Tennessee Walking Horse Soring Issue *Update post 1*

[JackandMo]

[QUOTE=wendy;6337107]
that is totally disgusting. The entire process must be very uncomfortable and unpleasant for a horse, and for what purpose?
Why would anyone do that?
if you want a horse to hold its tail up high, breed for it. We have breeds that naturally hold their tails up- arabs, anyone?
The bigger question is, why is it legal to show a horse with an artificially set tail?[/QUOTE]

ASBs do have a naturally high tail carriage.

Why is it legal to show horses at all? It’s not natural for horse’s to have a saddle on their back, shoes on their feet, and bits shoved in their mouth.

Why is it legal to show a horse whose nose touches the ground? Why is it legal to race a 2 year old at warp speed?

Just because something is different to you doesn’t make it “disgusting.”

[CFFarm]

[QUOTE=JackandMo;6337170]
ASBs do have a naturally high tail carriage.

Why is it legal to show horses at all? It’s not natural for horse’s to have a saddle on their back, shoes on their feet, and bits shoved in their mouth.

Why is it legal to show a horse whose nose touches the ground? Why is it legal to race a 2 year old at warp speed?

Just because something is different to you doesn’t make it “disgusting.”[/QUOTE]

yeah, but none of these horses require minor surgery to obtain a “look”. As always JMHO

[wendy]

Just because something is different to you doesn’t make it “disgusting.”

correct. But surgery/ stretching ligaments with a brace in order to affect the placement of a tail for fashion reasons is disgusting and cruel in and of itself. Painful, cruel, reduces the health and functioning of the horse- those tails serve a purpose in getting flies- and has no benefit to the horse.

training a horse to move slowly with its nose on the ground (or any other training feat I may desire to attempt) demonstrates my skill in training, and doesn’t affect the horse’s physical and mental well-being, and when I leave for the day after a training session the horse can go back to being a horse and moving however it pleases for the rest of the day.
Forcing a horse to move slowly with its nose on the ground because I tie its head up tightly for 16 hours so it can’t do anything else due to pain and muscle damage is cruel and abusive; training it to move like that is not abusive. You might think the activity is stupid, but it’s not abusive in and of itself.

Tail-sets are abusive, in and of themselves.

[WalkInTheWoods]

Again folks, please help out.

[QUOTE=WalkInTheWoods;6336486]
Address your letter to Dear Judge Mattice. This is fine for emails - (snail mail envelope and letter instructions below)

this is a sample only - use your own words !

Jackie McConnell has knowingly broken the law for decades, knowing full well he was in violation of the HPA Act of 1970. He encouraged people under his employ to do the same. I repsectfully request that in your wisdom you will find cause to reject the plea bargain in place for Jackie McConnell.

Flesh your letter out with words from the heart.
Words from the heart mean a great deal in these matters.
Explain to the judge how you feel in a dignified and respectful manner.

Sign off using

Respectfully
or
Thank you for your service
or
Thank you for your consideration
or?
Use your full name

I both snail mailed and emailed my letter.

Harry S. Mattice, Jr. United States District Judge
900 Georgia Avenue, Room 104
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 752-5184
mattice_chambers@tned.uscourts.gov

Please anyone chime in on this if i have omitted proper etiquette in any way

1
The first line of the envelope should be addressed to "The Honorable Judge [First and Last Name]. " You can abbreviate “Honorable.” Example: The Hon. Jane Doe

2
For the second line, include the official title of the judge (for instance: “Associate Justice” or “Judge”), add a comma, then include the full name of the court. Example: Chief Justice, United State Supreme Court

Use the remaining lines for the address of the court.

4
The same full address is repeated at the beginning of your letter, which should be in a standard business format (see Resources).

5
Use “Dear Judge [Last Name]” as your greeting.

6
Proofread the address carefully before submitting for the mail for typos so that it can be delivered properly. If handwritten, be certain all letters are legible.

Read more: How to Address a Letter to a Judge | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2301648_address-letter-judge.html#ixzz1vtEtCbPv[/QUOTE]

[aarpaso]

disgusting, yes i find the abuse of the Walking Horse disgusting now that’s the subject here.when this business of soring is in hand and the changes made in the rule book.than maybe we can take on another breed,but right now its enough to deal with that list in the chattanooga newpaper.

The TWHBEA need to get tuff change the bod.

Mr. D Meadows needs to wake -up. giving Jackie the jerk the boot is not enough.they all need to be shown the door,not have the BIG YUCK classes this yr.give the TWHBEA time to change the rules,support the HPA

[War_Admiral]

@GaitedGloryRider;6336271

(d) Subsections (b) and © shall not be construed to apply to, prohibit or
interfere with the following:
(7) Applying methods and equipment used to train livestock
animals.

And guess what falls in subsection ©:

(7) Applying acid or other caustic substance or chemical to any
exposed area of an animal or forcing the animal to ingest the substance;
(10) Administering electric shock to an animal;

This new law is bullsh*t. It’s just a carefully worded load of crap to shut everyone up while providing a loophole for the good ole boys to keep doing what they are doing.

Yepyepyep. I TOLD y’all there was a specific exception for “training practices”, many pages ago.

Still - it’s a start. It’s a LOT better than the nothing that Tennessee had before.

[The_Preacher]

Apologize not been up on the discussions lately, hope they are staying productive with the ultimate objective being The Abused, Sored, TWH and the end of their horrible lives.

Today, Friday, Jennie and I voluntarily walked into the lion’s den by attending and participating in TWHBEA’s semiannual committee meetings at the TWHBEA Headquarters…the day was interesting, very interesting

Tomorrow is the semiannual Board of Director’s Meeting

I have heard from a few people and this is not confirmed, but the exec comm convened and voted to remove Keith Dane, the principle spokesperson for HSUS from his duly elected Board of Director seat from his state.

They are saying that by participating in those videos and reports he is failed his in fiduciary duties working contrary to The TWHBEA and it would not be in the best interest of The TWHBEA to allow him to remain as a Board of Director.

How’s that go about killing the messenger?..quickly.

The Padded Horse Division does not want to lose the power they now have, so they have marked activist like me, Jennie, Keith and then YOU as Terrorist against the ruling party `````DAMN THE DEMOCRACY PROCESS!!! They don’t want to go and they want o keep doing what they like to do… torture, main, ND kill horses for the sake of entertainment

How’s the email campaign going? Y’all stayin on it?

Will report later

[WalkInTheWoods]

I plan on staying on this roller coaster ride. Just gathering energy and plotting. Stay safe.

[aarpaso]

ho he’s (dane) not a loyal abuser,so he must go, why would they have placed him on the board in the first place,hoping he’d learn to play the game.or just to keep an eye on him.

the word is out, some of them got their names in the paper and not for winning a WGC.

did ya notice how they all play in the same litter pans,TWHBEA,OWNERS ASSOC
TRAINERS ASSOC. maybe its time to change the litter.

[bayou_bengal]

1000th post!!! on this thread!!

We must keep up the pressure on the TWHBEA and the HIOs to re-write their rules. It is THAT simple. The HIOs don’t need a federal law to rewrite the show rules-- they just need the political will, moral conviction and intestinal fortitude!!!

Waiting to read more reports from Preacher, who is visiting the sorers’ ad abusers’ den.

[greygirls]

Originally Posted by WalkInTheWoods
Address your letter to Dear Judge Mattice. This is fine for emails - (snail mail envelope and letter instructions below)

WItW: As for the letter contents, would it be productive to include comments such as “the whole world is looking at us (usa) to resolve this issue once and for all,” “O’Connell should receive jail/prison time to set an example to other TWH abusers,” bring up the fact that there was no remorse shown by the perp(s); “please don’t let these horses slip through the cracks.”

I want to make an impression but don’t want to bog the judge down or insult/question his intelligence or inherent judgment.

Don’t get me wrong, I can be convincing–I wrote a letter once to a judge/prosecutor–darn I can’t recall which, but it was in re the Montana horse abuse case where the perps left a horse on the trail to die and the horses’ saddles were not removed for days. I was hot! I was respectful but implored them to nail the guys responsible–no slaps on the hands at all. I implored them to send a message!

For that case, snail mail was the only choice; so is it productive to send both snail and e-mail in this case or would that be overkill? Any and all comments are welcome.

[greygirls]

>>>Be careful that all horse owners and breeders in Tennessee are not painted with the same brush.<<<

That won’t happen here–we have the intelligence to know who’s who. And Tennessee is only where the whole big lick thing is “centered” and “celebrated” (not necessarily only happening). There are so many people, TWH owners and all, who don’t tolerate soring and the big lick. In fact, I have a new appreciation for the TWH–so many great qualities–just mind boggling what a great breed this is. Why would we allow/tolerate it to be abused?

[Rbow]

And the State did respond by passing an abuse law that specifically EXCLUDES the type of abuse they’ve become internationally famous for…

That sends a great message to the world.

[WalkInTheWoods]

greygirls - i remember that case up in the Bitteroots and werent the perps fined and jailed ? Followed the aftercare of the horses for a while but never saw if that one horse Able and the other three fully recovered.

Good suggestions about what to say in the snail/e mails. I know a form letter isnt effective and people need to put things in their own words.

Re: snail and e mails. Some ppl might be more inclined to send one than the other. Its hard to say what will be more effective. Will they read snail mail or put them in the circular file? Will they read emails or click delete? I dont know. It depends on who handles both types of correspondence. I just feel better sending the message both ways. JMO

[WalkInTheWoods]

Cant wait to see what Roy Exum has to say about the new anti-cruelty law.

[aarpaso]

we can not be fooled,in this State the # of HPA violations was /is 200+

a guy just over the knoll has 7 violation and he is on the Board of the TWHBEA.

Please don’t believe that there is not a Big Lick horse in a dark barn in your State being hurt and abused just to get that owner"s or trainer"S name on the wall of FAME.

Think about this WE ARE PAVING THE WAY TO STOP SORING.making a change in the rules. shinning a bright LIGHT on the abusive practices of some people in the world of TWH showing.

lets keep holding hands in this FIGHT,Keeping our VOICES LOUD,letting those that ABUSE hear US coming.

[WalkInTheWoods]

Roy’s views on recent events.

Roy Exum: Justice’s Walking-Horse Victory
Saturday, May 26, 2012 - by Roy Exum

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/5/26/227031/Roy-Exum-Justices-Walking-Horse-Victory.aspx

[Fairfax]

[QUOTE=greygirls;6337956]
>>>Be careful that all horse owners and breeders in Tennessee are not painted with the same brush.<<<

That won’t happen here–we have the intelligence to know who’s who. And Tennessee is only where the whole big lick thing is “centered” and “celebrated” (not necessarily only happening). There are so many people, TWH owners and all, who don’t tolerate soring and the big lick. In fact, I have a new appreciation for the TWH–so many great qualities–just mind boggling what a great breed this is. Why would we allow/tolerate it to be abused?[/QUOTE]

I would respectfully disagree with your statement. A previous post listed the number of DQ’a state by state and there were quite a few.

There was also a previous post from a person yesterday who stated that after this is cleared up they can start to go after other breeds. Comments such as that do not garner support from other breeds or their owners. That is not to say there are not other problems but I do not think a witch hunt will prove to help the horse…it will help the coffers of HSUS however.

When you MAIL a letter to a politician (more effective than emails as it takes an effort and therefore they claim that EACH LETTER represents over 100 individuals) be prepared to present 1. the complaint 2. the impact on the horse industry 3. the impact on the community i.e. where shows “featuring” big lick are held 4. the impact on Tennessee which also is a hub for C & W music and does not need negative or boycotting publicity and 5. Stress that the solution should come from those involved in the industry NOT HSUS, Peta or other groups.

If the solution is left up to the government they will willingly turn it over to a group that will provide legislation AND anti horse show and ownershipp solutions.

[walknsound]

Well said

[QUOTE=aarpaso;6338175]
we can not be fooled,in this State the # of HPA violations was /is 200+

a guy just over the knoll has 7 violation and he is on the Board of the TWHBEA.

Please don’t believe that there is not a Big Lick horse in a dark barn in your State being hurt and abused just to get that owner"s or trainer"S name on the wall of FAME.

Think about this WE ARE PAVING THE WAY TO STOP SORING.making a change in the rules. shinning a bright LIGHT on the abusive practices of some people in the world of TWH showing.

lets keep holding hands in this FIGHT,Keeping our VOICES LOUD,letting those that ABUSE hear US coming.[/QUOTE]

Well said, and so very true.

[aarpaso]

what is the post # you are eluding 2 FAIRFAX could it be 995,when i stated that the problem at hand was the abuse of the TWH and not the banter about pads on other breeds. if abuse is happening in other breeds that brake the Law of the state or country,they need to be stopped. period

For decades the STATE of Tennessee has turned a blind eye to the ABUSE of this breed of HORSE.and i for one do not care who turned on that BRIGHT LIGHT of TRUTH. i’m here to help it stay lite until the Law has more teeth,and those that brake it are held accountable. the rules that govern the showning of the TWH are changed,and the BIG LICK is NO MORE.