~TENNESSEE~

Please, before you comment i *know* this is a highly sensitive and edgy topic, so please be respectful and not rude and ignorant.
Now, I know in any horse sport there can be abuse - ANY horse sport. This video is about the soring(chemical burning), cruel gadgets(like chains, padded shoes) used in the showing of the tennessee walking horses. They have such a beautiful natural gait. exgagerating their gait is not necessary and is done for MONEY pure and simple!

The Horse Protection Act passed in 1970 made the practice of "soring" illegal. Soring is used to increase the animation of gaited horses front legs. The practice continues rampant to this day due to the USDA being underfunded for policing exhibits. USDA officials are only able to attend less than 10% of Tennessee Walker and other gaited breed shows to monitor for compliance. Even at this low rate, over 1000 citations were issued in the past 12 months. There are many methods to sore, and the owners/trainers are finding new, undetectable methods all the time.


Caustic chemicals: Mustard oil, camphor, kerosene or other chemicals are pasted above the hoof and wrapped in plastic to "cook". Horses often can't stand afterward. To pass inspection, trainers use anesthetic spray to numb sore feet, black polish or baby powder to hide scars, sulfur and acid to slough off skin, and sunscreen to attempt to counteract heat detectors.

Pressure shoeing: Nails, golf balls or other objects are hidden under the sole.

Padding refers to the "stacking" or the use of up to 5" platforms which throw the horse onto it's hind end. Stacks of pads alone can cause pain and tension throughout the horses' bodies and damage to their feet and legs. The hoof angles and the added height created by nailing stacks of pads to the shoes are dangerous and damaging in themselves, let alone without adding soring to this method.

Please sign the petition.. "STOP INHUMANE SORING/PADDING GAITED HORSES"
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stopsoring

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• tennessee walking horse
• abuse
• soring
• showing
• gaited horses
• horse cruelty
• parelli
• mary ann kennedy
• natural

[savvygirl19]

Thank you. I Really enjoyed making this video of such a sad, upsetting topic. I was very touched when Mary Ann Kennedy(singer and songwriter~ 'Tennesse' used this video and sang live to it at one of the 'Sound Horse Conferences'. I really hope that this movie will help make a statement and put an end to this cruelty. Thank you to the people who expressed their honest opinions about this topic.

[savvygirl19]

Thank your expressing how passionate you are against this topic... It is horrible what people do to such a beautiful and loving creature.

[savvygirl19]

These horses wear chains on their legs and big padded awkward shoes to 'enhance' their gait. It is a very un-natural and cruel.

[savvygirl19]

Mary Ann does have a few CD's, you can buy them on her website or download from itunes. Her songs are brilliant!

[StellaByDesign]

I believe that it is all in the way that you use it and I'm glad that you pointed that out. Chains and pads are NOT a bad thing if used CORRECTLY!!! We use them as training aid. Like a human would use ankle weights, we only keep them on for a short time and only when the horse is strong enough (like we refrain from using them on the younger horses). It all in the way that you use things, the thing itself is not inhumane but the practice that it is put to can be.

[eosmoon]

this is a great awareness raising video. a big thank you to all the contributors for creating this project for justice and humane treatment of horses.

[becajm88]

I have never seen of heard of this before. Why is it happening and how does it help anything? this is sick

[TheObadiah777]

Great video. I have 3 walkers and they are awesome! Easy to train. Their desire to please you is almost as great as a dog. Mine hang with me in the field until I leave. They are sensible on the trail and just beautiful to look at. Why anyone would want to mess with perfection is beyond me.

[YouTwoToob]

Thanks for doing this, Savvygirl. You did a great job, and were very brave to tackle such a controversial subject. Anyone who loves horses must find it painful to watch the big lick horses with their grotesque, exaggerated walk. You've done a brilliant job of showing how much lovlier these horses are when they're allowed to move naturally. Bravo!

[fanninfire]

Bravo! Love the song and love the video. Thank you for helping to get the word out about the horrible way they train these horses to get that "Big Lick" walk. People in the industry deny abuse, but that is because to admit it would mean they would have to find an honest way to earn a dollar. It is no different than people who fight dogs. They defend what they do also, saying it is the dogs nature to fight. Ban the "Big Lick" and put a stop to the torture.

[nanakla]

Even just the pads, without sooring, must be very stressful for the joints, legs and back. Especially as they're - as I've learnt - put on for months at a time and not just during the show.

[ANGELBLU2042]

Thanks so much for posting this video. Strapping horseshoes and restrictive chains are cruel. Horses have fragile legs for large bodies. In a matter of years they become disabled from the abuse and torture.

[MNSJR]

Super video.  I have 3 TWHs are they are bare foot except when we ride in the rocky mountians. In the early years (1920's) TWH were promoted as the "Worlds Best Pleasure Horse" - the natural unpadded ones are.