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Tennessee Walking Horse Torture Continues: More Soring Injuries Than Ever Come to Light

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I just recently bought a Tennessee Walker.
She is Beautiful and in great shape. Other then she is lame and having an issue in her back hip. I am seeking some advice in what it could be? She seems to kick her hip higher as she walks almost to compensate, i have a feeling she is just out of place. and am hoping it isn't an old injury due to being over worked or strained.
Do Tennessee walkers generally have hip problems, and is it something that can be easily fixed? Im going to start by having a chiropractor take a look at her.
Any advice any of you could give me would be great!

Christine 10:32PM September 01, 2010

My wonderful TWH is lame, in her old age, due to soring, padding, and the use of "mustard Oil." She was the best trail horse I ever had. I "rescued" her from a big lik barn. They had hid her away in a stall, for 6 months, due to a scar on her flank, from a barn fire. The fire was set to claim insurance, on the horses. She is now only able to stand in a stall, due the damage to the nerves in her right front pastern. It is so sad. She became more and more lame for the past 4 years. Her eyes are so sad. Please help stop this horrible practice.

Carolyn Hatch Payne of NC 3:55PM July 11, 2010

Whether you are a supporter or opposer of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), we need to raise awareness to them about this issue. I am a member of PETA simply because I do not support animal cruelty of any kind. Sure, PETA is ridiculously extensive with many things, but one thing we always have in common, is a love and care for animals. As a member of PETA for some time, we never hear anything about the cruelty to horses. This is not because they do not care, it is because they are not brought enough awareness of this horendous epidemic, simply due to their busy lives with other things to pursue. We need to all make them aware. Send your messages to them telling them that they need to start a "Love a Horse, Don't Hurt Them" Campaign (like their other Love A...Don't Hurt Them campaigns), to bring awareness across the world. There can be a stop to this. Members of ETA have brought a stop to so many things in the world of animal cruelty, that it is almost un believeable.
The thing that bothers me the most in the world of horse sporting cruelty is the Soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. As they are born, their natural gaits are beautiful. There walk, trot, canter, gallop, everything is painless, happy and gentle. This is changed with the cruelty of soring. This un-natural process is very distrubing. This needs to stop. As an active member in the horse world, I have seen first hand the cruelty of horse racing. Are the horses treated bad? Absolutely not. However cruelty doesn't always mean being treated bad. These horses are young. Way to young to carry a 120 lb rider for 2 minutes full speed around a track. These horses suffer broken legs, fractures, splinters, and many other early stage problems medically. This is horrific and needs to stop. There is a reason as to why there are so many Race Horse and Thoroughbred Rescue centers around the country. This is because there is an absolute need for it.
There are so many oter forms of animal cruelty and it can be but to a downsize. A good first step is having PETA start a huge campaign, especially with the horse season coming up. Let us bring more awareness to PETA and stop tis horrific acts of horse cruelty.

Sierra of PA 9:29PM May 24, 2010

It's an obvious sight when a horse is being abused by its owner. You can clearly tell by looking at them. The media is right and it needs to stop . These ignorant horse owners don't know what they are doing ! no matter how long they have been riding, showing, training, etc. Horses are a gift to us , with feelings, emotions, thoughts . They feel pain ! All the equine abusers should get back what they been dishing out to these poor amazing animals, Who want nothing but to live their lives happily. Some more fortunate than others . They deserve Love.. and they're mighty great at giving it back if only people would give them that chance and NOT look at them as an oppurtunity for fame and fortune.They should all be locked in a room and beaten till they feel what their horses have.

Brittany Anderson of NJ 7:38PM May 21, 2010

I just attended a small horse show in Middle TN. I saw a large horse trailer with obvious employees helping with the horses..... I was horrified when I saw this beautiful black Tennessee Walker lead out. The horse was so extremely and unnaturaaly altered that I thought the horse's two back legs were broken. I was sick to my stomach, I had to leave.
Later I find out that it is the President of the horse club. Other members are not happy, but scared to stand up for the horse because of retribution. Horses are gifts from God. They should not be tortured for any reason. The owners need to be stopped, what is the easiest way to protect the horse? Who do you report abuse to?

k ford of TN 2:31PM April 22, 2010

There is no way that this treatment of these beautiful horses is "right" or "honorable". As for tree hugging, this is not a tree, it's a beautiful animal. If it weren't for the so called "tree huggers" among us, people would get away with even more abuse and neglect in the name of 'beauty'. BULL.
If one sees sores on a TWH caused by "training" it is WRONG under any circumstance. There are other ways to train a TWH to show their beautiful gaits without causing them pain or suffering. ITS BEEN DONE. Get over yourselves and LEARN how to do it right.

Annie of VA 6:25PM April 16, 2010

there is contreversy with every animals and with everything out there in this world. My family and I have owned and trained walking and racking horses my whole life and even before I was born my family showed horses. Just because of what the media says doesnt mean that that is what is going on. It breaks my heart when people believe we do this to these horses. People need to stop tree hugging and realize what is going on.

laryn hignite of KY 1:33PM February 24, 2010

Why not get the state senators to pass bills to outlaw anything being put on a hoove other then items designed to protect the horses hooves and overall soundness of all horses. The hell with the TWH association. Also, we all need to, as much as it burns me to see, first hand, the abuse going on concerning TW horses, go to every event we can with plackarts denouncing the use of pads on horses feet and also the owners for being cruel to their horses! Don't get yourself arrested but, if we can turn out in large enough numbers, TW horse owners won't want to come to our local shows! wE HAVE ONE A YEAR IN gAINSBORO, tn AND i PROMISE YOU i WILL DO ALL i CAN TO INSURE IT DOESN
T GET PUT ON AGAIN THIS YEAR!
Is their any organized organizations one could join or contact in this effort?
To the person who said he was a caring fellow with his TW horse I'd like to say, " tell your wife she has to wear 8" stilletto high heals from now on, even around the house and to bed and I bet when he gets out of the hospital he'll have a new respect for the pain being inflicted on the horses of the TWHA!

Ken Borawski of TN 11:46AM February 17, 2010

How can it be legal to put a wooden block and a heavy steel shoe on a horse that is so heavy, the horse must fling his feet in the air to walk? If such a thing were done in a circus, they would be shut down immediately. I've had horses for over 45 years, so I know how not only the soring, but the shoeing process itself is nothing short of cruelty. I have waited for over twenty-five years to see this torture ended, and am still waiting. Obviously the TWH industry cannot solve the problem, and the "Big Lick" movement is the source. Get rid of the "Big Lick" - get rid of the soring. Instead, have TWH show off their natural gait which is absolutely beautiful.

S.L. of CA 8:02PM December 16, 2009

Having only recently become interested in gaited horses, I was appalled to watch video's of the Tennessee Walking horse "Celebration", and hear all of the hooting and whistling as the obviously profoundly sore, pathetic animals enter the dramatically dark arena one by one, valiantly trying to move with those absurd pads on their front hooves, having endured the diabolical chemicals placed upon their pasterns and coronet bands back in the shed row behind closed doors for who knows how many hours and days and weeks and years, and the buffoons hunched over backs like monkeys in an overcoat, (can anyone in their right mind consider this equitation!) and the egregious owners and judges and sponsors of this despicable display of human ignorance, I cannot help but wonder with deep dismay, "Who ARE these people?" And more so, "Who ARE we, once knowing of it, to allow this behavior to continue for one more show season?" Thank you Bonnie for initiating this blog, and may the groundswell of opposition finally put a stop to this horrifying abuse.

CM of OR 12:44AM November 20, 2009