Where judges are concerned the almighty dollar rules again. Who they gonna pin? Whoever gave the most money to the Association last year. Judges can be bought too.
Me on a series of sound TWH horses.
my horse, pacey by nature, getting better as I learn how to help…
The rest of these are a friend’s. Barefoot or only shod behind, an easy Myler bit with small shank, and a treeless. And they are 100% sound and honest and really, really fun to ride.
Drama, a 3 YO w/ no shoes. Very honest and square.
http://youtu.be/zqhQzXRzTf4
Gummi, an incredible 4 YO. Hind shoes, bare fronts. Would love to canter if I’d ask 
http://youtu.be/iiPJLulpgMA
Daisy, a 7? YO mare? So fun and flirty and light- just a treat to ride. Barefoot all around.
http://youtu.be/Ck34CRzHRpM
It’s a kind, willing, lovely breed. Lets save the breed and clean up the people.
Great examples! I am gonna sneak over and steal me some of those horses… These video posts are showing not only good examples but also the variation within the breed. Yes, this breed offers variation: from top show horse to wonderful trail and field mounts.
Just to represent the TWH a little more on this thread, here is a favorite video. I would be thrilled to own this horse. Now he is not extreme in movement as some show horses but I am sure he is versatile in what he can offer a rider. Lovely canter and a great stout body. I bet he can go for miles. And it is a fun video. I love the mucsic and I feel the exuberance of the ride!
Drinking coffee and watching the videos you 2 posted of nice moving walkers. Why would anyone ever want to “fix” what wasnt broken ?
[QUOTE=hurleycane;6367628]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U22gJHH2gU&feature=plcp
Beautiful sweeping gait. Enjoy the slo mo.[/QUOTE]
What a beauty! Great reach, fantastic headshake. Super example of what the breed can do!:yes::yes::yes:
[QUOTE=WalkInTheWoods;6368602]
Drinking coffee and watching the videos you 2 posted of nice moving walkers. Why would anyone ever want to “fix” what wasnt broken ?[/QUOTE]
Man’s hubris; What God has made, we can do better. Foolish.
[QUOTE=hurleycane;6368582]
Great examples! I am gonna sneak over and steal me some of those horses… These video posts are showing not only good examples but also the variation within the breed. Yes, this breed offers variation: from top show horse to wonderful trail and field mounts.
Just to represent the TWH a little more on this thread, here is a favorite video. I would be thrilled to own this horse. Now he is not extreme in movement as some show horses but I am sure he is versatile in what he can offer a rider. Lovely canter and a great stout body. I bet he can go for miles. And it is a fun video. I love the mucsic and I feel the exuberance of the ride!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBo-I1Ys_oY&feature=plcp[/QUOTE]
Nice !!!
Our TWH aren’t under saddle just yet but they both gait at liberty in their pastures and as they’re ponied. My teenage son was playing around the last time we ponied my husband’s colt on the trail and when he got just a little too scary Mission kicked it up into a nice running walk to get away from the scary teenage kid… it was cute that he had just that little extra gear and he used it to escape!
They’re both extremely sweet amendable horses, one of them has been mistreated and is coming around much quicker than I would have expected…
Char’s emails sound a lot like the ones I got from the “What a Horse” you tube guy. Maybe the same guy?
I pointed out to him that the “BL’ers” must not really like the breed much if they have to “amplify” it that much.
Is there a list of owners (not just owner/trainers) of these poor horses somewhere? They are the ones I’d really like to talk to.
WHOA and Affiliate’s
Here are my correspondences with WHOA and their views. As with PRIDE, it doesn’t look like we will be able to get these people to change ANYTHING unless it is made illegal to pad those horses that high, put weight restrictions on shoes and get chains outlawed from the show ring.
So sad. 
Hi Sarah,
I appreciate your efforts in order to inform me about the organization and it’s affiliates, however, my concerns regarding MY personal perspective, beliefs and experiences are far different from yours and apparently, your colleagues as far as the direction that the breed has taken during the course of the last 50 years or so, as well as the image that has been chosen by the few who run the organizations associated with it. Annette in registration is mistaken, I do not live in the area that she indicated, and unfortunately, she will not be able to retrieve my membership information, as I do not currently belong to any of the Tennessee Walking Horse organizations, either as an advisory or silent member.
My Walking horse, while pure bred, is unregistered with the registry, as I chose not to participate because of the monstrosities that are associated with showing in the breed shows by not only the rest of the horse industry, but by the entire world. I have shown in other disciplines that are not affiliated with the Walking Horse Industry, some rail classes, (English/western) some performance (jumping, etc.).
I would LOVE to become more active within the breed, by becoming a member with ALL of the organizations and affiliates, however, they hold nothing for me and my horse. The base of the breed is not in the Performance Horse Division of the rail classes which WHOA and others choose to focus on, but the many, many, MANY people who own Walking horses simply because we love the breed - personality, versatility, stamina and beauty, a SMOOTH ride! …and quite honestly, none of those characteristics are enhanced by the poster child of the Walking Horse world - the Padded Horse.
I just thought that you would like to hear from a prospective member and active participant, some feed-back, if you will. Constructive criticism? However you would like to categorize it. There are hundreds of thousands of individuals much like myself, that do not register their horses, nor join up as members because of these same views on the Breed’s main organizations, and the unwillingness to condone or support in anyway the Big Lick section of the industry. The Memberships of each of the major Walking Horse organizations could increase by hundreds of thousands of new members if they would simply let go of the black-hole that has become of the Performance Horse classes, and get back to the basics of the breed and all of the wonders that these horses can achieve (without being crippled by pads and chains/soring, etc.) because of what they REALLY are when they are un-encumbered by Performance Packaging = The TRUE face of the Tennessee Walking Horse!!!
Anyway, I just thought I’d give you some feedback from ‘the rest of us’, so that you know where your potential major membership stands.
Thank you again for your time, and the information that you so kindly took the time to type out.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Smith
TWH Owner
Hello Again Charlotte:
This communication is copied to each of the WHOA management individuals to whom you originally communicated your question and also to the TWHBEA Executive Director and the TWHBEA Welfare Chairman, the reasons which you will understand as you read below.
I would much rather speak with you via phone than try to write so much in an email… First of all, it is important that you realize I can address your concerns only from my personal perspective, beliefs and experiences encompassing about half a century of involvement with the TWH.
To answer your question, WHOA will amend its rules and regulations to accommodate whatever might be any future requirements of the federal government pertaining to the show ring presentation of the Tennessee Walking Horse. WHOA is far ahead of the greater portion of the TWH Industry in that our WHOA horse show governance already includes certain federal rules, regulations, and directives that other groups have yet to include.
Not knowing just what your involvement with the TWH might be, I really don’t want to overload you with information, much of which you would not understand unless you actively participate in rail competition horse shows. I did talk to Annette in the registration office at the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitonrs’ Association and discovered you live in Bay Springs, MS. I have your address, but have been extremely busy and thought to try and find a phone number for you and communicate rather than to write a book in an email.
Please let me know if you show your horses, or only trail ride, or breed mares, etc. This will give me a baseline to know where to begin. Should your email to the WHOA Board of Directors and Advisory Board be in response to all the publicity (ABC - Nightline Program, other network news items and many major newspaper articles), then the answer I have given you is the appropriate response to your question.
If you have experience showing the TWH, I can give you much more complete information. Going into detail, should you not be familiar with using your horses in show ring competition, would be equivalent to me trying to teach a beginner swimmer just learning the breast stroke how to dive from the high diving board. Competition experience on a TWH at horse shows allows parameters for immense understanding.
Some information about WHOA which will be of interest to you:
-
WHOA develops, promotes and produces more horse shows than any other organization involved with and/or centered around the TWH. Our WHOA horse shows are NOT located only in the heartland of TWH country in TN, our horse shows happen in many states as well as in TN; VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, MICH, WISC, INDIANA, KY, ILL, many midwestern states, on the west coast, a few up east, etc., etc.
-
WHOA is a national membership-driven organization. Each member is encouraged to participate and voice their opinion and their vote about the governance of operations and promotions sponsored by WHOA. Historically since its origin, WHOA has been extremely fortunate to have persons in our organization’s management whose goals and objectives have, for the most part, been dedicated to only the horse and the collective membership’s needs and objectives. It is the intent of the BOD, the Advisory Board, and the WHOA collective membership that this well-established and immensely appreciated operational practice for WHOA will continue.
-
WHOA members can boast that we have an immensely experienced and knowledgeable Executive Director, Tommy Hall, who has been our Exec. Dir. for somewhere over 30 years and is one of the most respected individuals involved with any equine species anywhere in the entire country. I can truly say without any doubt whatsoever, Tommy knows more about producing horse shows and works with more horse show chairmen than any other individual in the entire TWH Industry with regards to rail competition. In addition to owning a tremendous amount of respect from these show chairmen, he also has immense respect from the participants at each and every one of the WHOA horse shows as well as the federal regulators whenever they participate to inspect the horses at WHOA shows. Thousands of horses compete annually at WHOA horse shows. The greater participation at ALL of the WHOA shows is by the flat shod horses though we do offer events for padded horses at some of our horse shows.
I would like to encourage you to attend our International Pleasure Horse Show that will be held in Murfreesboro, TN in July so you might witness first-hand our major WHOA flat-shod showcase…I’ll send you the dates.
Please give me a bit more information about yourself and your TWH interest area and I shall be happy to try and answer all of your questions to which I know the answers. Thank you so much for your interest in WHOA.
*NOTE: Referenced above in this communication you see I reference TWHBEA, our breed registry with which your horses and ALL TWHs eligible for pedigree certification are registered. Please understand TWHBEA does NOT produce horse shows other than two events: (1) the TWHBEA World Show which focuses to the versatility and usability of flat shod TWHs, and (2) the TWHBEA National Futurity which is the competition that showcases the breeding expertise of its participating membership. TWHBEA, the TWH Industry’s first and longest established national membership-driven and collectively managed organization, primarily functions to maintain the stud books and record the pedigrees of the TWH species. TWHBEA is NOT involved with day-to-day regulation of the rail competition horses. You should also consider becoming a member of TWHBEA as well as WHOA. This communication is copied to Ron Thomas, the extremely accomplished, experienced, and nationally respected TWHBEA Executive Director, and to Dr. Linda Montgomery, TWHBEA’s Executive Vice President, Welfare, who is an instructor at one of our country’s well respected schools of veterinary medicine and who is experienced not only in veterinary academia but also is experienced in the practice of veterinary medicine.
'til later,
Sarah Lynn
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for responding to my email. Is WHOA currently working on amending its rules and regulations to eliminate the padded horse classes?
Thank you,
Charlotte Smith
-----Original Message-----
From: bledsoesl <bledsoesl@aol.com>
To: smi7470 <smi7470@aol.com>; cowboykim58 <cowboykim58@gmail.com>; tambrogdon <tambrogdon@msn.com>; marthachild <marthachild@bellsouth.net>; doublegranch <doublegranch@bellsouth.net>; boldstridestables <boldstridestables@yahoo.com>; jeanotwh <jeanotwh@gdinet.com>; brostephen <brostephen@gmail.com>; wcarr29450 <wcarr29450@aol.com>; auntboop <auntboop@comcast.net>; sjfleck48 <sjfleck48@hotmail.com>; dgladney <dgladney@glennbrookschool.com>; d.hancock <d.hancock@mchsi.com>; wswh <wswh@intermaxnetworks.com>; kaka9551 <kaka9551@yahoo.com>; starwalkin <starwalkin@cafes.net>; fneal <fneal@feneal.com>; andy.rippy <andy.rippy@31w.com>; maskr8ng <maskr8ng@aol.com>; wyschumann <wyschumann@aol.com>; chiapparisims <chiapparisims@aol.com>; dukethorson <dukethorson@aol.com>; gwall <gwall@cafes.net>; david <david@waterfallfarms.com>; harolene-willis <harolene-willis@thescooponline.com>; womackl <womackl@rcs.k12.tn.us>; norma_beal <norma_beal@hotmail.com>; equineservicesllc <equineservicesllc@yahoo.com>; bcherry21 <bcherry21@hotmail.com>; imdumas1 <imdumas1@gonowmail.com>; lanesend <lanesend@bellsouth.net>; douglasannmcgovern <douglasannmcgovern@gmail.com>; dannewman10 <dannewman10@gmail.com>; dvm71 <dvm71@aol.com>; sisosborne <sisosborne@tds.net>; dpruett <dpruett@comcast.net>; david.whitaker <david.whitaker@mtsu.edu>; womackst <womackst@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 8, 2012 1:28 pm
Subject: Re: Tennessee Walking “Performance” Padded Classes
Hello Charlotte:
Please be assured there exist many individuals whose disgust about the myriad of issues surrounding the TWH rail competition horse is evidenced in their objectives and their work within the TWH Industry, myself being one of those individuals.
Please JOIN WHOA and assist us in our collective work to protect and promote the TWH rail competition horse. Thank you for considering membership with WHOA so you might assist our efforts.
I will appreciate an ability to communicate with you about this specific matter. Please call me or send me a phone number so that I might have a conversation with you.
Thank you so much.
Sarah Lynn Bledsoe
910-484-4183
-----Original Message-----
From: smi7470 <smi7470@aol.com>
To: cowboykim58 <cowboykim58@gmail.com>; tambrogdon <tambrogdon@msn.com>; marthachild <marthachild@bellsouth.net>; doublegranch <doublegranch@bellsouth.net>; boldstridestables <boldstridestables@yahoo.com>; jeanotwh <jeanotwh@gdinet.com>; brostephen <brostephen@gmail.com>; wcarr29450 <wcarr29450@aol.com>; auntboop <auntboop@comcast.net>; sjfleck48 <sjfleck48@hotmail.com>; dgladney <dgladney@glennbrookschool.com>; d.hancock <d.hancock@mchsi.com>; wswh <wswh@intermaxnetworks.com>; kaka9551 <kaka9551@yahoo.com>; starwalkin <starwalkin@cafes.net>; fneal <fneal@feneal.com>; andy.rippy <andy.rippy@31w.com>; maskr8ng <maskr8ng@aol.com>; wyschumann <wyschumann@aol.com>; chiapparisims <chiapparisims@aol.com>; dukethorson <dukethorson@aol.com>; gwall <gwall@cafes.net>; david <david@waterfallfarms.com>; harolene-willis <harolene-willis@thescooponline.com>; womackl <womackl@rcs.k12.tn.us>; norma_beal <norma_beal@hotmail.com>; equineservicesllc <equineservicesllc@yahoo.com>; bledsoesl <bledsoesl@aol.com>; bcherry21 <bcherry21@hotmail.com>; imdumas1 <imdumas1@gonowmail.com>; lanesend <lanesend@bellsouth.net>; douglasannmcgovern <douglasannmcgovern@gmail.com>; dannewman10 <dannewman10@gmail.com>; dvm71 <dvm71@aol.com>; sisosborne <sisosborne@tds.net>; dpruett <dpruett@comcast.net>; david.whitaker <david.whitaker@mtsu.edu>; womackst <womackst@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 8, 2012 12:44 pm
Subject: Tennessee Walking “Performance” Padded Classes
Dear WHOA Directors, Officers and Members,
I am writing you regarding the plight of the Tennessee Walking horses that was filmed by HSUS and aired on ABC’s Nightline on 5/16/12, of which I am sure that you are aware.
The torment that these horses have been suffering since the 1950’s is an abomination, not only to the Tennessee Walking Horses breed, but is also a huge black eye on the USA and the states that allow the Big Lick TWH classes to be held. The “Performance Horse” showing classes need to be eliminated – no stacks, no chains in the show ring.
As an owner of a TWH myself, I have boycotted any and all associations having to do with the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, simply because I cannot, in good conscience, financially support the corruption and torture that goes along with the Big Lick scene in the Walking horse community.
Should there come a time when all of the major TWH organizations ELIMINATE the Performance Horse classes from ALL show bills, and get serious about outing, banning and turning over for prosecution ALL of the abusers in the breed, then I would gladly join the ranks of membership, spending fees and possibly even donations to this breed that I have come to adore.
The world is watching – you cannot hide these hideous acts behind the curtain any longer. The Organization has said for years that they are “working on cleaning up”. WE are saying, NO MORE. If you will not stop this insanity, than we will pressure our politicians for Legislature that WILL.
Sincerely,
Charlotte M. Smith
Tennessee Walking Horse owner
Thanks for sharing that. Discouraging to say the least.
Did you really expect anything else?
Some of the remarks by Sarah Lynn came off as very condescending - basically, that unless you have participated in showing a TWH in rail classes, you cannot possibly understand it and just need some “education.”
IMO, it is the people who do own and ride naturally-gaiting flat-shod TWHs who “understand” - maybe better than anyone - just how much of a perversion the Performance Horse classes really are.
We know because we have experiences to compare it to. We know how versatile and willing and stoic the breed is, and we know that the true gait doesn’t come from pads or chains or chemicals.
Rail classes, to me, are of little importance when it comes to the whole package of what a horse can offer. It just leaves me asking “is that all it can do? Go in circles with crap on its feet to make it step higher and look flashy?”
The fact that the TWHBEA has put the padded/performance horse on a pedestal as the “ultimate” representative of the breed just goes to show that maybe they are the ones who don’t really understand.
The more things stay the same, the more things…stay the same.
For us who are long in the tooth on all this it’s deja vu all over again. The Sore Lickers are hunkered down and their appologists are fawning at the feet of the outraged, insisting that “all is well.”
It’s not.
G.
Well, we followed the money back to owners and breeders (who are all entangled on BOD lists of the various HIOs and judges also) who will not be influenced by public outrage. CFF Farm posted a while back inquiring if there was a list of owners so we could appeal to them. I think we should boycott whatever businesses the owners are in. Years ago i remember a link to the Marriot Hotels. And all those Ritz horses… someone from Ritz Carlton owns BL horses. I bet many of the owners have businesses that are national in scope - not just local. What if we hit the FB pages of the big companies ? and emailed headquarters ? I dont know how to find out what business these fatcat owners and breeders are in. Any suggestions ?
-Sarah Lynn:
To answer your question, WHOA will amend its rules and regulations to accommodate whatever might be any future requirements of the federal government pertaining to the show ring presentation of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
“We ain’t gonna do it til we has too.”
Not knowing just what your involvement with the TWH might be, I really don’t want to overload you with information, much of which you would not understand unless you actively participate in rail competition horse shows.
“It’s a Big Lick show thang, you wouldn’t understand”
Deplorable.
[QUOTE=WalkInTheWoods;6372228]
Well, we followed the money back to owners and breeders (who are all entangled on BOD lists of the various HIOs and judges also) who will not be influenced by public outrage. CFF Farm posted a while back inquiring if there was a list of owners so we could appeal to them. I think we should boycott whatever businesses the owners are in. Years ago i remember a link to the Marriot Hotels. And all those Ritz horses… someone from Ritz Carlton owns BL horses. I bet many of the owners have businesses that are national in scope - not just local. What if we hit the FB pages of the big companies ? and emailed headquarters ? I dont know how to find out what business these fatcat owners and breeders are in. Any suggestions ?[/QUOTE]
Start with the owners of WGCs, a google search should give up some info. Then on to the top studs and advertisers in The Voice. I have a copy of the 2010 sire summary, I’ll start digging.
“As CEO of W. B. Johnson International, Bill Johnson, made his fortune as the largest Waffle House franchisee in the US. Johnson also acquired the rights to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company name in 1983 and expanded the hotel throughout the world, eventually selling those operations to Marriott International.”
From Tuesdays horse
Bill and Sandra Johnson own Waterfall Farms, and were suspended for hpa violations in 2011. 1 year, $1,000.00 fine each for soring JFK All Over.
Going to dig some more…
[QUOTE=WalkinAfterMidnight;6372249]
-Sarah Lynn:
To answer your question, WHOA will amend its rules and regulations to accommodate whatever might be any future requirements of the federal government pertaining to the show ring presentation of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
“We ain’t gonna do it til we has too.”
Not knowing just what your involvement with the TWH might be, I really don’t want to overload you with information, much of which you would not understand unless you actively participate in rail competition horse shows.
“It’s a Big Lick show thang, you wouldn’t understand”
Deplorable.[/QUOTE]
That’s exactly what I got out of it, as well. I never recieved a reply to my last message, so I wonder if it became food for thought, or if I ended up on the SPAM list.
W B Johnson Properties Llc filed for chapter 7 on May 1, 2012.
Karma anyone?
