Another article in the TimesFreePress.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/23/0523-b1-3-plead-guilty-in-soring-case/?news
Check out the picture of Jackie riding the 1997 World Champion. The poor horse’s back end looks bizarre. This stupid exaggerated gait must really wreak havoc on the hocks and stifles in addition to the front end damage from the stacks and chains.
[QUOTE=bird4416;6333282]
Another article in the TimesFreePress.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/23/0523-b1-3-plead-guilty-in-soring-case/?news
Check out the picture of Jackie riding the 1997 World Champion. The poor horse’s back end looks bizarre. This stupid exaggerated gait must really wreak havoc on the hocks and stifles in addition to the front end damage from the stacks and chains.[/QUOTE]
Dockery finally pleaded quilty after seeing his cohorts may receive probation
"The men were charged in a 52-count indictment that listed charges of horse inspection and related violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Fellow McConnell employee Jeff Dockery, 56, also is charged with 52 counts.
Dockery filed paperwork with federal court to plea guilty Tuesday. His hearing date is scheduled for June 5."
Drove the 100 miles South to Chattanooga and the Federal Court house, did not completely understand the procedures’ of the day, but I just wanted to see and hear it first hand for myself, way to many “Speculations”
Got there early, first in the courtroom we sat on the front row, (can’t hear well out of one of my ears) I sat next to the aisle and Jennie, Rebekah and Jackson decided to take the other end of the bench.
Just before commencement, they escorted a African-American I had never seen before shackled in jail orange jumpsuit and sat him down. I later found out he was a co-defendant in this matter. (After the hearing we asked why was the only African-American of the three… in jail and the others free? We were informed he did not show up to his probation officer and they went out and nabbed his butt., and in jail he sits)
Jackie and his wife walked in from the left and behind me, he ushered her pass me on the same row I was on and he sat down next to me…I said hi and shook his hand, gave him a reassuring pat on his knee. (By the way, my 3 year old grandson Jackson aka Jet, played back and forth between his mother and I, with Mrs. McConnell in-between, she smile at him and played with him…a person I feel I would like to hang out with…she seemed very nice to me.)
Listen folks, you and I, I know are gonna differ on this next piece.
It is my long held belief that you can absolutely hate, despise and condemn a person’s behavior but not necessarily hate the person, I won’t apologize for this feeling, I learned it early in life and have found it to work well for me.
Many an enemy has later became good friends because of this attitude.
Mr. McConnell, Mr. Mayes and Mr. Abernathy have not done anything to me or mine personally…Do I hate what they did? A resounding YES!.Is it high crime enough for me to hate them and wish the worse plague on them…not for me…otherwise there would be no such words in our language as rehabilitation, reform, life change mercy, or forgiveness.
Are my hands clean in life? ~~~~NO, in no sense of the word, which prompted me to think this way.
I studied all of these men’s faces, posture, affect and sensed great and heavy realization of impending doom on each one of them. There was a heavy dark cloud over each of them, it was palpable~~~~ sure, being in the jackpot they are in may have fueled that…but who cares what fuels it as long as we get “change”
I come to understand that this was a Plea Bargaining Hearing, all three have reversed their previous not guilty pleas and now want to plead guilty for a reduced sentence.
The judge took his time and was very thorough, as he went through the proceedings line by line. I was not prepared to take notes and ended up scribbling notes all over my crossword puzzle.
All three pleaded guilty to one count, a misdemeanor of conspiracy to hauling, delivering, or conveying a horse(s) which they knew was intentionally sored, in violation of the Federal 1970 Horse Protection Act (HPA) and attempted or did exhibit a horse(s) which they knew was intentionally sored. This single charge which they plea bargained carries a maximum 1year confinement in Federal Prison and a fine of $3,000.00
Mr. McConnell also had 1 felony count which entailed charges that went by me faster than I could write it down, but the penalty was the maximum of 5 years imprisonment in Federal Prison and/or $250.000.00…
There is no early release in Federal Prisons, you serve every day of your sentence.
Now here’s the rub in that…there was a special provision presented by The prosecution that even the judge said a couple times was very unusual and non-traditional.
But the rub is this…
It allows Mr. McConnell to serve probation on all charges brought against him.
Easy easy, now…there is a caveat~~~
The U.S. District Court Judge Sandy Mattice who this judge today was standing in for, DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE PLEA BARGIN ON ANY OF THEM! And can throw the book dat them all if she/he (?) wants too.
So what does that mean to us?..The sentencing is September 10, 2012 we have a couple of options…
1). We can all marshal all our resources and overwhelm The Honorable Judge Mattice with
“The People’s Desires”
OR
[QUOTE=Rudy;6332884]
These horses pretty much need to be washed with plain water and have nothing brought near them besides the saddle to keep from being in violation for foreign substances…
…I’d be curious to see horses in other high level sports have samples taken and tested to the TWH standard. How many do you think would come up in violation?[/QUOTE]
The FEI has what is for practical purposes zero drug policy for all it’s competitions regardless of the particular discipline. Every horse is thoroughly inspected by a team of veterinarians (who are much better qualified than a DQP) upon arrival, again before competing and in some cases again during the middle of the competition. A horse can be eliminated at anytime for unsoundness and there is no protest allowed. Even any legal therapies such as massage and chiro must be declared to the ground jury and vet team, as does any use of the small list of legal substances such as penicillin and gastro medications.
So yes, the horses must be washed with plain water and riders have to be extremely careful with what the horses might come in contact with. While not all horse have samples taken it is a common occurrence and rare to have a violation.
A general overview about the inspection policies and the FEI and the USEF can be found here: http://www.aaep.org/images/files/Review%20of%20FEI%20and%20USEF%20Drug%20Testing.pdf
[QUOTE=The Preacher;6333447]
Drove the 100 miles South to Chattanooga and the Federal Court house, did not completely understand the procedures’ of the day, but I just wanted to see and hear it first hand for myself, way to many “Speculations”
Got there early, first in the courtroom we sat on the front row, (can’t hear well out of one of my ears) I sat next to the aisle and Jennie, Rebekah and Jackson decided to take the other end of the bench.
Just before commencement, they escorted a African-American I had never seen before shackled in jail orange jumpsuit and sat him down. I later found out he was a co-defendant in this matter. (After the hearing we asked why was the only African-American of the three… in jail and the others free? We were informed he did not show up to his probation officer and they went out and nabbed his butt., and in jail he sits)
Jackie and his wife walked in from the left and behind me, he ushered her pass me on the same row I was on and he sat down next to me…I said hi and shook his hand, gave him a reassuring pat on his knee. (By the way, my 3 year old grandson Jackson aka Jet, played back and forth between his mother and I, with Mrs. McConnell in-between, she smile at him and played with him…a person I feel I would like to hang out with…she seemed very nice to me.)
Listen folks, you and I, I know are gonna differ on this next piece.
It is my long held belief that you can absolutely hate, despise and condemn a person’s behavior but not necessarily hate the person, I won’t apologize for this feeling, I learned it early in life and have found it to work well for me.
Many an enemy has later became good friends because of this attitude.
Mr. McConnell, Mr. Mayes and Mr. Abernathy have not done anything to me or mine personally…Do I hate what they did? A resounding YES!.Is it high crime enough for me to hate them and wish the worse plague on them…not for me…otherwise there would be no such words in our language as rehabilitation, reform, life change mercy, or forgiveness.
Are my hands clean in life? ~~~~NO, in no sense of the word, which prompted me to think this way.
I studied all of these men’s faces, posture, affect and sensed great and heavy realization of impending doom on each one of them. There was a heavy dark cloud over each of them, it was palpable~~~~ sure, being in the jackpot they are in may have fueled that…but who cares what fuels it as long as we get “change”
I come to understand that this was a Plea Bargaining Hearing, all three have reversed their previous not guilty pleas and now want to plead guilty for a reduced sentence.
The judge took his time and was very thorough, as he went through the proceedings line by line. I was not prepared to take notes and ended up scribbling notes all over my crossword puzzle.
All three pleaded guilty to one count, a misdemeanor of conspiracy to hauling, delivering, or conveying a horse(s) which they knew was intentionally sored, in violation of the Federal 1970 Horse Protection Act (HPA) and attempted or did exhibit a horse(s) which they knew was intentionally sored. This single charge which they plea bargained carries a maximum 1year confinement in Federal Prison and a fine of $3,000.00
Mr. McConnell also had 1 felony count which entailed charges that went by me faster than I could write it down, but the penalty was the maximum of 5 years imprisonment in Federal Prison and/or $250.000.00…
There is no early release in Federal Prisons, you serve every day of your sentence.
Now here’s the rub in that…there was a special provision presented by The prosecution that even the judge said a couple times was very unusual and non-traditional.
But the rub is this…
It allows Mr. McConnell to serve probation on all charges brought against him.
Easy easy, now…there is a caveat~~~
The U.S. District Court Judge Sandy Mattice who this judge today was standing in for, DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE PLEA BARGIN ON ANY OF THEM! And can throw the book dat them all if she/he (?) wants too.
So what does that mean to us?..The sentencing is September 10, 2012 we have a couple of options…
1). We can all marshal all our resources and overwhelm The Honorable Judge Mattice with
“The People’s Desires”
OR[/QUOTE]
Sounds like the Judge’s court address would be the place to send a nice pile of requests for further considerations on this matter.
I know little or nothing about TWH’s and have read all this stuff with interest. God bless those poor horses. God bless you, Preacher, you’re a good man.
Wish I could take on a TWH that needs a rehome and some TLC. Where’s the best place to start?
You don’t have to hate these guys, but you do have to recognize that they have been intentionally cruel to animals for many, many years, without the slightest sense of remorse, one would assume, in the pursuit of fame and fortune.
They have knowingly tortured animals in the name of money. I doubt they were sadistic, but I do think they absolutely did not care they were hurting those horses. (It’s not like this is a revelation into human character, it happens all time all over the world when atrocities are committed).
I am sure they were remorseful, but my guess is because they got caught.
I doubt anyone involved in this case had a revelation in the past week that it was wrong to hurt animals. I think they did realize their livelihood and possible freedom would be impinged upon, and most likely felt indignant they got caught and every other trainer doing the same thing was not.
These guys are just the tip of the iceberg, but as I and others have said, if this BL showing finally goes out of fashion, these abusers will fade away. If there’s no profit in it, there won’t be any one to do it.
And by the way, Michael Vick apparently has been totally forgiven (he also said he was sorry), so the public soon forgets things like this when the next scandal comes along.
Somewhere back on one of these threads, it was mentioned that TWHBEA (the breed registry) wants the world to point its fingers else where in this matter. They claim they are not the governing bodies in this soring stacked chained and pained show mess and they point to trainer associations, show organizations as the folks responsible.
Well, since NONE of these horses can be shown without valid TWH registration papers, I think it time TWHBEA be reminded yes indeed they are a major player in this horse soring game.
The HPA (Federal Horse Protection Act) specifies its assessment of penalties (fines and jail) are not in any way limiting the hands of the associated show organizations from applying their own penalties and suspensions.
I think it is high time TWHBEA take their role much more seriously. Again since none of the horses can be shown without papers - they need to consider things such as revoking papers of sored animals. It can be done for a specific length of time. It can have a process by which the horse can be reinstated if housed with a verified non soring facility.
What would a verified non soring facility be??? Well, one that is open to visitors, permits an auditor to come watch and record and queston and observe demonstrations of horsemanship etc.
Many of them around me.
Too much $$ to do this??? Well maybe TWHBEA should sell ownership of the Tennessee Walking Horse to another MO Betta association.
Preacher - Your humanity and wisdom and moral compass shine through your words. Glad to know you if just on this monitor. Was just about to post the following but your words made me sit back in the chair for a bit.
Posting this again
Oregon Congressman Schrader addresses the USDA’s Horse Protection Act and the issue of “soring” 5-17-2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dx3dvYMH-k
This would be a great time to support Congressman Schrader since he spoke to the house 5-17-12. Now nobody in Congress can say they dont know what soring is. The soring roaches run when the light (USDA inspection )is turned on. They run, the owners, who have been paying for training for months dont get their horse shown = unhappy owners who cant say they werent aware of why their horse didnt show. This can be done NOW without changing a law ! It will take a lot of time and effort to pursuade the HIOs and breed associations to ban stacks, but more frequent USDA inspections can have an immediate effect.
Your Congressman
Interactive map to click on to get contact info for your state’s congressmen
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
I’m snailmailed my state and will email others something along these lines:
In view of the upcoming elections I would like get your opinion of this:
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/vide...abuse-16365454
Oregon Congressman Kurt Shrader addressed this issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dx3dvYMH-k
Will you please increase financial support to the USDA to assure that the HPA inspection program is adequately funded ? I would like to hear your views on this matter.
I’m very much a forgive and move on kind of person but COME ON. McConnell has been caught 13 times prior to this. Like the thief who isn’t sorry in the least that he stole but is very much sorry he got caught I don’t believe for one minute Jackie McConnell is the least bit remorseful for all the pain and torture he’s inflicted on who knows how many horses over the years. His sense of self-preservation is likely kicking in and I’ll bet any “remorse” he’s feeling is over the fact that this may very well be the time his past catches up with him and he may actually have to pay for him crimes this time around.
Thirteen previous suspensions. No way of knowing how many times he got away with it. At any point over the years he could have simply put the bat down, tossed aside his cattle prod, thrown out the chemicals and stopped torturing these horses. He did not. It took him getting splashed across the national media to put an end to his abuse (and who’s to say he won’t resume his ways again once the hubbub has died down? He’s certainly set that precedent in the past).
The man is a slime ball and deserves prison time. I’m not inclined to think any other way until his actions start showing otherwise.
And for Pete’s sake, he hasn’t even bothered issuing an apology!!! Forgiveness?!?! Nope, not in this stage of the game. Heck even Michael Vick APOLOGIZED!!!
kwill and ggr I agree - i might forgive him some day - through bars. :mad:
hurleycane - good thought. we need to strategize.
[QUOTE=The Preacher;6333447]
Drove the 100 miles South to Chattanooga and the Federal Court house [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your observations on the proceedings.
Champagne Watchout
Huh… here’s an interesting video about people who fought to show a ‘light shod’ horse in the world champ class as the '99 Celebration. Video is long, 39 minutes. And you have to watch a bit before you can see the horse in the show ring. I can’t watch the whole video now, but I am pretty interested to find out how it all turned out. Also, apparently first time someone who was not white showed in the class?
Isabeau, there are loads of top notch and well respected black trainers in TWH land. Heck, even Jimmy McConnell was EEOC enough to hire black guys to work in his barn and help him abuse those horses.
It’s bad enough- trying to spin it into something else? Really?
I just went to the TWHSA site to look at some rules and found the web page for the “DPQ Services.” http://www.twhsa.com/DQP.htm
The link for more information on the the Horse Protection Commission takes you to a Japanesse porn site.
I can’t decide if this is really funny or really sad.
Yes, let’s please keep this on topic, the issue at hand is bad enough.
It’s very hard to show a horse in a division, ANY division, where it appears different than the other competitors – that goes for any horse show in the land. When quarter horses were peanut rolling, the higher headed horses never won – they had to change the standard to poll at the withers before it changed (and we all should know the abuses that went on there to get the heads down, but I am not derailing, I promise).
It’s great to put your point across, but until the division is changed, fighting to show a horse that doesn’t conform to the what the judges want is a losing battle.
It has to be a change of an entire outlook about what is acceptable.
I am in the camp that says limits on the amount of weight and type of shoeing that would be allowed would go a long way to solving some of this problem. Every breed with a park horse type has gone through this, and come out OK – there must be hope for this walking horse division as well.
[QUOTE=Isabeau Z Solace;6333609]
Huh… here’s an interesting video about people who fought to show a ‘light shod’ horse in the world champ class as the '99 Celebration. Video is long, 39 minutes. And you have to watch a bit before you can see the horse in the show ring. I can’t watch the whole video now, but I am pretty interested to find out how it all turned out. Also, apparently first time someone who was not white showed in the class?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhSP6muJwLk&feature=related[/QUOTE]
It was groundbreaking.! And Nathaniel Jackson is The Preacher who posts here !
Note that what he began to say was “People cheat.” He corrected himself and said “some people cheat.” Big difference for the industry in that “some.”
We do need a good strategy to urge the HIOs to make those shoeing changes.
lets play it smart,send the sentencing judge everything we can about GOOD OLE BOY JACKIE,then ask the Question do you really think this man is going to STOP abusing the horses he trains.
caught 13 times
could not be the trainer of record at one show so he conned the Trainer Assoc in to giving good ole boy Dockery a LIC to train.
works for people who stand and watch him abuse,(Privett,McGowan)
we have enough imformation so this judge can see the TRUTH we just need to share it,
now if this judge owns BL horses well lets just say we can hope he /she throws ole Jackie under the bus to shut us up.
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