share with everyone. The more people who know and cry out against this crap the better!!
Photo courtesy of the HSUS
Yesterday morning I was fortunate enough to attend, via conference
call, HSUS’s press conference regarding Jackie McConnell and their
undercover investigation into his use of soring to win in the TWH
shows. I know how informed all the readers here are so I won’t bore you
by rehashing the circumstances and certainly won’t go into what soring
is – there are a variety of resources on the internet for those who
remain blissfully unaware. The press conference was not the harbinger of
epiphanies nor a great and much-needed overhaul of the industry. What
it did tell us, though, was that McConnell has a history of horse abuse,
dating back to 1979.
I’m sorry, what now?
Yup, that’s right.
Here are few other interesting tidbits I gleaned from the conference call:
- The TWH industry claims a high compliance rate with regards to the Horse Protection Act (HPA)
- This is only the second case in 40 years of enforcement of HPA
- At the 2011 Celebration (I believe that was the show, if not, it was
another large national show – my apologies, my notes were a bit rushed)
100% of horses tested, tested positive for foreign substances on their
pasterns
- The HPA does NOT cover anything that happens at the stables – it only covers transportation and the show ring.
One last thing that I learned, during the introduction of the press
conference, an HSUS representative mentioned that they feel there is a
lack of deterrent with regards to soring.
Ya don’t fucking say.
There are a number of contributing factors as to why soring has
become so pervasive within the industry – and yes, I am one of those
people who don’t believe it’s just a
few bad eggs who are
torturing horses for a blue ribbon. I do think a lot of it is because
it has been allowed to occur, relatively unchecked and with far too
lenient repercussions. Judges and registries are turning blind eyes.
Speaking of judges, WHY ARE THEY
REWARDING THE BIG LICK
“GAIT”?! (Unfortunately I haven’t had enough time to properly research
the judging of TWH shows but fear not, a second post is forthcoming!)
For those of you so inclined (read: with an iron stomach) here is the
video footage, as released by ABC The Blotter, of HSUS’s undercover
investigation into McConnell:
clickyclicky
Now, after watching that, please
read this. It’s the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association’s (TWHBEA) response to the video.
-Well, Marty, since adopting your “zero tolerance” policy, how many
members have you kicked out? Because, according to HSUS, in 2011 100% of
around 50 horses that were tested, tested positive for substances on
their pasterns. So either you’re committed to your “zero tolerance”
policy but have secretly adopted a “look waaay the hell the other way”
policy too, or you’ve buried yourself and your organization behind so
much bureaucracy so as not to be able to put any of your policies in to
action. Honestly, how ineffectual can a governing body be?! No really,
I’m asking you, since you’re apparently the reigning expert on the
subject.
-”Tennessee Walking Horses DO NOT have to be sored to walk.” No
shit, Sherlock. But they DO have to be sored to perform the Big Lick
movement which is held in such high estimation at the proverbial Holy
Grail of TWH shows.
-According to this
report by HSUS
on their undercover investigation before a class, McConnell would spray
paint a horse’s pasterns to cover scarring so that it would pass
inspection. I’ll have to get me some of that spray paint that masks not
only sight, but the sense of touch as well.
-Now
this is
an interesting read and greatly illuminates the TWHBEA’s typically
bureaucratic stance. There are a lot of points within that document to
be discussed, however, I think I’ve made my feelings on this
organization clear already.
-Interestingly enough, for a zero tolerance organization, I found NO
information regarding soring (how to identify it, why it’s wrong,
consequences of soring to horses/to people, etc.) on your website.
You’d think that for an organization so opposed to something as to claim
a “zero tolerance” policy, they’d have some information about what
they’re protesting on their website.
Why, if you’ve condemned the practice of soring, have you not
condemned the big lick movement! It’s not a natural gait! The running
walk of the TWH is meant to be, and naturally is, a ground covering
stride – not some gross, epileptic, German Shepard-looking abomination!
Here is a
great video
from 1999 wherein a TWH without massive hoof pads (the TWH/hoof pad
post is also forthcoming!) competes against the Big Lick-eres. It
really highlights the difference between a natural, properly trained,
running walk and the hideous deformity of the Big Lick – from the way
the horse moves, to the rider’s position and movement in the saddle, to
the horse’s expression. Check it out – it’s worth a few minutes of your
time.
If you’re duly horrified by everything you’ve seen here today, please check out
For The Tennessee Walking Horse as they’re compiling a list of people who you may share your outrage with.
——–
*update*
This was just emailed in:
Here are the important guidelines to follow.
1. Write your own letter. Don’t copy and paste mine below–it’s just an example. Even just a few sentences is enough.
2. Copy and paste the video from this link into each letter. Be kind
enough to warn them that it is graphic footage. If you’d rather send the
Nightline story since it’s not as graphic (but still hard to watch),
choose this link.
3. Name calling, nasty remarks, and angry words (except expressions
such as “I could not believe what I saw in this video”) do not help. A
person is immediately turned off by being “yelled” at online or in a
letter. Use rational words and think through what you’re writing before
sending it.
4. If you’re going to write a form letter, be sure to individualize
it when you put it in email form by putting such things as Dear Their
Name at the beginning, and pointing out you understand their position in
the community (such as a Senator or House Rep). Also make sure your
subject line is clear as to what you’re contacting them for, such as
National Celebration Corporate Sponsorship or Enforcement of the Horse
Protection Act.
5. It’s okay to point out that the industry is continuing to support
this abuse by posting statistics, such as how many HPA violators hold
high positions in clubs and associations and are allowed to show their
horses even after multiple violations. But be sure that you back up any
of this with facts. Feel free to contact me or ask on our Facebook page
if you need help with that. You can just avoid that in general by
talking about how you understand how widespread the abuse is you want to
see an end.
6. We have also learned from government officials that they don’t
like electronic petitions without real handwritten signatures, nor do
they want to read the exact same letter from a bunch of people. Each
letter needs to be individual.
It’s also important to thank those who have already taken the steps
to end soring. I’ve included those folks in the list as well.
Here is my example letter to Ford to ask them to pull their
sponsorship. Again, DO NOT copy and paste this letter. Please take the
time to write your own.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Now for the list. If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact me or post them on the Facebook page.
USDA Contacts
Current Sponsors of the Celebration
Ford –
https://secure.corporate.ford.com/footer/contact-ford/contact-us-email?contactMainTopic=PublicAffairs
Cracker Barrel –
http://www.crackerbarrel.com/contact-us/
Potential Sponsors of the Celebration
Keystone Light –
www.keystonelight.com You will have to enter your birth date for legal purposes.
HIOs
Send your emails to the all the major board members: president, vice
president, committee leaders, etc. Or choose all of the email
addresses…the more the merrier!
When writing to the HIOs, request that they ban McConnell the same
way they banned Barney Davis. The HIOs immediately banned Barney Davis
BEFORE he went to trial, but they have not banned McConnell. It’s clear
who’s the money maker of the two for them.
Also, ask them to start putting together stronger penalties. Perhaps a
3 strikes and you’re out policy–three HPA violations (not rulebook
violations) and you’re banned for life. Ask them to stop trying to
placate the public and pretend these are isolated incidents and actually
start working to end soring. We all know soring is the main way of
“training” these horses–it’s high time it ended.
KYWHA –
http://kywha.org/contact-us/
PRIDE –
http://pridehio.com/wordpress/contact-us/ You can copy and paste all the email addresses into a single email.
SHOW –
http://www.showhio.com/contactus.htm
SSHBEA –
http://www.sshbea.org/contactus.html
WHOA –
http://www.walkinghorseowners.com/about-whoa/ Scroll down to see the email addresses.
TWHBEA
Ask them to stop supporting the HPA violators and giving them high
positions in their association. Ask for changes in the by laws that
anyone who has violated the HPA more than twice is not eligible to be on
the board or an officer for life. Ask that their Horse Protection
Committee, which has HPA violators serving on it, to get active within
the breed and actually protect the horse.
http://www.twhbea.com/contact.php
Executive Director – Ron Thomas, rthomas@twhbea.com, 931-359-0580
Executive Assistant – Diane White, dwhite@twhbea.com, 931-359-0581
President – Marty Irby, martyirby@msn.com, 615-796-5334, 931-233-0112
Senior Vice President – Margo Urad, murad@kandsins.com, 214-763-7379
Trainers Vice President – Wayne Dean, fredad@wildblue.net, 931-359-4808, 931-359-7326
Equine Welfare Vice President – Dr. Linda W. Montgomery, 615-210-4038
Find your local board representative on this page:
http://www.twhbea.com/association/bod.php
The Celebration
Ask them to ban McConnell from the show grounds.
http://twhnc.com/ email: twhnc@twhnc.com
Your Congressmen
It’s best to write to the Congressmen in your state first. On the
Senator and House Reps links listed below, a short and easy search will
take you to your Congressmen’s pages, where you can use the contact
forms to contact them. On some Congressmen’s pages, they will only allow
you to contact them if you live in their zip code. But zip codes can
easily be found online at MelissaData for Tennessee and Kentucky.
White House Contact Page
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
Senators – choose the Find Your Senators option in the top right corner:
http://www.senate.gov/
House Representatives – choose the Find Your Representatives option in the top right corner:
http://www.house.gov/
HSUS’s Page for Congress Contact Information concerning the TWH:
https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5399&s_src=twhlanding
Find Your Federal Legislators:
http://action.humanesociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=electedOfficials_federal
Thank Yous
ABC Nightline –
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=Nightline
HSUS –
http://www.humanesociety.org/forms/contact_us/contact_equine_protection.html
Pepsi – For pulling their sponsorship from the Celebration:
http://cr.pepsi.com/usen/pepsiusen.cfm?date=20120518
