The Sadistic Treatment of Tennessee Walking Horses
Reader Comments
JLJ
This is addressed to the author of the first comment-- You honestly think only twenty or so people sore their TWH's. Maybe twenty in your area or your group of friends but do you honestly think the government would set aside money to pay inspectors for twenty bad apples? No. Either you are a teen or a clueless adult. Soring is a big problem in the industry. The number of soring violations has gone up in the last two years so it's not going away. People can blame overzealous inspectors, the sun, the moon, whatever they want but that doesn't change the fact that soring is a huge problem.
Maybe you grew up in an environment where these practices were used and therefore you are so accustomed to it that you fail to see the big picture and just how cruel soring is. I can understand that mentality. We do what we know and what we've heard all of our lives but there comes a time when we must think for ourselves and say enough is enough. Many people that used to sore or have horses in barns where soring occured have since changed their practices. Its pathetic what humans will do in order to boost their ego and win a ribbon that cost a couple bucks to make. They want the fame, to be a notoriously "good" trainer that will get your horse to be in the ribbons, all that crap. Many owners don't care what it takes to get a horse to move like that, they just want the glory of the win at the horses expense.
Cruel training methods are used in every industry involving animals. Check out western pleasure training methods used on Quarter Horses for example. Tying their heads up so they hang low, using bicyle chains for bits, using wire as a curb strap. Literally filleting the horses sides with spurs. Racing Thoroughbreds so young their knees aren't even closed yet! When they don't win they get hauled to the auction and are often bought by kill buyers where they are taken to a feedlot and fattened up for a couple days before setting off on a one way trip to the slaughterhouse.
TWH's are abused in a way that I just cannot comprehend. Its so over the top its unbelievable the crap humans do to win. I mean come on-chemicals, road foundering, horses moaning in pain, horses laying down all the time in their stalls and needing to be whipped to rise, horses never getting turned out because they have those stupid looking stacked shoes on and they might rip off a hoof is allowed out of their stalls. It's just sick sick sick sick sick.
wow LIE
this is so dumb. I have grown up with TWH and the people i grew up with rode them all the time. trust me, only about 20 people or so sore there horses, and you people dont even know wat ur talking about.
Here we are in 2009 and low and behold!
Celebration Stake 2009
1st-Watch It Now - Post Show Scar Rule Violation/USDA federal case
2nd-Victoria's Secret - Post Show Scar Rule Violation/USDA federal case
3rd-The Coach - Post Show Scar Rule Violation/USDA federal case
Makes you wonder how they got to show in the first place,
Lord
Just another example of government intrusion!! If you don't like soring..then don't do it. Change the industry by changing yourself..or entering in your "unsored" horses. Government shouldn't be burdened with righting every single wrong that exists. A horse is a horse and is an animal.
BTW I own and show TN Walkers and have never and will never sore. But I can't stand all this ruckus with "outsiders" or people who don't know what they are talking about jumping on a band wagon.
I have a great show record on my horses...and I beat sore horses regularly. Get on the horse and ride everyday as much as possible...train hard and you can beat sore horses.
All I hear is lazy people wanting to "squash" soring...so they can show their barely trained horses and have a chance. Train your horses...and show them and the industry will see the results. That is the best way to reform the practice!! And PLEASE tell the government to get out!! And if you aren't in the industry or don't own or show Tn Walkers...don't comment!!
Yeah, soring is over!!!!!!
http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20090823/SPORTS/90823001/0/NEWS01/Tennessee+Walking+Horse+abuse+triples+in+4+months#pluckcomments
Cheap horses
As we all very well know our horses, even though we may think our horses are worth a over abundance, they arent.
i have been going to the TWH Celebration since i was 12, my grandaddy showed walkers, way back in the day, and even way back when they did bad things to there horses..
The makeing them pace till they dont know how to do anything else then slapping pads on them, the tail breaking the head sets,the soring.
My biggest beef here is i want to go o the Celebration, but i want to see flat shod horses take over without all the oring if my horse steps high, but look at all the natural moves of the walking horse stride comfermation, are they smooth.
In my mind i just really want to know why cant we geet back to where they should be!
Maybe we could get back to our horses bein ntural, and who knows my Tn walking horses might go up in value..
I dont know but i know i love my walking horses and that is the only horse i ever want to be riding.
I love the celebration and want to see it house the best walking horses not the sorest or the people who have the most money, politics is in every move of the celebration who know who, and do you have enough money to buy off this person and that person..maybe a judge maybe some one else..
Bring em sound or leave em at home
Hope to see you all behind the wall in late August and early September. Will get my nails sharpened up for the occasion.
Testy...Testy
I sense that someone is getting a little TESTY! My post was original and just like they say, ‘one apple spoils the whole bunch!’ No copying and pasting here thank you very much.
I’m starting to think you’re not Richard Nibbler (but then again I hope your smarter to post these comments under your real name) but that (1) VMO you were referring too. I guess you’re one of THOSE (who are definitely bias and unfair). I’ve had my fill of your wishy-washy comments. This industry is here to stay…YOU AREN'T STUPID ENOUGH TO THINK OTHERWISE ARE YOU??
Good day!
Could you be a little more original
I have seen 1 thru 4 posted on another chat board. I do believe that that was written about a specific (1) VMO. You are worse than SLB with your voluminous BS. She was the master of cut and paste.
Are you so stupid that you believe that these horses are all trained and shown sound? I will use every inspection opportunity to shut down these SOBs.
Messing with Livelihoods you say! Some need a new occupation.
DQP...PLEASE!
Although I highly DOUBT you’re an industry inspector, you just go to show how biased some of you jerks can be!
Let’s just say you are who you say…The Walking Horse industry has no problem with DQP’s and VMO’s. In fact we welcome the involvement and input of professionals who are intent on the fair and consistent enforcement of inspections. It’s inspectors like yourself who think you’re protected by higher authorities but in reality you are not. You are clearly against the walking horse industry and messing with people’s livelihoods. Thank you so much for your advice, but I don’t need it! Let me finish with some advice for you…
1. Approach the horse and pick up the feet like stated in the rule book
2.Support the foot properly
3.Face the right direction while ‘palpitating’ the pastern area
4.Completely inspect a horse before moving on to target another trainer entering the inspection area
For some, failure to follow proper procedure and protocol are nothing more than an attempt to shut down this industry. The days of unprofessional and inexplicable DQP’s working a show to afford an opportunity to exercise their biases and agendas in disregard of their charged duties must end.
