January 2010 - TWH Heritage Society

Heritage Highlights
Published By: TWH Heritage Society
Volume IV
Number 1, January 2010
The above photo was taken in Wisconsin on January 18
after a warm winter day and a cold evening. Fog set in, the
temperatures dropped, and everything was covered in
hoarfrost! It looked like a winter wonderland!
From Nancy Bergman, Whitehall, Wisconsin
For those of you who have never seen this phenomenon in
person here are some more photo, Unfortunately, the
photos do not do the scenery justice:
“Here I am with Oz on Sunday morning, -13 degrees,
ready for our walk. The goal is 15 miles per week.
Today we did 3 miles--note that very little of me
actually is exposed to the air. It only takes about 15
minutes to get all my paraphernalia on.”
Running Walk of the Tennessee
Walker by Eldon Eadie – a video
review, by Franne Brandon,
Petersburg, Tennessee
In the late 1980’s, Canadian Eldon Eadie produced a
video on the gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse, both
the ideal middle gait and the others which the breed
exhibits. Titled
Eadie shows his viewers how to identify gait using still
pictures. For this demonstration, he uses first the correct
hoof positions, most notably the front hoof in the air at
the time the shot was snapped. The running walk is used
as the basic example, then the positions that the front
hoof in the air have in the foxtrot and the stepping pace.
The classic shot used in many walking horse show
publications for the running walk is indeed the shot
that results in a freeze frame of the stepping pace,
with the horse’s head carried high and the front leg
far forward.
The Running Walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse, the
video was marketed for a number of years in Canada and
internationally, and was one of the few, if not the only,
video available with a focus on gait identification rather
than training to produce a specific gait. In 2008, Eadie
donated the rights for this video to The Canadian
Registry of the Tennessee Walking Horse, which has
released the DVD version of the original videotape .
The Running Walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse is
first and foremost an educational production.. Its
purpose, according to Eldon Eadie, whose voice narrates
the entire DVD, “is to define the middle gait known as
the running walk as executed by the Tennessee Walking
Horse.” The narrator defines certain terms that will be
used so that the viewer understands precisely what they
mean the next time they occur in the discussion, These
terms are: gait cycle, stride (not to be confused with
overstride), natural, a word with many different uses in
the gaited horse communities, modifying a gait, and
enhancing a gait. Definitions established, the DVD
begins its visual task by showing clips of first a Englishstyle trotting horse, then a Standardbred pacer engaged
in a harness race. These two gaits are defined as total
opposites, with the four- beat middle gaits falling in
between them. The running walk, the foxtrot, and the
stepping pace are then described in the narrative, as
horses clearly demonstrating pure forms of these gaits
are presented on the screen for the view to ascertain the
footfall patterns and general appearance of each gait that
corresponds to the definitions.
Following clips of the horses that demonstrate the
running walk, the foxtrot, and the pace, the narrator
states plainly that “The natural gait of the big lick horse
is the pace.” With various trainer –established
modifications, it is transformed into something that
resembles a running walk. He also asserts that the
plantation show gait in an unnatural, modified stepping
pace. For those that doubt the validity of this statement,
Classic stepping pace shot . Notice the horse’s
head is high and it is nosed out which makes the
back hollow. The red arrow is pointing to the
right rear foot not
Another stepping pace illustration
Stepping pace
Following the basic illustrated gait definitions and
demonstrations, the video becomes more technical. The
gaits of several different horses are categorized and
charted. This information is probably more than most
beginning horsemen can understand, and could perhaps
confuse even more seasoned breed enthusiasts who ride
by the feel and the sound of the gaits. As early as the
eighties, he was disagreeing with some breed fanciers
who would later insist that the running walk is totally
dependent on the horse’s conformation. He insists that
the gait is neurological, not based simply on
conformation.
He also warns breeders not to choose overstride as the
primary selecting quality in evaluating mares and
stallions. His belief is that this factor leads to paciness in
breeding stock, which results in foals lacking the natural
even timing that is the essential element of the true
running walk.
The Running Walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse
presents gaits in an ideal setting with good footing and
interesting background. Those who ride the trails
frequently will realize that even the best natural running
walk horse may shift its balance of gait when in rough
terrain, going uphill, and heading downhill. In fact, the
old walking horse trainers of sixty years ago used just
these factors to bring out the latent running walk in
horses with tendencies to trot or pace more than was
desirable. Today, very, very many naturally talented
running walk horse that are blessed or cursed with multigaitedness can be forced by rider error or even
preference to travel exclusively in gaits other than a
cadenced flatwalk and a gliding, evenly timed running
walk. This style of horse is not addressed in the DVD
because it was less apparent in Tennessee when the
video was made, and probably not around at all in
Canada.
Most of today's gaited horse training videos directed at
the Tennessee Walking Horse market are made by show
ring trainers. As such, they focus on the gaits that the
show ring demands, which are often show gaits only,
and not the natural gaits performed by utility
pleasure horses. Eadie's DVD teaches with examples of
horses that are moving in kegs shoes with no "primping"
used to alter gait. If the horse is doing a stepping pace, it
is doing a traditional version of that gait with high head,
hollow back, and NO discernible head shake. The
running walk example does a true, evenly timed, running
walk with head nod at its lowest point when the front leg
is at its highest. No horses with lateral take-off but even
set down and big head movement are involved. This
makes it easier for those wanting to learn to distinguish
gait as they see it in everyday life to benefit from the
DVD.
This horse is demonstrating the swing gait, a popular
gait in today’s show ring.
Swing Gait is the "show gait" as seen in many show
rings today involves a lateral take-off, with heavy shoes
slowing down the flight of the front hooves so that the
set-down is even in timing. The deep movement of the
backend creates a big head motion as a counterbalance.
This horse demonstrates the lateral movement of the
swing gait
This photo shows the lateral take off on the horse’s
left side. The photo quality is not great as it was
taken from a video but in the video the hind leg
clearly swings out to the side before moving forward.
Another shot in the swing sequence. The horse
appears to be rocking more so than gliding evenly
from one hoof to another.
Nya Bates and Cruise With the Limo demonstrating
the flatwalk
For those who saw the older videotape version of The
Running Walk…., as I did, the new DVD format brings
a pleasant surprise. The colors are sharp and the images
are crisp. Even the technical section at the end which
plots gaits of various horses with computerized precision
was interesting, although this last segment still might not
be for everyone! Having heard the terms “diagonal drift”
and “lateral drift” since watching the tape many years
ago, I found the computer graphs just another
interpretation of these concepts, with the added benefit
that the graphs showed when an individual horse had
drifted too far and was no longer performing the running
walk gait.
Dena Plendl on board NFF Wilson’s Society King
demonstrating the flatwalk
Williams King illustrating the flat walk with Kris
Quaintance on board
The DVD The Running Walk of the Tennessee Walking
Horse belongs in the video library of every serious
owner, breeder, and trainer of the flat shod Tennessee
Walking Horse who truly appreciates and wishes to
understand the natural, evenly timed running walk that is
original to the breed. It represents a serious effort to
educate the general walking horse public about the
signature gait of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
Those whose main interest is in the show ring gait
found in Middle Tennessee, or who are looking for an
entertainment video should look elsewhere.
Reprinted from Walking Horse News, Nov.Dec.
2009 with permission from the editor. Some
additions and alterations were done with this
Heritage Highlights review.
Last month’s story on Society’s Lee Allen intrigued Mike
Davis of Wabasha, Minnesota into asking questions about
the origins of the Tennessee Walking Horse in the West.
Shellie Pacovsky emailed Grace Larson to see if she would
supply us with some stories about the Western Walkers
and she did indeed! We’d like to thank Grace for
graciously supplying the stories and photos for reprinting
in Highlights.
The popularity of the Tennessee Walking Horse is rapidly
growing in favor beyond the Rocky Mountains on the
Pacific Coast, with many good individuals being imported
into all of the Pacific Coast states. Investigations among
other ranchmen in the Northwest and Southwest, who have
recently acquired their foundation, are pleased beyond
measure with the outlook of the first and second crop of
foals from registered Tennessee Walking stallions on their
cross-bred native mares.
The Tennessee Walking Horse in the West By
Tom Moss, Rafter 33 Ranch, Big Horn,
Wyoming (first published January 1945)
Here in the Rocky Mountains there are many prosperous
towns and cities that have established riding clubs. They
do more trail riding and less show ring riding than the
Easterner. This is also true in California, Idaho, and
Washington on the Pacific slope, with Wyoming, Arizona,
and Colorado awakening to the real value of a particular
breed that is giving results in straight blood breeding, or in
crossing for improved gaits that are easy, and with the
mount set on as sturdy limbs and good footing as any
breed of horses the West has ever experimented with.
The popularity of the Tennessee Walking Horse is
becoming greater in the West, as their good disposition
and easy gaits are getting more widely known. It is the
appreciation of the genuine usefulness of this breed that is
so highly recommending this mount for ranch and general
utility purposes.
About seven years ago, I moved my Tennessee Walking
Horse breeding operations to my home here on Rafter 33
Ranch, Big Horn, Wyoming. At this time, the breed was
almost unknown in the Rocky Mountains. Our efforts have
been most successful, and we are gratified beyond measure
at the friends of the Tennessee Walking Horse we have
made out here. Sales have been good for high-class
pleasure horses, and particularly stallions for breeding.
Ranchmen of our entire section realize that crossing the
Tennessee Walking Horse with their Western native mares
gives them a horse with much more bone and substance, in
addition to the quiet, even temper that belongs to the
breed, plus the walking horse endurance and comfort.
The Westerner rides with a loose rein, and demands an
absolutely square-gaited horse. Horses in our Western
section frequently are wintered in the pasture with the
thermometer down to 30 degrees below zero. Especially
are such breeders impressed with the good keeping
qualities of the Tennessee Walking Horse. All riding
horses in our sections must neck rein promptly to be a
useful mount, as they are frequently ridden long distances
in ranch work, and perhaps the rider would want to carry
in his right hand anything from a cigarette to a baby calf
that is about to freeze.
We are watching very carefully the cross that is being
made on our native mares. We note the good dispositions
and stamina resulting as well as getting a more substantial
horse in all body lines, improved conformation, with short
back and sturdy limbs. This is encouraging our limited
breeders to continue this cross breeding to obtain the most
useful cow horse we have yet bred with any attempted
crosses on other equine breeds.
Regardless of the terrain, we have found this sturdy breed
to be a match for the best we have ever produced under
any circumstances. To those interested in the improvement
of a Western cow horse that is sure footed, dependable,
and quick on the turn, we can recommend consideration of
the Tennessee Walking Horse as a producer that will meet
expectations.
One Special Family of Walking Horses by
Tom Moss (first published in 1948)
My first experience with Walking Horses was 40 odd years
ago when I spent summers on my uncle’s farm in Howard
County, Missouri. There was an old fellow who lived up
the road whose habit it was to go to town every Saturday
night and get very drunk. His friends would put him on his
horse, tie the reins up and start him home. I always
watched him go by late in the afternoon and that horse was
going at as true a walk as a horse can do and, as I
remember it, better than seven miles an hour. Having been
a breeder of and very much interested in the modern
Walking Horse, I have so many times remembered that
particular horse. He had no reining or any control
whatsoever, and yet his form was perfect. I could not help
but compare that to modern Walking Horses that revert to
pacing horses when they are casually ridden in the Western
manner. In my opinion, that is the bane of the Walking
Horses, and entirely too many of them do it.
Some 20 years ago Bill Eaton, president of the famous
Eaton’s Dude Ranch, owned a registered Thoroughbred
horse named Jack LaMarr. I did not know the horse but I
did know intimately six or seven of his colts. They were
mostly out of Steel Dust or Quarter Horse mares. They
were highly prized for cutting and roping horses in rodeos.
What impressed me so much was the fact that every one of
them did a running walk. It was not as long as we want
now, but it was a true, square running walk and, of course,
with that ancestry, there was no tendency to do the lateral
gaits.
Mrs. Bill (Patty) Eaton owned a mare by this horse, out of
a Steel Dust dam, named Lady LaMarr. In her early days
this mare had quite a local reputation in short races. Later
she became Mrs. Eaton’s private mount, and when she was
about 18 years old and was going to be retired, I suggested
if she would give me the mare, I would take her back to
Missouri and see that she was never out in another snow
storm. My offer was accepted, and I bred her to BillieGene, a horse I owned that was registered both in the
Tennessee Walking Horse association and in the American
Saddle Horse association. He was in my public stud and
bred to everything from Shetland ponies to draft mares. I
never saw one of his colts that didn’t do a running walk.
That mating produced Patty LaMarr, a bay mare of
extremely good conformation, a great deal of life and a
running walker. We did not ride her much because we
wanted her to start having colts. After bringing her to
Wyoming I bred her to Yellow Jacket, a beautiful
palomino colored horse of straight Allen breeding. That
produced Flash LaMarr, a good walking horse. As a two
year old I sold him on the Pacific Coast when he won big
classes as a parade horse and numerous palomino stallion
classes.
Buck LaMarr
The results have been very interesting. They are all horses
that fit well for Western uses, and yet are all running
walkers. Not a one of them has a tendency to pace. Lady
LaMarr only had one colt, although Patty LaMarr has
produced several that we liked, but I only traced down one
line to show the six generations. Some of hem might be
criticized as not having enough reach, but they are
absolutely square. Maybe we have gone far enough with
this LaMarr strain, and when the yearling fillies are old
enough to breed, we will probably introduce another Allen
bred stallion. However, we started out with the idea that
we could breed away from the pacing tendency instead of
trying to make show ring riders out of every one who buys
one of our horses.
The gentleman who formed the Tennessee Walking Horse
association (and incidentally I was the first Director
outside of Tennessee), were very wise in making
arrangements in the early days so that such an outcross as
this was possible. Lady LaMarr was put on the approved
list because I had affidavits that she and her half brothers
and sisters did a true running walk. Billie-Gene was
registered because I had affidavits from men who had seen
over 100 of his colts, all doing a running walk. I believe
these rules have been taken off now, and I believe wisely
so, because the Tennessee Walking Horse has become an
established breed. By allowing other than Allen’s to be
registered in the early days, they now have horses that are
not too closely related.
Flash LaMarr
Before I sold him I bred him to Black Beauty Allen, a
mare that has more Roan Allen breeding than any other
mare I own. That produced Buck LaMarr, a buckskin as
his name implies, and a horse of most outstanding
conformation. This is the third season I have used him in
my breeding operations. We have left, as this is written,
three yearling fillies and one yearling stud by him, and so
far have two stud colts in 1948. We like them all very
much. Counting the old Thoroughbred horse, that makes
six generations from him and two generations before we
introduced the Allen breeding.
European Highlights
Why Breed With Old Bloodlines? By Sandra
van den Hof, Hechtel, Belgium
It has been more than 15 years when I got hooked on
Tennessee Walking Horses and their smooth gaits. During
the last decade the breed has been promoted extensively
throughout Europe and yet there is a dark cloud preventing
the breed to become real popular. Most horse
encyclopedias show a picture of the Tennessee Walking
Horse with heavy shoes or pads, also known as stacks. The
result is a high animation in the front which is far from
natural and most people are highly offended watching
these extravagant way of moving, causing people to dislike
the breed in general. How did it ever get this far?
Originally, in the early 1900, the Walking Horse was a
versatile using horse. Farmers used the horse for light
work on their farm during the week, made a trail ride on
Saturday evening and the horse pulled the cart to bring the
family to church on Sunday. The Tennessee Walker was a
strong, stocky built horse yet elegant enough to be
representative in front of the carriage. Above all, the
Walker was a family horse. When the mechanical
revolution started, the working horse lost its job and was
doomed to become useless.
Pleasure’s Made of Honor (Honor)
The now unemployed Walking Horse made a shift from a
versatile using horse to a new career as a show horse.
However, there is nothing spectacular watching the gliding
and smooth 4-beat flat walk of this gaited breed! The rider
hardly moves in the saddle and the horse moves fluently
and relaxed making it look easy and effortless. The feel of
these gaits are magnificent for the rider but not very
entertaining for spectators to watch.
The inevitable took place in order to get in the winner
circle and to please the audience; The stocky built using
horse changed its appearance into an elegant high headed
show horse with long legs and narrow chest. By adding
weighted shoes or even pads, the Walking Horse showed a
more animated gait loved by the crowd. The impact of
these changes had huge consequences for the future of the
breed. Over the last 50 years the original 4-beat gaits of the
TWH made a swift towards a more lateral gait at a
considerable increased speed. When you compare footage
of the first World Grand Champions like Strolling Jim or
Haynes Peacock you will find zero to no similarities with
the current contenders of the famous World Grand
Championship called “Celebration”.
Echo’s Nancy J (LuLu)
Even though the modern show horse might not attract most
Europeans, a group of people acknowledges the breed still
has traits left of the original versatile Tennessee Walking
Horse. When looking at both types of horses (original
versus modern) it is not difficult to choose which horse
would carry you with ease and be a smooth, reliable riding
mount on long trail rides. You will automatically prefer the
horses from the ’40ies! And this is exactly why we breed
with old bloodlines and promote Natural Walking Horses.
Pleasure’s Eternal Flame (Ravi)
Sandra’s story was featured in the
International Gaited Horse Association’s
publication in December 2009 as well as the
ETWHA (European Tennessee Walking Hors
Association) Journal in January 2010.
Why the Big Lick? by Mike Davis,
Wabasha, Minnesota
Today I got another issue of the Voice. As usual, the
cover showed a great looking horse, but in a weirdly
contorted posture with a rider whose intense face reminded
me of someone trying to abscond from his partners with
the proceeds of bank heist! Extra long handled bit levers
pulled taut against the horses mouth, frothing from the
nostrils, and lather on the chest, but this horse didn’t just
pound a fast trip up a mountain trail on a hot day. Oh no,
just a few rounds on a short, level track in an indoor arena.
So what is going on?
First I took a shot of those clumsy -looking things the
horses were wearing on their feet, and topped off with
chains! Why? I wondered what it would feel like if I had
a 4x4 strapped to the bottoms of my feet and chain
flopping around my ankle – I winced at the thought. Then
I took a picture of these medieval torture devices!
I had never experienced a “Big Lick” show before my trip
last summer to Tennessee. Bob Long and Leon Oliver
suggested that my friends and I check out the show going
on in Lewisburg that evening. Sounded like fun, lots of
TN Walking horses to see all in one place at the same
time. Why not? We had no idea of the spectacle that we
were in for, although I know Bob and Leon knew. They
weren’t goin’, they told us, got other things to do; I doubt
those guys ever go this kind of a show
We got there late, late enough I guess that we just walked
down and took a seat right on the rail; we had to duck the
dirt as the horses went by. As the horses came into the
ring and started their round our jaws dropped. We were
totally flabbergasted. “What”, “why”, “how could they”,
and “this makes no sense at all” were the first words out of
our mouths. I stared in disbelief; how the heck did this
ever get to be something you would want your horse to do,
or a thing that you would want to do to your horse? But
there’s a big crowd here, so there must be something to it.
So I hauled out my camera and started shooting.
The big lick horse
Then the announcer told the riders to get the flat walk
going and organ music started up. The ensuing debacle had
me alternately feeling really mad and laughing at how
surrealistic the entire spectacle was.
The show grounds
A big lick horse in the show ring
I looked at the riders to see if I could tell how they felt
about their “sport”. I did not see a smile anywhere, except
in the audience. I don’t know any of the riders and I don’t
mean to judge anyone, but they sure didn’t appear to be
having any fun, they were intense and determined looking.
But I guess maybe the Big Lick isn’t about having fun.
I switched my camera to video mode to capture the
movements. Horses struggling to move, looking like they
wanted to walk on their hind legs! What possible
demonstration of usefulness could this be? Who invented
this anyhow? Then they called for a canter; I was
appalled! Those poor horses could hardly move; such a
tortured gait I had never seen. This was no rocking chair
canter going on, but a frantic -looking bunch of horses
looking like they were trying to climb out of a deep gully!
A Shetland pony could canter smoother than a walking
horse with those manhole covers (as Franne Brandon calls
them) nailed into their hooves! Even as the event ended
and the contestants walked their horses out of the show
ring, not on display mind you but just trying to walk back
to their trailers, they were obviously impaired by their
pads, chains, and whatever else had been done to them.
Try watching the video with the link posted here to see
what I mean!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1973984/MVI_9164.AVI
We retreated to the motel feeling sort of wore out and
confused. If this is the face of the TWH, then I understand
why some of my friends with other breeds looked at me
like “why?”, what do you want with those kind of horses.
Don’t you have to torture them to make them walk that
way? Unfortunately, this is too often the reputation that
this great breed of horses gets from the public that sees the
spectacle of the Big Lick like we witnessed that night in
Lewisburg. They seldom hear about the cowboy events,
pleasure rides, endurance rides, and other sorts of things
that actually demonstrate TWH ability, agility, trainability,
and usefulness that is the foundation of the breed.
When I got home, I started looking into the history of this
type of show. Franne Brandon suggested I take a look at
this video on the history of the world grand champions at
the annual Celebration show.
http://www.youtube.com/v/HbZH3IbosI8&hl=en&fs=1
Here you can see the gradual transformation of the TWH
show champions from demonstrations of the comfort and
utility of the breed’s gaits to the spectacle that it has
become in today’s Big Lick horse show.
I ran across this article on a Google search on the Internet:
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2009/09/crueles
t_horse_show_091709.html
“The Cruelest Horse Show on Earth – a record-setting
number of violations reported at 71st Tennessee Walking
Horse Celebration.” Amid allegations of bribery and
horse abuse, the 71st Tennessee Walking Horse
Celebration recorded the greatest number of Horse
Protection Act (HPA) violations of any show in recent
memory—and perhaps ever.” Despite long-running
industry claims that the cruel practice of soring has all but
become a thing of the past, the number of violations of the
HPA has actually been on the rise.
About Soring
“Soring” is the intentional infliction of pain to a horse's
legs or hooves in order to force him to perform an
artificial, exaggerated gait—the “Big Lick”.
Unethical trainers may use painful chemicals or pressure
shoeing, which involves cutting the hooves painfully short
or inserting a foreign object and nailing the shoe on. In a
newer kind of pressure shoeing, trainers force a horse to
stand on concrete with blocks of wood or other hard
materials taped to the sensitive surface of her hoof until
she is in so much pain that she can’t bear weight on her
front feet.
Today, judges continue to reward this gait, thus
encouraging participants to sore their horses and allowing
the cruel practice to persist.
Congress passed the Horse Protection Act in 1970 to stop
this intentional abuse and tasked USDA with the
responsibility of monitoring horse shows to prevent the
exhibition of "sore" horses. But even if a sore horse isn't
detected as being “sore” the day of the show, his gaits have
been created over a lifetime using painful, inhumane
techniques.
In perhaps the most shocking development of this year’s
show, after the placing of the prestigious World Grand
Championship class, USDA officials inspected and cited
all three of the horses who took home the top awards—for
violations of the USDA “scar rule” regulation.
USDA officials released the final numbers from this year’s
event: More than 400 violations were documented by
industry inspectors and USDA officials during the 11-day
Celebration—compared to a total of 187 for the entire
2008 show.”
Now I’m not a member of the Humane Society or a bunny
hugger either, but this rang true to what I was seeing in
Lewisburg that night. I was astounded to find out that at
the 2006 Celebration there we NO World Grand
Champions – they were all disqualified by APHIS
inspectors for evidence of soring!!
If you want to read more about the Big Lick horse torture
here are a couple of other websites with information:
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/biglicktwh/
http://www.hphoofcare.com/lick.html
Here is the APHIS scar rule if you want to get technical
information.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2006/janqtr/pdf/9cfr11.3
.pdf
My big question is this: Why do the members of the
TWHBEA want this reputation to represent the breed?
How can this be changed? Maybe the name should be
changed to the Big Lick Abuse Supporters and
Perpetuators of Horse Extreme Misery Exhibition
(BLASPHEME). After thinking more about this I
wondered, where does the Big Lick go from here? Will
these horses actually begin walking on their hind legs in
order to win? What is the limit? I suppose when they get
their front feet up so high that they start to fall over
backwards on top of their riders, then that will be enough?
I think I saw something pretty close to a freak show that
night, but then I’m just not used to it, I guess.
I think I’ll stick with the Tennessee Walking Horse
Heritage Society myself! I wish we didn’t have to register
with an association that supports and promotes the Big
Lick shows. Off with those pads and chains, let’s see what
real horses can gait like! I’d like to see a horse like
Strolling Jim (1939) take the World Grand Championship
again some day! Or for that matter, Leon Oliver on-board
Bullet bareback and barefoot!!
From Teresa Bippen, Missouri, via Email:
FOSH sincerely thanks our supporters and members
who have allowed us to undertake the creation of this
HPA violation database. FOSH Board Directors have
donated thousands of hours’ of time in its creation. We
could not have dedicated resources to this monumental
project without your donations and membership dollars
over the years. FOSH especially wants to thank its
President, Lori Northrup, for her project vision over
five years ago when this undertaking was implemented
FOSH Unveils Database of Horse
Protection Act Violators
January 4, 2010
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) announced the
unveiling of a web site listing over 8,700 Horse
Protection Act violators who have received
suspensions from 1986 to the present. The Horse
Protection Act (HPA) is the Federal law that makes it
illegal to “sore” Tennessee Walking Horses and other
gaited breeds. Soring is the abusive practice of
creating pain with chemical or mechanical means on
the front legs and hooves to exaggerate and create an
artificial gait for the show ring.
Access to these records is critical to protect horses.
Individuals selecting a professional trainer for their
gaited horse can research the trainer’s violation
history. A buyer can verify the seller’s reputation for
soring. Horse rescues that are placing horses with new
adoptees can verify their HPA history before placing
the horse. Show management and enforcement
officials can familiarize themselves with names of
repeat violators, which are listed in one of the search
options. The site also provides current data, such as
suspension proportions by state, and by violation type.
FOSH is providing the information as a resource for
persons who are active, or wish to become active, in
owning, breeding and/or showing Tennessee Walking
Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses,
the principle breeds subject to regulation under the
Horse Protection Act. Users have free access to the
information after registering at
<http://www.hpadata.us/> .
Leon Oliver and Bud’s Sterling Bullet
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1973984/MVI_9134.AVI
Sources of the data include the official disqualification
and civil penalty lists maintained by the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA); violation and penalty
information reported by USDA-certified Horse
Industry Organizations (HIOs) such as SHOW, the
National Horse Show Commission (NHSC) and other
HIOs that have participated in the USDA-sponsored
Operating Plans, and various public web sites. Any
corrections must be directed to the original source HIO
which reported the data. There are 13 USDA-certified
HIOs at present.
From Carl Parks, Belvedere, Tennessee via
Email:
This listing does not include all HPA offenders
because the USDA is restricted by budget and only
attends about 7% of the shows. Many industry
inspectors have proven to be lax in their examinations
when the USDA is not present to provide oversight.
Early records were disorganized and lacking, however,
the FOSH database is the most complete listing
available today of Horse Protection Act violators.
“Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy
New Year. We are trying to start the New Year
proactive on our horse business. So looking at the
heritage website I appreciate you including Society's Lee
Allen on the newsletters, website and last year's
calendar. The foals look beautiful and wish good luck
with them. I wanted to send you some pictures of a
recent trail ride that I went on at Circle E Guest Ranch.
Also wanted to check and see if you send the newsletter
out via mail or only online. I would be interested in
getting it via mail as I am on dial up and it takes so long
to load. I do enjoy looking at it and reading the articles
very much. I hope you enjoy the pictures and look
forward to hearing from you.”
FOSH is the national leader in the promotion of
natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against
abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses and all
gaited horses. For more information about FOSH, or
to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info
<http://www.fosh.info/> or call 800-651-7993.
Kudos to FOSH for doing this! Anyone in
the horse business can now be aware of
who the violators are and avoid doing
business with those people!
From Shellie Pacovsky, Bainville, Montana
via Email
The rider’s name is Amanda Willson from Craigmont,
Idaho. She and “Scooter” just won the TWHBEA
endurance horse and rider of the year award.
Carl and Society’s Lee Allen outside the entrance to
Circle E near Winchester, Tennessee
The line up waiting to ride
Jubals Boot Scootin Boogy #20401260
Society’s Lee Allen and Carl on the trail
From Rachel Hill, Fort Frances, Ontario,
Canada via Email:
From Kayleen Nelson, Fulshear, Texas:
“I found Jasper thru PAWS (Pets Abandoned Wanting
Support) last fall. He had been at the shelter for six
months; I was the first to call. After some x-rays on his
leg at the university they could confirm he was a young
dog, not more than two. I am thinking now he was
closer to one.
“For the past several months we have been admiring the
Tennessee Walking Horses that came to our barn. These
beautiful, gentle and personable animals caught my
attention and rekindled my desire to have a horse of my
own. I never dreamed I would go twenty years without
one. I began looking at TWHs on web sites and even
planned a trip to Tennessee. But then my friend,
Geraldine Hairgrove told me about NFF Wilson’s
Stardust Echo (his sire is Echo's Star Gray Wilson and
his dam is Sterling's Dolly) who already lived in Texas!
He had a happy home with Tina Ordway for about three
years but somehow we convinced Tina that he needed to
move further south. So, over Thanksgiving we loaded
him up with his new friends, Geraldine and Larry's
geldings, Sam and Red and he made the trek about eight
hours south (and yes, we are still in Texas!)
Last winter we took him ice fishing with a couple of
friends of ours, Matt and Carol. Carol's sister Evie, is
mentally handicapped. It was an awesome day and we
set up our holes in the ice and our lines. During this
time, Jasper was your usual kooky young lab, running all
over the place, getting tangled in everyone's line, sticking
his head in the holes... Then Matt went home to get Evie
(they live right on the lake). He set her up in a chair so
she could fish. As soon as Jasper saw her, he knew she
was different. He instantly became a service dog and sat
like a guard by her side. It was bizarre.
Jasper is just a wonderful dog; it is so difficult to believe
someone threw him away. He demonstrated that day the
special connections animals have with people. It is
unfortunate to think so many are out there, hungry, cold,
lonely and their gifts are wasted.
I wish I could save them all.”
NFF Wilson’s Stardust Echo aka Duster
Duster has settled in beautifully; he has been nicknamed
Black Beauty by my children and the name fits! He is
gorgeous; shiny and regal even with a bit mud on his
socks! I am enjoying Duster so much and am impressed
by his easygoing manner, gentle temperament, his
curiosity and willingness. I am not implying that he
doesn't have a mind of his own...we have had a couple of
disagreements but we have settled them amicably. With
a little patience and perseverance I win! From the first
time I rode him I felt safe; he is very steady and easy to
handle. Since this is my first TWH I am learning about
their gaits and how to balance myself and enjoy the
ride. Duster and I are both enjoying the process. I believe
I have fallen in love with my black beauty!”
Jasper and Evie
Great story, Rachel! We hope this inspires others to
adopt some of these wonderful dogs in need of homes!!
Bob Long, Fayetteville, Tennessee
sent this via Email:
“Our leader decided that we are moving the 2010 Spring
Bullet Ride to Catoosa Ridge Stables in Crossville,
Tennessee. You can find them at
www.catoosaridgestables.com. We'll be back at the Circle
E in October.”
Leon called and confirmed the trail ride will be May 28,
29, 2010 if anyone would like to join them!!
From Kathy Grosky, Canton, SD via
Email:
Walking Duster with his new bit so he can get used to it
“Typing is still slow from the surgery on my hand but I
wanted to show you guys how dang big Freedom is now!
She turns 6 months on Thursday and we taped her at
almost 500 lbs. and about 13 hands! And she is not fat!
Plus you know Blossom is not a small mare! She stands
taller than me at her head when she stands up straight! She
is going a little stir crazy from all the snow and us not
being out was much, but Joe worked with her flexing her
head around a bit recently and she was fine with it pretty
much. I’m worried that the winter does not make for good
times working with babies and she may need some
refreshing when the weather gets better. It’s been the worst
winter since have been here so far. Plus, I’m not much help
yet with my hand.”
In the saddle!!
Joe Grosky with Superman’s Blossom and Let
Freedom Ring
Kayleen sent the above photo and this note:
“I thought you might like these pictures of Duster and
his friends! This was as we loaded up after an
awesome trail ride Friday at the 7il Ranch in Cat
Springs. You can see that this "black beauty" was as
thrilled with the adventure as I was!
Our Readers Write
“Wow-that (December) is a HUGE issue. Some very
interesting stories--the greeting from Yona and the
photos of the ride in Israel were very special. It must be
a real thrill to be able ride by all of those old, old ruins!!”
Nancy Bergman, Whitehall, Wisconsin
“Thanks for putting Rose's book blurb in the newsletter.
Also, thanks for using all of the kids.” Nya Bates, Melba,
Idaho
“Keep up the good work!” Dianne Little, Calgary,
Alberta, Canada
“Just printed it off. It looks great. Getting big to print!
How about a magazine? You do a great job with the
Highlights, love to get them.” Mary Ann Funk, Casey,
Illinois
“Another great newsletter! Of course I really found the
history of Society's Lee Allen very informative and I
have to say that I look at little Moonshine with even
more respect for what he represents than before!
This got me to wondering about my Cameo and her roots
in the cattle country of the Dakotas and Montana, Roy
Rogers' Trigger Jr. (Allen's Gold Zephyr) etc. Anyone
know how the Tennessee Walker found first found its
way to the West? This would be an especially good
article for a newsletter since a TWH just won the
Extreme Cowboy Association's Non-Pro Worlds
Championship!!” Mike Davis, Wabasha, MN
“The Dec Highlights is packed as usual.
I must admit that I missed the Stork Report and Horses
For Sale sections. But the Christmas cards and messages
more than compensate. Skimming through the issue has
merely whetted my appetite. Now I need to diligently
peruse the entire content.” Henry Ferreira, Johannesburg,
South Africa
More from Henry:
“The Israeli article is highly entertaining and
informative, and familiar. I always enjoy reading about
Israel, perhaps because we have so much in common.
They are heavily outnumbered, and their very presence is
resented. The white birds riding on the sheep are
common here as well: cattle egrets, aka tick birds. They
follow grazing animals in order to catch insects disturbed
by their hooves.
The factual histories of the old-time TWH studs never
fail to inform and entertain me. Surely there is enough
copy and pics to fill a couple of books? Add some
pedigrees and graphics and artwork, and maybe some
old-time posters and adverts, and voila: instant
gratification. I chuckled at Copper's disenchantment (I
secretly agree with her).
Limo is definitely my kind of horse, as is Larry - the
geriatric's salvation. Larry is in very loving and caring
AND capable smiling 4 year old hands! I am absolutely
convinced that Limo will show very successfully.
Society's Gracie Allen can grace my place any day!
The Eddie story is very touching. I'm thrilled that Eddie
has found a 'forever' home, and can hardly wait
for pics after he has been conditioned. On breeding: If
Paige's Echo could put a comfortable flatwalk on a
Belgian crossbred foal, then a good modern TWH
stallion can do the same on gaited mares like Friesians,
and Saddlebreds, and Hackneys, and Welsh Cobs, etc.,
as well as crosses of the above. We have hundreds of
highly suitable mares in South Africa. I particularly
welcomed the very attractive post and rail fences.
And the cutesy babykins Brianna Rose: 20+inches = 5hh
already! Must be the crisp Montana air.
My New Year's resolution: I am going to print all the
Christmas Cards A4 size - they are much too nice to be
hidden away on a HDD or CD.”
“Happy New Year. Your last heritage News is very nice
and interesting. I like it. This week I rode the first time
on Bud's Topper. In Hebrew I gave him the name NETZ
it means the falcon. He is going excellent. He is not
afraid of anything, he goes through the mud, his gait is
very good, he obeys my request. He enjoys the trip
through nature. Amber behave also fabulous. She has a
very long over –stride. Anava says she WILL be the best
of my horses at the end.” Yona Hefer, Karkur, Israel
News & Congratulations
Peg McCreery & Elizabeth, Yardley,
Pennsylvania sent this by Email:
“We rescued a mare 3-5 yrs old, she came in as scary as
they come, don't think she'd even been haltered. We
don’t know her past; we can guess that it was dark. We
know that since rescuing her from the “leftover” arena at
the auction in New Jersey, she has put on some much
needed weight and responded with love and gentleness
to the love and gentleness shown to her. She is doing
great, a fast learner and wanting to be such a good girl,
VERY gaited – judging from her movement she is most
likely a Tennessee Walker, all black and TALL, 15.2
already, great looking feet, I wish I knew more about
her. She needs and deserves to start life in her realy
home. Natural Horsemanship Training experience
preferred. Gigi is free to the RIGHT home. Is that you? ”
Peg’s email address is Ponderay1@aol.com
CONTACT US:
Franne & Harry Brandon, Petersburg, TN
(931) 276-2232
Email: handfbrandon@united.net
Sandra van den Hof, Hechtel, Belgium
+32 (0) 11 666 158
Email: sandra@pleasuregaits.com
Leon & Mary Lou Oliver, Cornersville, TN
(931) 293-4156
Danny & Sherry Taylor, Winchester, TN
(931) 967-9553
Billy & Mary Taylor, Winchester, TN
(931) 967-9621
Email: confederatehills@wmconnect.com
Diane Sczepanski, Whitehall, WI
(715) 538-2494
Email: northern_foundations@yahoo.com
If you are interested in adopting GiGi, please call
Peg at (215) 630-4057 or call Elizabeth Crawford at
(609) 273-5423
The Heritage Society does not endorse any
trainer, style of natural training, or tack and
horse equipment, to the exclusion of others, as
each horse is an individual and not all will
respond positively to a particular trainer or
training style. Articles published by the
Society, which include such endorsements,
reflect the view of the author, but not
necessarily that of the Society.