Quite a few of my friends in riding club have walkers or spotted saddle horses. My firends do everything from trail riding to team penning and some low jumping/foxhunting.
I follow several gaited message boards and I’m surprised how many non-show riders are pro-big lick, as long as soring isn’t involved. Nothing is going to change until everyone understands that the big lick itself is bad, even without soring.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, here’s the current trend in the canter (if you can call it that). I’ve seen other videos, so this isn’t the only horse doing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWyH3uL9LE&feature=related
Erin
[QUOTE=elysianfieldsfarm;4686916]
foggy bok said
Sorry I went on for so long. But I have ridden and owned walkers since the 1950s, and I really would like to see this breed delivered from the chains and pads before I die.:)[/QUOTE]
I follow several gaited message boards and I’m surprised how many non-show riders are pro-big lick, as long as soring isn’t involved. Nothing is going to change until everyone understands that the big lick itself is bad, even without soring.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, here’s the current trend in the canter (if you can call it that). I’ve seen other videos, so this isn’t the only horse doing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWyH...eature=related
[B]Wow!!! That is just pathetic and downright awful-- I noticed that many of the people who left comments on uTube didn’t seem to even be able to identify the gait as a canter.-- If that is what it was-- An attempt at a canter???
And I guess the judges are placing that freaky-gaited horse over the others, so now that will make their imitate this horse. Where is the USDA, HSUS and even PETA when you need them. Yes, that’s right, I would like to sic PETA on them-- that is how awful this situation is IMHO. One thing about PETA-- when they get involved, the news media flocks to the situation
Maybe they would get a bunch of horses, dip their feet and legs in fake blood and ride around the show grounds on the horses nude except for placards reading “Pads and chains cripple and maim” For added effect, they could go buy a walker with scaring that is lame out of a kill auction and groom and braid him up like he was going to the show- and paint on his sides- “Former show horse-- Slaughter lot rescue”
I really think it will take things like this to get enough people OUTSIDE the breed stirred up enough for them to maybe change. The pleasure people inside the breed would never risk doing this because they STILL need the TWHBEA to register their horses.[/B]
When I was looking for a gaited horse, I never for one moment thought “Oh, TWH, doink, of course”. Nope. I live no more than 30-45 minutes from Shelbyville, TN
I will NOT support any breed in any way which supports WHAT they do, and allow with regards to their horrible cruelty to a wonderful animal. The association turns a blind eye to the terrible things they do to this breed, just for a “big lick”. The pads, the soreing, (eyes rolling), why is that legal? they are fruitbats!
People “vote” with their dollars with regards to things they purchase. I made a choice NOT to vote for the TWH due to the above reasons, and some others. Seen all of that terrible stuff more than I would like to remember. It is a shame.
And to think PETA was picking on the AKC last night. Psst PETA!! go check out the TWH show business and barns they train them in. I think horses live alot longer than chickens do. Go get them PETA.
I bought a Rocky Mt.
That’s what really gets me - the amount of people who don’t show but still think the Performance TWH is the least bit attractive. That “canter,” if you can even call it a canter, is one of the most bizarre and inefficient ways I’ve ever seen a horse move.
I bought my handsome “big lick” after he had been big licking it around the show ring for 10 years. I bought him from a show barn to save him from that life. I’ve always considered him my rescue horse. 
(And Ive never given the TWHBEA a dime. He’s a gelding & I dont care whose name is on his paper)
Now he’s a mountain pony and he loves it.
I’m all for buying TWH’s. To RESCUE them.
I bought my first TWH last fall. He is a sweet lovable, willing boy destined to be my companion and trail horse.
I too started to receive the association magazine with my first year membership after I transfered his papers. I was disappointed and totally disgusted at the ratio of pages devoted to the big lick horse abuse compared to the very few pages showing the TWH doing what these horses are so good at…being great ‘all around’ horses flat shod or barefoot .
I had hoped that particular issue of the magazine was a fluke and that the association would give the non big lick disciplines more space in future issues. But nope. That hasn’t happened.
So I too will not be renewing my membership. I refuse to support an association that continues to promote big lick abusive good ole boy freak shows. I hope someone from the TWHBEA is reading this. In this day and age of humane awareness as well as the economy, if they want to further their association and the breed they need to concentrate the majority of their promotion to disciplines other than the show ring. Their image has been tarnished for a long time and as far as I can see from the magazine, they are not doing much to fix it. I was just discussing this issue the other day after my latest magazine arrived and I recommend that eveyone concerned about this write the association and express these views to them directly.
[QUOTE=Patty Stiller;4698038]
I bought my first TWH last fall. He is a sweet lovable, willing boy destined to be my companion and trail horse.
I too started to receive the association magazine with my first year membership after I transfered his papers. I was disappointed and totally disgusted at the ratio of pages devoted to the big lick horse abuse compared to the very few pages showing the TWH doing what these horses are so good at…being great ‘all around’ horses flat shod or barefoot .
I had hoped that particular issue of the magazine was a fluke and that the association would give the non big lick disciplines more space in future issues. But nope. That hasn’t happened.
So I too will not be renewing my membership. I refuse to support an association that continues to promote big lick abusive good ole boy freak shows. I hope someone from the TWHBEA is reading this. In this day and age of humane awareness as well as the economy, if they want to further their association and the breed they need to concentrate the majority of their promotion to disciplines other than the show ring. Their image has been tarnished for a long time and as far as I can see from the magazine, they are not doing much to fix it. I was just discussing this issue the other day after my latest magazine arrived and I recommend that eveyone concerned about this write the association and express these views to them directly.[/QUOTE]
^this^ agree!!:yes:
I just purchased my first TWH last May… He too is a gentle, sweet, and brave boy. I plan to make him my main trail companion (he’s smart & sensible) once I get more miles and exposure (trail) on him. I transferred registration/ownership and received my first “Voice of the TWH”… at first, I was really excited!:winkgrin: and then I opened it and started reading:eek: I was appalled!!! And genuinely, cannot understand the “big lick” attraction!
I thought perhaps that was just the one issue… (haven’t received a second yet), then, I received the “Sires Edition,” that started out good… showing some of the foundation sires… then :no: oh no!!! More big lick horses! I was pleased to see a few(couple) of sires that advertised trail and barefoot, but the majority… yeeegawddss!!! Will not be renewing my membership next year! Now if I can just figure out how to get my $65 overpayment back!!
I have to say it does me good to read these posts that are so against big lick and so far not one poster coming in and claiming that you all are attacking the Wh breed themselves or that you all just don’t understand and it’s not nearly as bad as you think. That usually happens when these threads pop up.
I’ve never figured out how some big lick supporters see being against soring, stacks, etc. is attacking the horse not the supporters but some do. I know…doesn’t make sense.
There was outrage fifty years ago from the public and other horse owners about big lick and the horrid way the wh were treated and I really thought it was on it’s way out then but…still it’s here.
I really feel that not only is the treatment the horses receive a crime but a sin, too and wish that someway it could be completely stopped once and for all but am beginning to believe that it will never happen. No animal deserves to live like the big lick horses do.
Agreed!^^
It irks me when Big Lick supporters automatically think that disliking the “performance horse” means disliking the entire breed.
The ironic thing is that the Big Lick TWH is about the farthest thing from being a good representative of what the breed truly is. :no:
[QUOTE=rmh_rider;4694734]
When I was looking for a gaited horse, I never for one moment thought “Oh, TWH, doink, of course”. Nope. I live no more than 30-45 minutes from Shelbyville, TN
I will NOT support any breed in any way which supports WHAT they do,.[/QUOTE]
There’s a fine line here. NOT buying a Walker does injustice to the breed. You victimize the victim.
Rather, why not buy from a person dedicated to breeding the ‘correct’ Walker. I purchased mine from Ohio (Ontario Canada) and will breed her this year, probably to PaPa’s Royal Delight. I would have chosen Champaign Watchout just out of principle but He’s too tall.
Walkers are 'wonderful, fine tempered companions with a smooth ride. Don’t punish them for the sins of their handlers.
P.S. I wish “I” could have been at Tattersals this year I have a Saddlebred from there too… but ‘THAT’S’ another story 
Angie J
I’ve ridden a couple of TWH that were pleasure/trail horses and they were wonderful. I’d consider buying one but they are hard to find in New England and buying a horse from another region entails much travel and shipping and so on, so it’s not so likely I’d consider a TWH, but only for that reason!
and don’t reward the “marginal” animals for the “heroics” of theirs, either
Tamara in TN
This is ironic…the day after I posted my rant, I received an E-news letter from the association promoting versatility classes primarily an upcoming reining competition.
…so I will calm down now and say GOOD FOR THEM. When we all write the association voicing our opinions about ‘big lick’ , (get your pens out today and do that) be sure to temper it with it some praise for also promoting versatility and ask for more of that . Maybe we can catch more flies with sugar than with just poison.
[QUOTE=Tamara in TN;4703362]
and don’t reward the “marginal” animals for the “heroics” of theirs, either
Tamara in TN[/QUOTE]
Care to elaorate? Is there an underlying ‘fault’ that would casue you to come to that conclusion?
Maybe those old boys are asshats, but I can’t find a real footing out here in the real world for good, natural, sound TWHs in competition. I’d have to travel at least one full state away to compete in NWHA, and FOSH? Forget it, not a hint of it here. I can’t up and go to Missouri for a weekend, or KY. There’s not a darn thing I can do with this horse to earn him some recognition. It’s frustrating.[/QUOTE]
Actually NWHA has a program called the Lifetime Superior Achievment Program that enables you to earn points in Versatility, Model, English Pleasure and Western Pleasure. You can earn points at any show against any breed, the only requirement is there must be a licensed judge. (Any license). FMI: http://www.nwha.com/lifetime.html
[QUOTE=katarine;4684278]
I’m in Alabama.
I can’t find yet another soul in the state who wants to show their TWH on NWHA approved dressage tests. I think they have to exist, surely they do?
As for the NWHA…they won’t acknowledge USDF judges at shows willing to add NWHA tests to their roster, so those can’t be affiliated shows. They have to be NWHA judges…who aren’t USDF recognized judges. Follow that circular logic and tell me how to get the breed some recognition?
I can’t find anyone else in central AL interested in taking lessons with a fab dressage trainer who will come to YOU and teach you on YOUR own TWH.
I’m not 4 hours from Shelbyville and there’s no interest here in ‘gaited dressage’. Nada.
Maybe those old boys are asshats, but I can’t find a real footing out here in the real world for good, natural, sound TWHs in competition. I’d have to travel at least one full state away to compete in NWHA, and FOSH? Forget it, not a hint of it here. I can’t up and go to Missouri for a weekend, or KY. There’s not a darn thing I can do with this horse to earn him some recognition. It’s frustrating.[/QUOTE]
Actually, NWHA has a program called the Lifetime Superior Achievment Program that allows you to earn points in Versatility, Model, English Pleasure and Western Pleasure. You keep up with the points yourself and can earn points in any show that has a licensed judge. FMI: http://www.nwha.com/lifetime.html
[QUOTE=angie j;4704248]
Care to elaborate? Is there an underlying ‘fault’ that would cause you to come to that conclusion?[/QUOTE]
all animals have flaws…
one should not use hero worship of the owners/handlers to cover them up…
Tamara in TN
[QUOTE=Tamara in TN;4704529]
all animals have flaws…
one should not use hero worship of the owners/handlers to cover them up…
Tamara in TN[/QUOTE]
So… all ‘have’ flaws… but choosing between these flaws, one should not take into consideration supporting a breeder that shares/ supports the same ethical principals or it is is considered ‘worship’? LOL!!!
Personaly, I support and applaud the stand taken by Watchouts owners. “If” he suited my breeding needs I would gladly help financialy support his efforts, furthering the normalizaton of showing off TWH’s in the fashion they were bred to perform, by breeding to him.
On the other hand I wouldn’t breed to a WGC big lick horse if you offered it for free.
[QUOTE=angie j;4704755]
So… all ‘have’ flaws… but choosing between these flaws, one should not take into consideration supporting a breeder that shares/ supports the same ethical principals or it is is considered ‘worship’? LOL!!!
make quite sure you have principles in common first,before you break out your check book,as you would with any political statement
Personally, I support and applaud the stand taken by Watchouts owners. “If” he suited my breeding needs I would gladly help financially support his efforts, furthering the normalization of showing off TWH’s in the fashion they were bred to perform, by breeding to him.
were you there ? when it happened ? then you do recall what was said to the media after the class was over by the “connections” ? right?
and do you consider that movement he exhibits the “epitome” of breeding walking horses? really ??
how you could consider that animal on those merits is beyond the scope of rational thought…
Tamara in TN
