Horse Soring 2019 - Year in Review
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM Tuesday's Horse
January 2020

Horse “soring” is when humans intentionally injure horses’ hooves or legs causing them so much pain they step higher in an exaggerated gait prized in “Big Lick” show rings.

What You Can Do

Senators Mitch McConnell and Marsha Blackburn will be employing their full arsenal of tricks to defeat S.1007 and keep the “Big Lick” alive.

They can be defeated, but it will “take a nation.” We are that “nation.”

Contact your two U.S. Senators today and ask them to cosponsor and remain steadfast in their support of S.1007 by promoting and voting for its passage.

Horse soring

U.S. LEGISLATION — H.R.693

January 22, 2019

A strong team of bipartisan lawmakers reintroduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives (U.S. House) to end the cruel practice of “soring” Tennessee walking horses and similar breeds, H.R.693.

H.R.693 is identical to the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act that attracted overwhelming bipartisan cosponsorship from 290 representatives and 46 senators in the previous Congress. The only difference is the title.

The bill has been newly entitled the “U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act”.

January 25, 2019

H.R.693 referred to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce by Committee on Energy and Commerce.

April 3, 2019

S.1007, companion bill identical to H.R.693, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

“PRESSURE SHOD” HORSE FOOTAGE

April 19, 2019

Footage released to Animal Wellness Action from a horse owner in Alabama shows despicable and even gruesome mistreatment of horses who are the victims of “soring” — the practice of intentionally injuring the foot and lower legs of horses to achieve a high-stepping gait in horse shows known as the “Big Lick.”

The horse owner identified Joseph Abernathy as the farrier that “pressure shod” the horse by driving hot nails into the part of the hoof where it is known to be the most painful. When the owner found this horse, he was barely able to stand and drenched in sweat despite 40-degree temperatures. The horse’s muscle enzymes became elevated which led to renal failure.

ALTERNATIVE U.S. LEGISLATION

May 14, 2019

U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Marsha Blackburn, both Tennessee Republicans, have introduced legislation they say will protect Tennessee walking horses and the breed’s tradition. However, the truth of the matter is that they are continuing to shield long-standing abusive practices within the horse soring — or “Big Lick” industry.

Alexander and Blackburn’s bill, called the Horse Protection Amendments Act of 2019, would update the Horse Protection Act of 1970 and mirrors a House version of the bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn. The three have supported similar bills in the past aimed at blocking true anti-soring legislation — the PAST (Prevent All Soring Tactics) Act — which was first introduced in 2014.

U.S. LEGISLATION — H.R.693

May 23, 2019

Motion to place H.R.693 on U.S. House Consensus Calendar filed by Mr. Schrader.

July 19, 2019

H.R.693 assigned to U.S. House Consensus Calendar, Calendar No. 3.

July 24, 2019

H.R.693, bipartisan legislation that promises to end the inhumane practice of horse soring (which became illegal in 1970 but persists due to loopholes in the current law) garnered enough support to receive a vote in the U.S. House, culminating with 307 cosponsors.

The U.S. House Chair announced the Speaker’s designation, pursuant to clause 7(a)(1) of rule 15, of H.R.693 as the measure on the Consensus Calendar to be considered this week.

Mr. Schrader moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Considered suspended under the rules.

The U.S. House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed at 10:44 p.m.

July 25, 2019

1:52 pm. H.R.693 considered as unfinished business.

1:59 pm. H.R.693 passed the U.S. House 333-96. Roll call vote no 510 (See http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll510.xml).

This victory marks the first time Congress has moved to strengthen laws against soring since the practice was first banned, states Congressman Ted Yoho. Read more at https://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/horse-soring-bill-faces-monumental-vote-supporters-fear-tennessee

August 2019

Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association encourages members to contact their U.S. Senators to urge them to sign on as cosponsors of the PAST (Prevent All Soring Tactics) Act (S.1007), stating that on the heels of the recent victory in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is important to keep the momentum going to help pass this critical legislation into law. S.1007 has 31 cosponsors at the time of writing.

Citizens Campaign Against “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty advocates rally on the courthouse lawn at the Shelbyville – Bedford County Town Square. NewChannel 5 WTVF-TV (CBS) Nashville, and the Times Free Press (Chattanooga) newspaper covered the historic event.

The group protested outside the grounds of the Celebration several other nights throughout the competition, which runs through Saturday, Aug. 31.

NATIONAL CELEBRATION WINNER A “DICK”

September 5, 2019

On Saturday, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville crowned its “Big Lick” World Grand Champions — Rodney Dick and “I’m Mayhem.” Although he’s been a serial violator of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) for decades, Dick was allowed to compete on the main stage for a shrinking and increasingly uninteresting event.

It turns out that Dick has very recent violations of injuring the feet of horses — a practice known as horse “soring” — but USDA still allowed him to compete.

Dick will serve a federal suspension for violating the HPA beginning October 1st — with the punishment conveniently taking effect after he got to show his horse at the industry’s main event. The consent decision that Dick agreed to with USDA was signed on December 20, 2018, and it’s a travesty that the suspension was delayed for nearly nine months to allow him to appear at The Celebration so that he was able to participate in the high-profile showring event.

Poor enforcement and delayed sentencing seem to be the new normal at USDA. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his own Office of Administrative Law Judges have agreed to dozens of consent decisions with serial violators of the Horse Protection Act. Some of the key players in the industry have been cited but their suspensions don’t take effect until 2022! Justice delayed, as the old saying goes, is justice denied.

Big Lick event
Natalie Jackson-Pritchard shows the horse Champagne Watchout in the World Grand Championship class on the final night of this year’s Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, held in Shelbyville, Tenn., on Saturday night. Champagne Watchout was the only flat-shod (wearing no pads) horse to compete in the class.

NATIONAL CELEBRATION ATTENDANCE HITS 50 YEAR LOW

September 5, 2019

Attendance at Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration fell to a shocking 50 year low — fewer than 25,000 actual attendance (persons occupying seats at the Celebration events).

Based on eye-witnesses and photographs, the 2019 Celebration attendance was under 25,000 for the ten (10) nights of the event.

A lifetime Celebration patron said, “A ten night event has essentially now become a one night horse show.” The 2019 Celebration actual attendance was paltry, except for the first Saturday and the second Friday and Saturday.

September 11, 2019

ALL top three Celebration Trainer BOYZ — Mr. Rodney Dick, Mr. Herbert Derickson and Mr. Gary Edwards — are about to go on USDA Federal Suspension for alleged “HORSE SORING” (“Big Lick” Animal Cruelty to “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horses), along with the Walking Horse Trainers Association “Trainer Of The Year”, Mr. Phillip Trimble, it sure looks like the whole bowl is chock full of “bad apples”. Seay reported earlier on Rodney Dick (see above).

World Grand Champion “Big Lick” Trainer BOYZ Mr. Rodney Dick upholds “Tennessee Tradition” of going on the USDA federal suspension list for alleged “horse soring” shortly after the conclusion of this year’s Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

September 15, 2019

A network of local citizens, referred to as “Theta Net” provided Mr Seay’s publication with classified information that the “Big Lick” World Grand Champion — “I’m Mayhem” — was going to arrive under a veil of secrecy at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, 2019, for the express purpose of Trainer BOYZ Mr. Rodney Dick exhibiting him at the Tennessee State Fair at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Then, for whatever reason, “I’m Mayhem” was not exhibited, and a truck and trailer hauled him back to Finish Line Farm at Unionville, Tennessee, which is a suburb of Shelbyville. (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

September 25, 2019

Almost 5,000 persons have signed a Change.Org Petition in the past three days asking 36 year old Mayor Chaz Molder to take down a picture of a “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horse that he approved being hung in the Columbia City Hall in mid-August 2019.

Molder approved City Manager Tony Massey hanging a picture of this “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horse on the wall at Columbia City Hall about 30 days ago. (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

October 17, 2019

The “TWHBEA Chickens” all came home to roost on Friday, October 17, 2019, when the 2019 TWHBEA Director Election Results were posted on the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association Facebook page. The key statistic is the number of “Ballots Mailed” — 3,027.

“This number conclusively proves that the continued decline and demise of TWHBEA (TN Walking Horse Registry) is solely due to it being in the clutches of the ‘Big Lick’ Animal Cruelty Racket”, writes Clant Seay.

In 2013, there were 6,955 TWHBEA members. The dramatic loss of 3,923 persons is a 56% decline in voting eligible members since 2013.

Seay contends, “The shocking decline of TWHBEA can be directly laid at the feet of Mr Steve Smith and his close associate Mr. Walter Chism. They totally own this disastrous situation. They took over TWHBEA in December 2013 thinking that they would go back to the ‘Big Lick’ glory days. They were 100% wrong.”

TWHBEA is denied membership in the prestigious American Horse Council. (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

October 20, 2019

The city of Columbia, TN chooses the “right side of history” by removing a picture of a “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horse from City Hall wall. (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

U.S. LEGISLATION

December 30, 2019

S.1007, the U.S. Senate version of the anti horse soring PAST Act (identical to H.R.693), closes the First Session of the 116th Congress with 51 cosponsors.

Summary — Not “A Few Bad Apples”

Clant Seay reminds everyone that it’s not “a few bad apples”; rather the entire barrel of apples is rotten. The “Big Lick” is no better than dog fighting and cock fighting. All who practice or support it are guilty because animal cruelty is absolutely necessary to create and maintain the “Big Lick” gait. Horses do not have a voice, so we protest for them until “Big Lick” animal cruelty no longer exists.

“I have never been more proud of the Citizens Campaign animal welfare advocates, and all the people throughout America and around the world who support them, than I was this year at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. “WE, The People” — CCABLAC are clearly winning for ‘The Horses’. It’s truly heart warming to experience.” (via Clant Seay / BillyGoBoy.com)

Clant Seay is the founder and leader of “Citizens Campaign Against Big Lick Animal Cruelty” and a major mover and shaker in the campaign to eliminate horse soring.

What You Can Do

Senators Mitch McConnell and Marsha Blackburn will be employing their full arsenal of tricks to defeat S.1007 and keep the “Big Lick” alive.

They can be defeated, but it will “take a nation.” We are that “nation.”

Contact your two U.S. Senators today and ask them to cosponsor and remain steadfast in their support of S.1007 by promoting and voting for its passage.


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