Yay!!!
The damage done by the Big Lick is not just to the feet and suspensories, but also to the shoulders, hips, and stiffles. It negatively affects the WHOLE horse.
It’s probable that there will be large numbers of Walkers ending up neglected and starved as soon as they no longer can perform. Depending on how long they’ve been “stacked” and how it was done the damage may or may not be permanent. If it is permanent look for them to go as meat or just get dumped in a back pasture out of sight. Some may end up with “rescues” of one kind or another. The lucky ones who are permanently crippled and in unremitting pain will be euthanized.
The is a BIG economic hit for the industry. Some may cheer as they see it as “karma.” I see it as the last, sad act of a very long running tragedy and there will be no happy ending.
G.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;9012654]
The damage done by the Big Lick is not just to the feet and suspensories, but also to the shoulders, hips, and stiffles. It negatively affects the WHOLE horse.
It’s probable that there will be large numbers of Walkers ending up neglected and starved as soon as they no longer can perform. Depending on how long they’ve been “stacked” and how it was done the damage may or may not be permanent. If it is permanent look for them to go as meat or just get dumped in a back pasture out of sight. Some may end up with “rescues” of one kind or another. The lucky ones who are permanently crippled and in unremitting pain will be euthanized.
The is a BIG economic hit for the industry. Some may cheer as they see it as “karma.” I see it as the last, sad act of a very long running tragedy and there will be no happy ending.
G.[/QUOTE]
Sadly, I imagine you are right. Thank you for reminding us that as these individuals mistreated their horses while they are performing, they will not be likely to treat them any better when the horses are no longer a paycheck.
I do hope that this is the beginning of some healing in the industry and coming generations of horses can be spared this tragedy.
I hope some of these folks will now support the flat-shod horses. I think they are really nice when they can move naturally. At least all the ones I see trail riding and as pleasure horses. (I’m in Middle TN as well).
I agree, there will be pain, for the horses and the people. But it is of course time to stop the ongoing pain. It is up to the people in the breed to decide how hard or soft a landing they want for their people and for their horses. They’ve had decades to figure it out.
TWH are lovely horses with amazing dispositions. You know they’re kind and forgiving as a breed because they don’t kill the people who treat them this way. I’m sure there are people out there who would give the horses soft landings if that is possible.
The Big Lick diehards will start their own show circuit without inspectors. The people who do this don’t care about what the USDA or anyone else says.
This is my concern too. What is to keep them from going “under ground” with their shows? Just like dog fighting and rooster fighting. Both are illegal, but still go on.
[QUOTE=ParadoxFarm;9012776]
I hope some of these folks will now support the flat-shod horses. I think they are really nice when they can move naturally. At least all the ones I see trail riding and as pleasure horses. (I’m in Middle TN as well).[/QUOTE]
Sadly, “flat shod” does not necessarily equal “unsored.”
As long as the movement we call the Big Lick is desired then trainers will find the least costly way to create it.
Look for a whole new world of less detectable but effective soring methods.
G.
Every time I read this thread I wonder where the manpower/resources are going to come from to make effective inspections?
Unfunded mandates at the federal level are often wonderful ideas that struggle at the local level who are the ones that have to figure out how to pay for the unfunded mandate 
Unfunded mandates at the federal level are often wonderful ideas that struggle at the local level who are the ones that have to figure out how to pay for the unfunded mandate
True, but in this instance you know what is worse? NO mandate.
When I read the article I was so very happy. While I know nothing about stacking and chains it doesn’t look very humane and from what I have read about soring it sounds like torture! However my farrier (who by the way doesn’t show TWH or anything of the sort) had a very good point. "What happens when the AAEP/USDA decides sliding plates or screw in caulks are action devices? He mentioned that the rule doesn’t just address chains and stacked pads on a walking horse he mentioned page 122 section 11.2. I did not have time to read through the entire document as it is 149 pages but being devils advocate here I wonder if this is not a slippery slope?
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;9014218]
Every time I read this thread I wonder where the manpower/resources are going to come from to make effective inspections?
Unfunded mandates at the federal level are often wonderful ideas that struggle at the local level who are the ones that have to figure out how to pay for the unfunded mandate :([/QUOTE]
I’ve not seen the details, but if the new inspectors are trained trained as under the DQP system then the training class will be paid for by the trainee. When they go out to do a show the show management will pay their fee.
So far just who will do the training, where and how it will be done, and what the fee schedule will be for doing a show has not been published (at least as far as I can find).
G.
DQP Grad. from the FOSH program, 1999.
formal copy of the rule will be out tomorrow; advance copy available today
When I read the article I was so very happy. While I know nothing about stacking and chains it doesn’t look very humane and from what I have read about soring it sounds like torture! However my farrier (who by the way doesn’t show TWH or anything of the sort) had a very good point. "What happens when the AAEP/USDA decides sliding plates or screw in caulks are action devices? He mentioned that the rule doesn’t just address chains and stacked pads on a walking horse he mentioned page 122 section 11.2. I did not have time to read through the entire document as it is 149 pages but being devils advocate here I wonder if this is not a slippery slope?
Sometimes when you read regulations out of context, you miss key definition points that effectively cut off the reasonable and appropriate cases that might otherwise be in play.
Therapeutic pads and the like are specifically allowed, and I don’t think there is any mechanism or intent to go after horse-friendly shoeing.
That said, I’d sure rather approach a slippery slope with screw-in studs than with 4 inch stacks and action devices… 
It is somewhat typical for incoming presidents to put a stop on actions initiated by the outgoing administration, so concerned people should contact their representatives to see that the Big Lick stop proceeds after review. There is a lot of money behind the Big Lick, and a lot of political power.
Pony4me, the quote button won’t work but you are so right.
Here’s the CNN article that talks about it.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/reince-priebus-regulations-memo/
and Trump is happening all up and down the public inspection list;
Horse Protection:
Licensing of Designated Qualified Persons and Other Amendments
Filed on:Scheduled Pub. Date:FR Document:2017-00854 PDF 1 Page (44.2 KB) Permalink
Editorial Note: APHIS requested the withdrawal of this document after it was on public inspection. It will remain on public inspection until the close of business on January 24. A copy of the withdrawal request is available at the Office of the Federal Register.
[QUOTE=Amwrider;9010700]
saddlebreds do not deserve to be thrown in with TWH. The saddlebreds do not practice the cruel methods that the Big Lick people do.
Just because the horses step step high and wear a pad, do not mistake them for the same thing.[/QUOTE]
To quote Bradley Dick, a former Big Lick TWH person,
“You wouldn’t make a law that says tethering a bulldog be made illegal, while allowing tethering a rottweiler being legal. If tethering should be made illegal it should apply to all breeds. Same argument for the stacks.”
This is the thing. If ASB’s just used “a pad” I don’t think anyone would have a problem with Saddlebred shoeing. But they don’t. Many times they are stacks of pads and wedges, looking very much like TWH stacks.
So if 4-5 inches of pads are illegal, why wouldn’t 2-3 inches be illegal??
Here is a link to some ASB feet, many which are over the top and look like TWH shoes…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1206729789405860.1073741828.1206676882744484&type=3
And the new rule has now been put on indefinite hold.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2017/01/24/trump-administration-places-horse-soring-ban-hold/96968756/
I guess Gov. Sonny Perdue should be getting some letters and phone calls once in the position to put the bill in motion.
It sad that it is 2017 and finally an attempt to stop it (well at least one that seems might work)? Better late than never but how sad that it has gone on this long.
