From the article: “For more than a decade, the horse show was a staple of the Bedford County Fair. But rather than risk the scrutiny, the organizer called it off right as it was supposed to start.”
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OMG, CAN YOU LOOK MORE GUILTY? The feds are coming, hide the drugs horses! You’re like a bunch of losers flushing their meth-making materials down the toilet as the police storm the house. Hide the horses so nobody can see what has been done to them!
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What freaks me out is that this wasn’t even a “real” show. It was a cheap, fun county fair show. So these abuses are going on even at that level, and you know it, huh? Gah!
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It is funny how the Spotted Saddle Horse people still held THEIR show, isn’t it? Maybe THEY aren’t torturing their horses (and maybe THEY support outing and punishing any competitors who are — what a concept, hey?)
Yes, it’s the only thing that happens more frequently than Mel Gibson making an ass of himself — it’s the pro-unnatural-shit segment of the gaited horse people proving they are pretty much 99.9% corrupt, soulless bastards who will cause no end of deliberate pain to a horse to win at their STOOOOPID shows. Yeah, guys, listen up: Every other horse discipline thinks your show-ring performance standard is completely ludicrous. It is the horse equivalent of duckface. You think it looks good and everybody else thinks it looks like lime green spandex stretched over cellulite. Really, the way you show those pressure shod horses makes halter horses on 00 feet and peanut-rollers look like no big deal in comparison. This dude looks like he’s gonna slide straight off the back of that flat saddle and land on his butt.
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Now, for comparison’s sake, here is a nice, normal TWH. Heaven forbid this be your show-ring standard, huh? I guess sane, sound and happy is just soooooo not okay…
And in case you were wondering how you take a horse that naturally goes like that lovely chestnut and turn it into the freakshow that is the black, this should help clear it all up for you:
I am glad that Friends of Sound Horses has been fighting the good fight for years to end the abuse, and it is somewhat amazing to me how the “main” TWH industry refuses to take these issues seriously and actually do their own enforcement so that they don’t have to have a government agency do it to them. I mean, come on, you have really behaved atrociously to wind up with USDA inspectors at your shows in the first place. Every other breed at least manages to make less of a spectacle of its particular abuses in public, but not you guys. You keep bringing them out into the show ring bleeding and crippled up and scared to death of you. If you really think you are going to keep getting away with this in 2010, you are dreaming. And pulling the plug on your horseshows the second an inspector shows up is not helping your reputation any. If you actually care about preserving your breed and bringing new people into your breed — something that is essential if you want to have buyers for your horses — you are going to have to get with the times and embrace the kindler, gentler walking horse shows. I don’t care if you lack any kindness or decency, the news flash here is nobody makes any money when the show doesn’t happen. So knock the crap off or watch your houses get foreclosed and your shiny trailers get hauled away. Maybe that will get your attention and finally break the pattern of disgusting abuse to these super nice, kind and lovely horses.
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 For the hunter/jumper and dressage people whose eyes are burning from watching that crap, feast your eyes on cute, perky-eared Jupiter at Mid Atlantic Horse Rescue and I’m sure you’ll feel better. I love this horse’s expression. He just looks happy to be working! He is a seven year old, 16.1 hand gelding and, of course, is looking for a home!
I had the great pleasure of rescuing a registed TWH from the kill pen at the Enumclaw Sales Pavillion last Nov. I can honestly say he is the kindest, sweetest, cutest, most non-flappable horse I have ever been around. I am totally sold on TWHs. My high strung Arab mare is even more calm now that he is in the barn. When I first got him I was expecting him to tear out of his stall (like my Arab) everytime I made a loud noise, but he wouldn’t even blink an eye. I think of these horrible people trying any of this crap on my Arab and she would have kicked their heads in! (grin)
I just can’t understand how a working/plantation horse turned into such a hideous industry. It’s beyond words how these practices are still taking place in 2010. It’s beyond my comprehension how people (and I use the term loosely) loose all humanity in the name of the great greenback.
I’m really glad to see some suggestions on how we can all help. I will definetly follow through. I haven’t registered “Ike” in my name yet, and now I don’t know if I even want to give them money for that.
Make sure Ike’s papers do NOT have a transfer date. TWHBEA charges outrageous fees if the horse is transferred more than a month after the sale date on the transfer slip/papers. I’m giving you a heads up, because the man who sold me my mare was nice enough to leave the date off, so I wouldn’t get hit with late fees. If you have an old transfer date on your papers, you might want to think of ways to make it look like a new transfer date.
Thanks! Yankee does a gait that looks, to my untrained eye, just like that Rocky-looking TWH in the second video – a running walk (or amble?). He’; got a really ground-eating gait when he gets going. Hope he retains it into adulthood – he’s only just a tad over a year right now.
I didn’t buy him – I won him at a raffle. It’s a long story, but in the end it was sort of a rescue as well, he arrived at my place underweight, wormy, and ended up with a big sheath infection, probably because he was under the weather when gelded at his old farm (he was in good shape when I first met him in January). Nothing that some groceries and decent vet care didn’t take care of right quick, now he’s a fantastic, gorgeous, gregarious little horse that everyone falls in love with when they meet him
Hopefully this will work…
Yankee when he arrived at his new home on April 30th:
PLEASE help this mare!! CROSS POST..
This mare is green and needs a expert rider!! She has been reduced in price 3 times now!!
I know this mare, and she is a great horse, but is green and a grade QH.. http://madison.craigslist.org/grd/1868924920.html
I know next to nothing about gaited horses or soring, and I just learned the term ‘big lick’. But what I do remember being told was that the horses lifted their feet up like that because of the weight they put on their feet. Which now I know isn’t particularly correct because if the shoe was just ‘heavy’ they wouldn’t want to pick up their feet. The only reason I would think a horse to walk like that black one would because his feet were in pain and he couldn’t bear walking on them. Didn’t even know this was considered abuse until today, but that’s because I didn’t know anything about soring or what they did to make a horse soar. Now that I know more about soring I can’t believe that this type of riding was even created! This has probably all been said of course, but it’s new information to me.
I have Paso Finos, and remember back in my 4H days (5-6yrs ago), going to shows around KY. Everything from county shows, local 4H shows, and KY gaited horse shows. At the gaited shows, they had a “checker”, to check for soring and such. They always seemed so surprised at how calm my horses were, and their bare feet! I saw many people sent home.
In 4H for gaited classes at state competition. All horses were checked every time they entered for a class. Again, the vet was always so shocked by my horses bare feet!
My mom has a JFK son, who has the smoothest, most beautiful natural gait… barefoot.
I dont particularly mind putting some lightly weighted shoes on a gaited horse, to fix being trotty or pacey, but anything beyond that is ridiculous in my mind!
I once worked at a stable, the owner had a wonderful TWH, who once was a padded show horse (was when she bought him). So being bred to be pacey (so pads could be put on the front), he still needs heavy shoes for him to gait. She would never ever sore a horse in any way… but that horse is still so flashy and showy, without the pads, she gets kicked out of local shows at times, accused of soring!
Hi, I’ve been a lurker of your blog for more than a month and had to comment on this one. I’ve worked at one of those stables before. They are horrible! I was there a week before I realized what they do to those poor horses, and the one I worked at was particularity bad. When I first realized what was going on was when I was taught to wrap the horse’s front legs in plastic and then a standing wrap. The guy brought out a jar of some homemade concoction and told me not to get it on my skin cause it would burn, and then took a wire brush and SCRUBBED that stuff into the soft area behind the horse’s fetlock! Wrapped it in plastic and then wrapped it up tight with a standing wrap. They also had a 2 year old with those huge pads on her feet! I could only imagine the damage that was done to that poor filly’s legs, and it wasn’t like she was a big sturdy 2 year old, she was small and dainty like a deer, with the tiniest legs to lug those big huge pads. Poor baby! Then right before I quit, I was going to a show with them because they were a person short. The day before the show, they would pick up the horse’s feet and check them for soreness like an inspector would. If the horse moved, it got beaten until it would stand still while they pushed a prodded on the sore spots. That was several years ago, the guy quit with the horses and sold them all because of family matters since then. I will NEVER forget what was done to those horses, I should have done something about it, but I was a kid and didn’t know where to turn. I’m sorry I wrote a book, but just had to let everyone know about that. Thank you for having such a wonderful blog, and I think you really are making a difference!
Oh my God!!!! Here in Australia have had virtually no exposure to TWH – I cannot believe that these people are actually allowed to do this and not be prosecuted – where are the authorities??? Noboby in their right mind could possibly think that a horse would move like this naturally. I am appalled. This brought tears to my eyes. I honestly don’t think I have ever seen anything so unnatural. Those poor poor horses.
As a recent convert from the trotting horses to the gaited horses I cant say I regret the move one bit. But what I have been appalled at is the TWH industry- not the whole industry but the ones continuing to perpetuate the Big Lick- and padded show horses. And they do not want to discuss the issue with you. They are right in their eyes and the rest of us are just bleeding hearts. They are truly ignorant in the humane treatment of horses choosing to believe the propaganda that they have been fed – probably since they even entered the horse world. On another board we have been discussing this at some length on how to STOP it permanently because the law that has been in place since the 70′s is constantly being ignored. I participated in my first gaited show this summer. I went through inspections (the show was sponsored by FOSH- so no padded classes) I was surprised to be told to take off my horses saddle for inspection. They were NOT inspecting the saddle or padding- it seems that some genius had put a spur or one person said an electronic device under the saddle that punished the horse if he moved during the inspection. There is BIG money associated with the padded horses especially with the Celebration which is held in Shelblyville TN (town sound familar- it should) What needs to happen is to go after the sponsors- the ones that put up the money for the winner of the Big Lick classes. Ford is one sponsor- we havent been able to find the others yet. If we can get accurate information to those sponsors we may be able to get the money pulled and if there is no money there is no class and no need for the padded horses. Second- we need to get to other associations that are having open gaited shows and ask very nicely to stop offering padded classes. Failing that we need to BOYCOTT those shows that have padded classes and tell the show manager WHY you are not coming. Are points really as important as ending this barbaric practice? Its not just the chemicals and the objects used to sore horses that is the problem. The pad themselves are abusive to the horse putting extreme amounts of stress and strain on the horses bodies- not just their legs. The pain that these horses are in affect their minds. This is not just a TWH problem or a Gaited horse problem it is a horse problem one that every horse person should voice their opinion about. One that if enough voices start speaking up about might finally get heard. We have to stop the money these fools make by doing this to their horses. Then the practice might stop. As long as it is being funded we dont have a hope of stopping it and the horses will continue to suffer. And for the record I dont own a TWH I own a Rocky Mountain horse who’s gait is a saddle rack (which is what the pretty chocolate horse- are you sure that is a TWH? – is doing in the second video. They are a horse that is bred to be people oriented and very gentle as well as calm. In order to be certified they have to demonstrate the appropriate gait AND disposition. And yes there are issues with a genetic disorder which is not breed specific but color specific and can show up in ANY horse of ANY breed that has the silver dapple gene which is responsible for that beautiful chocolate color w/the flaxen mane and tail (or even white)
What genetic disorder? I own a silver dapple mare (not a Rocky), and I hadn’t heard about such a thing. I do know the mare, who was owned by Amish, was bred several times, and always threw blacks except for one buckskin pinto– and that was bred to non-black horses! I have been curious about her color, but didn’t realize that there is a disorder with it.
As for the rest of your post, this is SPOT ON. I love your ideas, and I hope other organizations and individuals pick up on that fact. I personally have no problem dropping an Email to Ford, explaining that I will no longer consider purchasing their product until such time as it becomes abundantly clear that every penny they have previously used to support Big Lick has been matched with a donation to a humane organization, along with a promise of no further money sent the way of Padded Class Sponsorships.
The silver gene is linked to ASD, which causes eye deformities, especially in homozygous horses (it’s the same kind of partial dominant as HYPP from what I know).
However, MOST of the ASD associated eye deformities…small cysts on the eye being the most common…are harmless. They just look funny. Only a few develop a detached lens which has the same effect as cataracts. It’s about a 2.5 risk from a heterozygous silver to heterozygous silver breeding, from what I’ve read…the detached lens only occurs in homozygous silvers.
So, it’s not exactly like HYPP…you have a VERY small risk of producing a horse with impaired vision.
The sought after silver dapple “chocolate” color is the result of the silver dilution on black, so it is not surprising at all that your black mare produced blacks.
Wow I just saw this picture today on FB and “Liked” it. Then I catch your post about flaxen manes the same day. Of course some colors are cool but there’s a plain sorrel in our barn that blows my mind he’s so good looking, Just saying color’s only one part of pretty on a horse to me. But I saw this Big Chex To Cash 2yr old colt picture and his color floored me. But it’s a disorder??? wow the irony, it’s like Impressive- pretty wrapping on the outside for a nightmare lurking inside. Shame
Hope this picture shows up-it’s some crazy color going on from an awesome sire to boot
That’s a different color – that horse is sooty palomino, not silver dapple. They look alike but the genetics are completely different. A sooty palomino is a chestnut with one palomino dilution gene plus sooty, and a silver dapple is black plus silver.
Thanks Alliecat! I didn’t read enough into the details you saved me from wandering around thinking any dark horse with a flaxen mane might have problems
Right on! Bless you people for bringing attention to the blatent injustice that is being done to the “big lick” show horse. It is a heinous and detestable disgrace to the natural gait of the TWH. Why cant TWH’s be shown according to thier NATURAL inherit abilty?? You dont see Paso finos, Peruvian Pasos, Rocky Mt Horses, Missouri Fox trotter etc being shown up on stacks with chains and performing in obvious distress….why cant the WH standards be changed???? I agree with everything written above and I will work tirelessly to see the demise of the of the big lick. I agree we should write letters to the sponsors… I went to the Celebration’s website and the 2 major corporate sponsers are indeed Ford and also Pepsi. Im sure there are many more sponsors but couldnt find a list. Maybe someone who’s attended the celebration can fill us in on who advertises there, who’s signs are displayed in and around the arena.
Also, the EXPERT’S in the equine field need to weigh in…they have the clout. Another study needs to be done on the effects of Stacks and chains on the horses body…an unbiased study…the last one was done back in the 80′s at Auburn and was fuinded by none other than the Big Lick industry. Technology in Vet Medicine has improved so much since the 80′s and would yield much more accurate results. We need to get Vets involved to speak on the stress and damage that moving at such a groteque angles causes on the horses bodies. We need to Join or donate to FOSH and NWHA and HSUS. And the biggest contributor to the Big lick industry that is largely overlooked is the FARRIERS. If the Farriers would stand up and refuse to put “stacks” on horses it wouldnt be nearly so rampant. Farriers who are experts on hoof and lower leg anatomy should stand up and profess the horrors and damage that is being done. Farriers who work on Big Lick horses should be boycotted.
(Also I encourage you to go to the following website and leave a comment about how disgusted you are by Big Lick…There are a bunch of “BIG LICKERS” on there defending and saying how it’s good for the horse….please sound the voice of reason and truth!) http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/04/1508414/usda-to-address-anti-soring-horse.html
I am not a horse person, but this just looks so wrong. I understood the TWH to be the Cadillac of rides, yet the videos of the big lick horses don’t show a smooth ride at all – quite the opposite. How sad this has become. These horses seem so sweet by all who have owned them -the pitbulls of the horseworld they are. I think while controversial that Champagne Watchout’s 1999 performance was very much a GOOD thing – exposing the warped industry in a way that no one could ignore. A light shod normal horse far outlasting the crippled big lickers – proof positive for those who will take it that what they are seeing in is abuse.
The tricks they have used to teach the TWH not to react to the pain during inspection has gone so far as to result in the hassle of having to totally unsaddle and resaddle during DQP. My understanding is that they were putting something under the saddles that they would then lean on tand would poke the horse while their feet were being inspected. Egads.
I understand that. I didn’t say she was a pristine poor little owner with no clue. But you can be a judge without being a horseperson – from this interview, it sounds like she looks at her horse maybe once a month.
Again, these people buy a show horse and turn it over to a trainer and watch it. She doesn’t ‘like’ soring, she knows it is bad, she told the trainer she doesn’t like it, and she’s not actually soring the horse herself, so as far as her mind works she’s done all she can do.
I’m saying these people, with this mindset, are the hardest to move into any semblance of shock, horror or righteous indignation. A lot of racehorse owners suffer from the same abuse-blindness. What’s most shocking to me is how she’s mentally distanced herself from any sort of culpability – despite the fact that friends have SEEN these things happen to her horse.
When I read this and came upon the you tube I didnt even watch them. (first off to slow to up load on my computer) I just cant stand to see any of that stupid Performance crap. I think its disgusting and WRONG and I dont care if if no soring is done I think its an abomination to the equine and to such a wonderful breed. That shit should have been nipped in the bud back when it all got started. Stupid fucktards. I just absolutly loathe that crap. I have shown TWHs and trained them all flat shod/light shod. Trained not forced and not sored. I’m glad the show was shut down. I hope the dirty bastard rats run untill they cant run and hind any more. We need to stand up and say “we are tired of it and we arent going to take it any more.!!!!!” Its a passion of mine to stop this shit and get rid of the peices of pukes who allow it to continue. This goes with the Saddlebred ppl also. I have seen near as bad stuff done to those horses as well. I would love to shove some ginger up those bastards asses and see how well they walk for a while. I would laugh my big fat ass off….thats alot of laughing.
Although the dark chestnut flaxen mane horse is performing more of a stepping pace (going back and forth between the gaits) than a true run walk I would, by far, rather watch that any day over that stupid built up performance crap.
At least watching that doesnt make me gag and doesnt raise my blood pressure.
Several years ago FHOTD started a thread on us…let me tell you my first impression…We were the subject on several groups on the net, as I tried to be civil and logically, clearly and concisely explain myself I found myself up to my armpits in crocodiles with more pundits than friends.
Then someone sent me here, and I though to myself, “One more time into the breech Nate”….then I started reading and began to blush!…Trust me folks, wanna see something funny watch this Black man blush!…. Y’all don’t play! :>)
I thought to myself…if I had some of these folks at my side when we did this…it would have really been interesting and most memorable…people who were not shy to spit out how they felt about what their eyes told them was just not right!
However, even today on this thread there are those that still hate us, badmouth us, call me names and simply disrespect me for taking a physical stand after trying for years with words to change what was happening. I went through this when I came home from Viet Nam and I was just a soldier, as I feel I was in this mess…just someone who could not continue to stand on the sidelines and do nothing.
“I ain’t no hero” one said…. I wonder if this person thought back then that I was seeking fame and glory for myself…that’s what the lickers said..also that “I hurt the sound horse movement by our acts.” I respectfully disagee…when you raise the consciousness of folks of things they knew nothing about…you move the cause forward…I don’t know, that tactic has worked for me before in my life and thought to do it in this situation it was deployed during the Civil Rights Movement…and to the best of my knowledge it worked.
However..the most important thing I can say bout anyone who seeks to change something…always have a solution in hand..that’s why when we say to them “Your training methods and opinion of how to train a horse are abusive”…Be prepared to demonstrate a better and more humane way of doing it….That’s what we are trying with Dressage: As Applied to the Gaited Horse and the reason we were formally invited to demostrate our Dressage En Gait at the 2010 FEI World Equestrain Games.
We thank each of you who voice your disapproval of what’s going on and support our “Reformation of Manners”
PS, Mandy; I stopped watching our video awhile ago…it gets me too worked up for my own good :>)
Okay, I give up. I have GOT to go to the Games this year. There is really no excuse not to go, is there?
Thanks for making such a huge effort to force the Big Lickers (I think I like that name) to perform next to a nice quality, undamaged horse. If it does nothing else, it forces everyone to WATCH their horses run out of steam while an equally nice horse continues to strut his stuff.
Jennifer R is correct about ASD. It became prevalent in the mountain breeds because they were breeding for the chocolate color. BUT if you breed a chocolate to a black or any other color then your chances of a “clear eyed ” or minimal ASD is very favorable. I will say that in my journey to buying a RMH (and she is a clear eyed chocolate) I only saw one that made me think twice about the color. He could hardly close his eye around the eyeball. When I was looking for a horse I would look at the pedigree (which if they are registered it is on the RMH web page) and look to see what color the parents were before even went to see the horse. Also breeders, at least w/in the RMH are taking this seriously and most are no longer breeding Chocolate to Chocolate to decrease the chance of this genetic defect. But for the most part it is no different than buying an Appalossa who has a higher risk of Moon Blindness due to the pigment around the eye. You may have a problem you may not ever have a problem. And generally it is very managable, if it is even noticed at all. My girl is dark chocolate, but she bleaches so bad in the summer her dapples really show up and she is about the color of your horse. Thats ok- she enjoys being outside and I am not doing beauty contests. : )
Oh good. If the Amish are to be believed, this mare is possibly the product of a Belgian and a Shetland (although he wasn’t too sure…..). That makes it likely that she isn’t silver dapple to silver dapple, so she should be reasonably okay. I had never heard of the disorder, although I’m not a genetics buff at all. I actually LOVE the dark body, light mane and tail look. I have adored it ever since Breyer released that black horse with the white mane and tail.
I’ve moved into gaited horses (although the silver dapple mare isn’t truly gaited, more just lame, lol), so perhaps one day I’ll end up with a Rocky of my own. If I do, I’ll take your advice and be careful what I purchase.
Katphoti said:
“THANK YOU for not renewing your membership with TWHBEA, AKBarbWire. I have made the same decision. When I have bought TWHs or SSHs, I have registered the horses in my name but specifically stated that I am only paying the nonmember fee and to not put me on the membership roster. I tell them I will not support them until soring is completely gone.”
This is an attitude I have been for a long time trying to reverse…it is one option, however the more progressive and effective way is to actually join up, tune in and vote out!
Think of it…say 20,000 people join, elect board members of like mind and actually vote by the democratic system and vote em out!
The majority could actually make rules that to outlaw pads and chains within the TWHBEA Organization WOW!
i stood on the outside a while ago and hollared at em and chunked rocks at em… …then I stormed The Bastile and started from the inside to effect changes… then I thoguht what if all the TWH owners did the same?…Filled the board with like minds?
Calling em names, writing harsh letters to government officials demanding THEY do something is a weak approach…the stronger approach is for us to take care of it ourselves…sign up and change the rules ourselves!
This has been my approach and I see allot of you by all your emails, posting on our website and facebook page are seeking a positive way to end this abuse.
We have made and seen many many converts from the other side and as surprising as it may sound many simply could not go on when all the facts were presented to them of what they were participating in…
Boycotting only works when ALL of a disfranchised group participate en masse (like the Montgomery Bus Boycott) and it won’t work here because too many people still show and breed their TWHs…but they would join the ranks of voting thier hearts.
It our opinion and our desire to not see it torn down but refurbished and rebuilt from the inside out. Conversion is better than expulsion….and as you can see…all the name calling and posting of videos has not shamed them into stopping…they just ignore you and pay you no mind…they go on like a duck in the rain….
I have never in my entire life seen anything as ridiculous as what this man is forcing this poor horse to do. Oh my, this horse is doomed unless there is a stop put to this. What the hell are these complete idiots thinking. Oh the hell came up with this gait. Stop the madness.
It’s not a gait, it’s a style of showing. The gait itself is completely natural and normal for Tennessee Walking Horses. It’s the style of weighted shoes, heavy chains, and yes, creating pain to change a horse’s weight bearing. THOSE are the problem with what you see.
Just making sure you don’t think that every Walking horse is gaiting because it’s forced to do so– the gait in natural. Big Lick is not.
This is a reply to Mandy– Your defense of the “naturally” gited ASB is to be commended, but your “facts” about which TWH started the big lick trend is a little “off” — by about 10 years– and the TWH pic you posted is of WGC Midnight Sun — which is NOT the horse that started the BL trend.
For the record WGC Midnight Sun had a powerful running walk with lots of reach, and step-under, but not as much lift as his arch rival Merry Go Boy who was described as having a light airy way of going with lots of lift in front like an ASB.
The TWH who started the whole BL trend was three-time WGC Talk of the Town (three consecutive titles), who showed in the 1950s. Unfortunately, this horse who combined Sun’s powerful reach and Go Boy’s high action had been gelded before it was obvious that he had a show career in his future. In an attempt to duplicate his gait– which would never be genetically passed on– the TWH trainers took a page from the ASB trainers’ play book and began trying to “nail on” the desired gait by adding pads to create stacks– something that had never been done to TWHs in the ring before ToTT.
In their desire to recreate ToTT’s gait, they took the use of leather pads to new and unfortunate hights. (Yes, sad but true, the ASB boys pioneered the use of pads to manipulate gait, but the TWH boys took it to new and outrageous heights– and then they added the chains in the show ring for good measure– and later all those “soring” agents so the horses would react more strongly to the action devices on their front pasterns) Yes, ASBs and TWHs had been “worked” with “action devices” — first bell boots and later chains and rollers outside of the show ring. ASB people still use these devices outside the ring to “enhance” the ASB’s natural gait, but the TWH boys have been much more “honest” in their own twisted way by allowing these things to be worn in the actual show ring as well as by using them in “training.”
And now after decades of “trashing” this fine breed called the TWH with abuse, lies and dishonest practices, the “good old boys” are expected to just own up and quit their soring because the USDA is on their case (belatedly by about 50 years)– give me a break! It will take more than the government to stop them– they have to be hurt in their pocketbooks!
The “breed” actually existed for about 100 years before the Tennessee boys got together in the 1930s to “create” the TWH. The first horse recorded to have done a running walk was Bald Stockings, who was foaled ca. 1838. He is believed to have carried Morgan bloodlines as well as to have been of Standardbred or trotting background– as was Black Allan F-1– the “recognized” progenitor of the modern TWH. Easy gaited- “plantation pacers” or “walkers” were known and prized throughtout the South even before the War Between the States in 1860-65. It is true that many of these horses came from breeders in the “horse country” of Tennessee and Kentucky, but many southerners in other states bred plantation walkers as well.
These horse were prized for their stamina and easy gaits by more than just the planters. They were highly prized by circuit riding judges and preachers as well as army officers– or anyone whose livelihood required them to spend long hours in the saddle.
I can agree that what has been done to these wonderful horses since the 1950s all for the sake of show blues and championships is one of the worse sustained crimes ever perpetrated against a particular horse breed. But, I’m sorry that I just can’t agree that the guys in Tennessee in the 1930s created the “breed.” Walking horses have been around since at least the middle ages– they were called “amblers” in England. The modern walking horse owes his existance to the skill of breeders who worked to combine the Naagansett Pacer, Morgan, TB – and even it is rumored some German coach horses– into a level-headed, sweet tempered reliable easy-gaited animal long before the TWH breed studbook was drawn up. Why, several of the foundation horses of the breed were long-dead before the studbook was compiled. If you look at the first volume of that book, you will see that many of the “foundation” TWHs came from Mississippi, Louisiana and other southern states.
As a lover of all horses, I say outlaw any device or practice designed to manipulate or “change” a horse’s natural genetically-created way of going. I say outlaw the use of unnaturally heavy shoes, pads, nerve blocks, ginger, soring agents or chemicals — at all times–for all breeds– and not just in the show ring.
I have not belonged to the TWHBEA or registered any of my walkers with the association because I refuse to support what I have come to believe is a corrupt and cowardly organization– an organization that continued to allow people who have been suspended for soring horses to not only register horses and belong, but to serve on the board and as officers.
I say its high time to boycott the TWHBEA. I have not even attended a TWH show since 2000- and then only to present the pernament championship trophy in honor of my late husband to the Lightshod North American Grand Champion.
Elysian Feilds Farm: Spot on with your information and post. I could not have said it better myself. The Soring was from an “accident” from a leg bracing agent (of God knows what) and got the horse to high step it thus the owner liked and was liked by the judges and began the soring of the gaited breeds to create the reach, height, and cadende with out all of the wet saddle blankets and time it takes to train.
I dont like the heavy shod plantation style either. Soring occurs in that just as prevelant. However with the Heavy shod at least the horse is not stilted up on pads shifting weight (to much weight) to the rear then made to work of that rear with the action included with all of that. Heavy shod plantation are often pressure shod, thier method of soring (the guilty party that is.) Its hard on the joints, Heavy shoes on myself makes my knees sore over time. I used to walk with those ankle weights and found that my knees just plain ached and I couldnt understand why. This was back when I was in my early 20s and I went to the doctor to be sure nothing was going on other than my normal early stage arthritis. My doctor imediatly told me to stop walking with the weights for they can do more harm than good even on a regular person with out early stage arthritis. We arent designed to carry such weight on our lower appendages. Now that I am older arthrits has begun to claim victory on my whole body (its a family history of arthritis I am one of the lucky ones to getting nailed by it and I am only 40 yrs old. By the time I am 60 I will be having serious issues with it. Something to look forward to. )
We humans look for lighter, better fitting, more supportive and etc shoe so why on earth would we subject horses with the very exact thing we are trying to eliminate? Big clod hopper shoes that cause more strain and etc on the limbs. The drag of some heavy shoes is also stressfull to joints, some done to change the timing on the foot falls and break over time. I would much rather work with the horse that has a natural talent for the gait and put some time, and wet saddle pads on him/her. The lift should come from the shoulder not the feet alone.
I dont agree with everything Gary Lane writes in his book about training the TWH (and other gaited breeds) but in whole he has alot of good points and alot of good training ideas and they arent based on weighted shoes and short cuts. The book is called “Training the Gaited Horse from the Trail to the Rail” for those that are intrested.
Charm- ANY breed can and does have the silve dapple gene come up. From the looks of it your boy is a silver dapple. (you would need genetics to know for sure) The silver dapple gene is a modified black gene. Meaning with out this modified gene you boy would be black.
the mountain horses just bred for the silver dapple which is why the genetic disorder became prevalent in the RMH/KMH and UMH lines. If you have questions ask your vet next time he/she is out to check your horses eyes for cycts. They can do that in a dark barn w/a flashlight. Most horses even w/cycsts are FINE so unless you are seeing vision issues I wouldnt worry about it.
Thank you again! She’s not showing any signs of eye problems, although as you probably noticed she has a white sclera (Some App in her background? Who knows?), so I’ll certainly keep an eye on HER eyes. She’s only ever thrown blacks, and one buckskin paint, which is what first called my attention to the difference in her. I couldn’t figure out how a brown mare was throwing blacks and buckskins! Her owner told me that she wasn’t bred to black horses when she threw that color. The silver dapple explains it.
Of course now she isn’t a broodmare– she’s just our kid safe mare.
Okay must learn to use the preview button BEFORE the submit button! Meant my comment as a reply to Ehawlz.
I had the great pleasure of rescuing a registed TWH from the kill pen at the Enumclaw Sales Pavillion last Nov. I can honestly say he is the kindest, sweetest, cutest, most non-flappable horse I have ever been around. I am totally sold on TWHs. My high strung Arab mare is even more calm now that he is in the barn. When I first got him I was expecting him to tear out of his stall (like my Arab) everytime I made a loud noise, but he wouldn’t even blink an eye. I think of these horrible people trying any of this crap on my Arab and she would have kicked their heads in! (grin)
I just can’t understand how a working/plantation horse turned into such a hideous industry. It’s beyond words how these practices are still taking place in 2010. It’s beyond my comprehension how people (and I use the term loosely) loose all humanity in the name of the great greenback.
I’m really glad to see some suggestions on how we can all help. I will definetly follow through. I haven’t registered “Ike” in my name yet, and now I don’t know if I even want to give them money for that.
Make sure Ike’s papers do NOT have a transfer date. TWHBEA charges outrageous fees if the horse is transferred more than a month after the sale date on the transfer slip/papers. I’m giving you a heads up, because the man who sold me my mare was nice enough to leave the date off, so I wouldn’t get hit with late fees. If you have an old transfer date on your papers, you might want to think of ways to make it look like a new transfer date.
Thank you for the tip Charm!!
Thanks! Yankee does a gait that looks, to my untrained eye, just like that Rocky-looking TWH in the second video – a running walk (or amble?). He’; got a really ground-eating gait when he gets going. Hope he retains it into adulthood – he’s only just a tad over a year right now.
I didn’t buy him – I won him at a raffle. It’s a long story, but in the end it was sort of a rescue as well, he arrived at my place underweight, wormy, and ended up with a big sheath infection, probably because he was under the weather when gelded at his old farm (he was in good shape when I first met him in January). Nothing that some groceries and decent vet care didn’t take care of right quick, now he’s a fantastic, gorgeous, gregarious little horse that everyone falls in love with when they meet him
Hopefully this will work…
Yankee when he arrived at his new home on April 30th:
Yankee on July 26th:
PLEASE help this mare!! CROSS POST..
This mare is green and needs a expert rider!! She has been reduced in price 3 times now!!
I know this mare, and she is a great horse, but is green and a grade QH..
http://madison.craigslist.org/grd/1868924920.html
I know next to nothing about gaited horses or soring, and I just learned the term ‘big lick’. But what I do remember being told was that the horses lifted their feet up like that because of the weight they put on their feet. Which now I know isn’t particularly correct because if the shoe was just ‘heavy’ they wouldn’t want to pick up their feet. The only reason I would think a horse to walk like that black one would because his feet were in pain and he couldn’t bear walking on them. Didn’t even know this was considered abuse until today, but that’s because I didn’t know anything about soring or what they did to make a horse soar. Now that I know more about soring I can’t believe that this type of riding was even created! This has probably all been said of course, but it’s new information to me.
Holy crap.
Look at this vid. What the hell’s up with that horse’s back end? How is that sound?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uacXRdH1n7s&feature=related
I have Paso Finos, and remember back in my 4H days (5-6yrs ago), going to shows around KY. Everything from county shows, local 4H shows, and KY gaited horse shows. At the gaited shows, they had a “checker”, to check for soring and such. They always seemed so surprised at how calm my horses were, and their bare feet! I saw many people sent home.
In 4H for gaited classes at state competition. All horses were checked every time they entered for a class. Again, the vet was always so shocked by my horses bare feet!
My mom has a JFK son, who has the smoothest, most beautiful natural gait… barefoot.
I dont particularly mind putting some lightly weighted shoes on a gaited horse, to fix being trotty or pacey, but anything beyond that is ridiculous in my mind!
I once worked at a stable, the owner had a wonderful TWH, who once was a padded show horse (was when she bought him). So being bred to be pacey (so pads could be put on the front), he still needs heavy shoes for him to gait. She would never ever sore a horse in any way… but that horse is still so flashy and showy, without the pads, she gets kicked out of local shows at times, accused of soring!
Hi, I’ve been a lurker of your blog for more than a month and had to comment on this one. I’ve worked at one of those stables before. They are horrible! I was there a week before I realized what they do to those poor horses, and the one I worked at was particularity bad. When I first realized what was going on was when I was taught to wrap the horse’s front legs in plastic and then a standing wrap. The guy brought out a jar of some homemade concoction and told me not to get it on my skin cause it would burn, and then took a wire brush and SCRUBBED that stuff into the soft area behind the horse’s fetlock! Wrapped it in plastic and then wrapped it up tight with a standing wrap. They also had a 2 year old with those huge pads on her feet! I could only imagine the damage that was done to that poor filly’s legs, and it wasn’t like she was a big sturdy 2 year old, she was small and dainty like a deer, with the tiniest legs to lug those big huge pads. Poor baby! Then right before I quit, I was going to a show with them because they were a person short. The day before the show, they would pick up the horse’s feet and check them for soreness like an inspector would. If the horse moved, it got beaten until it would stand still while they pushed a prodded on the sore spots. That was several years ago, the guy quit with the horses and sold them all because of family matters since then. I will NEVER forget what was done to those horses, I should have done something about it, but I was a kid and didn’t know where to turn. I’m sorry I wrote a book, but just had to let everyone know about that. Thank you for having such a wonderful blog, and I think you really are making a difference!
Oh my God!!!! Here in Australia have had virtually no exposure to TWH – I cannot believe that these people are actually allowed to do this and not be prosecuted – where are the authorities??? Noboby in their right mind could possibly think that a horse would move like this naturally. I am appalled. This brought tears to my eyes. I honestly don’t think I have ever seen anything so unnatural. Those poor poor horses.
As a recent convert from the trotting horses to the gaited horses I cant say I regret the move one bit. But what I have been appalled at is the TWH industry- not the whole industry but the ones continuing to perpetuate the Big Lick- and padded show horses. And they do not want to discuss the issue with you. They are right in their eyes and the rest of us are just bleeding hearts. They are truly ignorant in the humane treatment of horses choosing to believe the propaganda that they have been fed – probably since they even entered the horse world. On another board we have been discussing this at some length on how to STOP it permanently because the law that has been in place since the 70′s is constantly being ignored. I participated in my first gaited show this summer. I went through inspections (the show was sponsored by FOSH- so no padded classes) I was surprised to be told to take off my horses saddle for inspection. They were NOT inspecting the saddle or padding- it seems that some genius had put a spur or one person said an electronic device under the saddle that punished the horse if he moved during the inspection. There is BIG money associated with the padded horses especially with the Celebration which is held in Shelblyville TN (town sound familar- it should) What needs to happen is to go after the sponsors- the ones that put up the money for the winner of the Big Lick classes. Ford is one sponsor- we havent been able to find the others yet. If we can get accurate information to those sponsors we may be able to get the money pulled and if there is no money there is no class and no need for the padded horses. Second- we need to get to other associations that are having open gaited shows and ask very nicely to stop offering padded classes. Failing that we need to BOYCOTT those shows that have padded classes and tell the show manager WHY you are not coming. Are points really as important as ending this barbaric practice? Its not just the chemicals and the objects used to sore horses that is the problem. The pad themselves are abusive to the horse putting extreme amounts of stress and strain on the horses bodies- not just their legs. The pain that these horses are in affect their minds. This is not just a TWH problem or a Gaited horse problem it is a horse problem one that every horse person should voice their opinion about. One that if enough voices start speaking up about might finally get heard. We have to stop the money these fools make by doing this to their horses. Then the practice might stop. As long as it is being funded we dont have a hope of stopping it and the horses will continue to suffer. And for the record I dont own a TWH I own a Rocky Mountain horse who’s gait is a saddle rack (which is what the pretty chocolate horse- are you sure that is a TWH? – is doing in the second video. They are a horse that is bred to be people oriented and very gentle as well as calm. In order to be certified they have to demonstrate the appropriate gait AND disposition. And yes there are issues with a genetic disorder which is not breed specific but color specific and can show up in ANY horse of ANY breed that has the silver dapple gene which is responsible for that beautiful chocolate color w/the flaxen mane and tail (or even white)
Rocky Lover,
What genetic disorder? I own a silver dapple mare (not a Rocky), and I hadn’t heard about such a thing. I do know the mare, who was owned by Amish, was bred several times, and always threw blacks except for one buckskin pinto– and that was bred to non-black horses! I have been curious about her color, but didn’t realize that there is a disorder with it.
As for the rest of your post, this is SPOT ON. I love your ideas, and I hope other organizations and individuals pick up on that fact. I personally have no problem dropping an Email to Ford, explaining that I will no longer consider purchasing their product until such time as it becomes abundantly clear that every penny they have previously used to support Big Lick has been matched with a donation to a humane organization, along with a promise of no further money sent the way of Padded Class Sponsorships.
The silver gene is linked to ASD, which causes eye deformities, especially in homozygous horses (it’s the same kind of partial dominant as HYPP from what I know).
However, MOST of the ASD associated eye deformities…small cysts on the eye being the most common…are harmless. They just look funny. Only a few develop a detached lens which has the same effect as cataracts. It’s about a 2.5 risk from a heterozygous silver to heterozygous silver breeding, from what I’ve read…the detached lens only occurs in homozygous silvers.
So, it’s not exactly like HYPP…you have a VERY small risk of producing a horse with impaired vision.
Anterior Segment Dysgensis aka ASD.
Two decent sites:
http://www.rosebudriverranch.com/ASD.htm
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@equine/documents/asset/cvm_asset_121874.pdf
The sought after silver dapple “chocolate” color is the result of the silver dilution on black, so it is not surprising at all that your black mare produced blacks.
Lol, I guess not. It’s just that she really doesn’t seem black to me!
Wow I just saw this picture today on FB and “Liked” it. Then I catch your post about flaxen manes the same day. Of course some colors are cool but there’s a plain sorrel in our barn that blows my mind he’s so good looking, Just saying color’s only one part of pretty on a horse to me. But I saw this Big Chex To Cash 2yr old colt picture and his color floored me. But it’s a disorder??? wow the irony, it’s like Impressive- pretty wrapping on the outside for a nightmare lurking inside. Shame
Hope this picture shows up-it’s some crazy color going on from an awesome sire to boot
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=4230420&id=46506097738
That’s a different color – that horse is sooty palomino, not silver dapple. They look alike but the genetics are completely different. A sooty palomino is a chestnut with one palomino dilution gene plus sooty, and a silver dapple is black plus silver.
Thanks Alliecat! I didn’t read enough into the details you saved me from wandering around thinking any dark horse with a flaxen mane might have problems
Right on! Bless you people for bringing attention to the blatent injustice that is being done to the “big lick” show horse. It is a heinous and detestable disgrace to the natural gait of the TWH. Why cant TWH’s be shown according to thier NATURAL inherit abilty?? You dont see Paso finos, Peruvian Pasos, Rocky Mt Horses, Missouri Fox trotter etc being shown up on stacks with chains and performing in obvious distress….why cant the WH standards be changed???? I agree with everything written above and I will work tirelessly to see the demise of the of the big lick. I agree we should write letters to the sponsors… I went to the Celebration’s website and the 2 major corporate sponsers are indeed Ford and also Pepsi. Im sure there are many more sponsors but couldnt find a list. Maybe someone who’s attended the celebration can fill us in on who advertises there, who’s signs are displayed in and around the arena.
Also, the EXPERT’S in the equine field need to weigh in…they have the clout. Another study needs to be done on the effects of Stacks and chains on the horses body…an unbiased study…the last one was done back in the 80′s at Auburn and was fuinded by none other than the Big Lick industry. Technology in Vet Medicine has improved so much since the 80′s and would yield much more accurate results. We need to get Vets involved to speak on the stress and damage that moving at such a groteque angles causes on the horses bodies. We need to Join or donate to FOSH and NWHA and HSUS. And the biggest contributor to the Big lick industry that is largely overlooked is the FARRIERS. If the Farriers would stand up and refuse to put “stacks” on horses it wouldnt be nearly so rampant. Farriers who are experts on hoof and lower leg anatomy should stand up and profess the horrors and damage that is being done. Farriers who work on Big Lick horses should be boycotted.
(Also I encourage you to go to the following website and leave a comment about how disgusted you are by Big Lick…There are a bunch of “BIG LICKERS” on there defending and saying how it’s good for the horse….please sound the voice of reason and truth!)
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/04/1508414/usda-to-address-anti-soring-horse.html
I am not a horse person, but this just looks so wrong. I understood the TWH to be the Cadillac of rides, yet the videos of the big lick horses don’t show a smooth ride at all – quite the opposite. How sad this has become. These horses seem so sweet by all who have owned them -the pitbulls of the horseworld they are. I think while controversial that Champagne Watchout’s 1999 performance was very much a GOOD thing – exposing the warped industry in a way that no one could ignore. A light shod normal horse far outlasting the crippled big lickers – proof positive for those who will take it that what they are seeing in is abuse.
The tricks they have used to teach the TWH not to react to the pain during inspection has gone so far as to result in the hassle of having to totally unsaddle and resaddle during DQP. My understanding is that they were putting something under the saddles that they would then lean on tand would poke the horse while their feet were being inspected. Egads.
I understand that. I didn’t say she was a pristine poor little owner with no clue. But you can be a judge without being a horseperson – from this interview, it sounds like she looks at her horse maybe once a month.
Again, these people buy a show horse and turn it over to a trainer and watch it. She doesn’t ‘like’ soring, she knows it is bad, she told the trainer she doesn’t like it, and she’s not actually soring the horse herself, so as far as her mind works she’s done all she can do.
I’m saying these people, with this mindset, are the hardest to move into any semblance of shock, horror or righteous indignation. A lot of racehorse owners suffer from the same abuse-blindness. What’s most shocking to me is how she’s mentally distanced herself from any sort of culpability – despite the fact that friends have SEEN these things happen to her horse.
When I read this and came upon the you tube I didnt even watch them. (first off to slow to up load on my computer) I just cant stand to see any of that stupid Performance crap. I think its disgusting and WRONG and I dont care if if no soring is done I think its an abomination to the equine and to such a wonderful breed. That shit should have been nipped in the bud back when it all got started. Stupid fucktards. I just absolutly loathe that crap. I have shown TWHs and trained them all flat shod/light shod. Trained not forced and not sored. I’m glad the show was shut down. I hope the dirty bastard rats run untill they cant run and hind any more. We need to stand up and say “we are tired of it and we arent going to take it any more.!!!!!” Its a passion of mine to stop this shit and get rid of the peices of pukes who allow it to continue. This goes with the Saddlebred ppl also. I have seen near as bad stuff done to those horses as well. I would love to shove some ginger up those bastards asses and see how well they walk for a while. I would laugh my big fat ass off….thats alot of laughing.
Although the dark chestnut flaxen mane horse is performing more of a stepping pace (going back and forth between the gaits) than a true run walk I would, by far, rather watch that any day over that stupid built up performance crap.
At least watching that doesnt make me gag and doesnt raise my blood pressure.
Thank you Alliecat04
Several years ago FHOTD started a thread on us…let me tell you my first impression…We were the subject on several groups on the net, as I tried to be civil and logically, clearly and concisely explain myself I found myself up to my armpits in crocodiles with more pundits than friends.
Then someone sent me here, and I though to myself, “One more time into the breech Nate”….then I started reading and began to blush!…Trust me folks, wanna see something funny watch this Black man blush!…. Y’all don’t play! :>)
I thought to myself…if I had some of these folks at my side when we did this…it would have really been interesting and most memorable…people who were not shy to spit out how they felt about what their eyes told them was just not right!
However, even today on this thread there are those that still hate us, badmouth us, call me names and simply disrespect me for taking a physical stand after trying for years with words to change what was happening. I went through this when I came home from Viet Nam and I was just a soldier, as I feel I was in this mess…just someone who could not continue to stand on the sidelines and do nothing.
“I ain’t no hero” one said…. I wonder if this person thought back then that I was seeking fame and glory for myself…that’s what the lickers said..also that “I hurt the sound horse movement by our acts.” I respectfully disagee…when you raise the consciousness of folks of things they knew nothing about…you move the cause forward…I don’t know, that tactic has worked for me before in my life and thought to do it in this situation it was deployed during the Civil Rights Movement…and to the best of my knowledge it worked.
However..the most important thing I can say bout anyone who seeks to change something…always have a solution in hand..that’s why when we say to them “Your training methods and opinion of how to train a horse are abusive”…Be prepared to demonstrate a better and more humane way of doing it….That’s what we are trying with Dressage: As Applied to the Gaited Horse and the reason we were formally invited to demostrate our Dressage En Gait at the 2010 FEI World Equestrain Games.
We thank each of you who voice your disapproval of what’s going on and support our “Reformation of Manners”
PS, Mandy; I stopped watching our video awhile ago…it gets me too worked up for my own good :>)
Okay, I give up. I have GOT to go to the Games this year. There is really no excuse not to go, is there?
Thanks for making such a huge effort to force the Big Lickers (I think I like that name) to perform next to a nice quality, undamaged horse. If it does nothing else, it forces everyone to WATCH their horses run out of steam while an equally nice horse continues to strut his stuff.
Jennifer R is correct about ASD. It became prevalent in the mountain breeds because they were breeding for the chocolate color. BUT if you breed a chocolate to a black or any other color then your chances of a “clear eyed ” or minimal ASD is very favorable. I will say that in my journey to buying a RMH (and she is a clear eyed chocolate) I only saw one that made me think twice about the color. He could hardly close his eye around the eyeball. When I was looking for a horse I would look at the pedigree (which if they are registered it is on the RMH web page) and look to see what color the parents were before even went to see the horse. Also breeders, at least w/in the RMH are taking this seriously and most are no longer breeding Chocolate to Chocolate to decrease the chance of this genetic defect. But for the most part it is no different than buying an Appalossa who has a higher risk of Moon Blindness due to the pigment around the eye. You may have a problem you may not ever have a problem. And generally it is very managable, if it is even noticed at all. My girl is dark chocolate, but she bleaches so bad in the summer her dapples really show up and she is about the color of your horse. Thats ok- she enjoys being outside and I am not doing beauty contests. : )
Oh good. If the Amish are to be believed, this mare is possibly the product of a Belgian and a Shetland (although he wasn’t too sure…..). That makes it likely that she isn’t silver dapple to silver dapple, so she should be reasonably okay. I had never heard of the disorder, although I’m not a genetics buff at all. I actually LOVE the dark body, light mane and tail look. I have adored it ever since Breyer released that black horse with the white mane and tail.
I’ve moved into gaited horses (although the silver dapple mare isn’t truly gaited, more just lame, lol), so perhaps one day I’ll end up with a Rocky of my own. If I do, I’ll take your advice and be careful what I purchase.
Katphoti said:
“THANK YOU for not renewing your membership with TWHBEA, AKBarbWire. I have made the same decision. When I have bought TWHs or SSHs, I have registered the horses in my name but specifically stated that I am only paying the nonmember fee and to not put me on the membership roster. I tell them I will not support them until soring is completely gone.”
This is an attitude I have been for a long time trying to reverse…it is one option, however the more progressive and effective way is to actually join up, tune in and vote out!
Think of it…say 20,000 people join, elect board members of like mind and actually vote by the democratic system and vote em out!
The majority could actually make rules that to outlaw pads and chains within the TWHBEA Organization WOW!
i stood on the outside a while ago and hollared at em and chunked rocks at em… …then I stormed The Bastile and started from the inside to effect changes… then I thoguht what if all the TWH owners did the same?…Filled the board with like minds?
Calling em names, writing harsh letters to government officials demanding THEY do something is a weak approach…the stronger approach is for us to take care of it ourselves…sign up and change the rules ourselves!
This has been my approach and I see allot of you by all your emails, posting on our website and facebook page are seeking a positive way to end this abuse.
We have made and seen many many converts from the other side and as surprising as it may sound many simply could not go on when all the facts were presented to them of what they were participating in…
Boycotting only works when ALL of a disfranchised group participate en masse (like the Montgomery Bus Boycott) and it won’t work here because too many people still show and breed their TWHs…but they would join the ranks of voting thier hearts.
It our opinion and our desire to not see it torn down but refurbished and rebuilt from the inside out. Conversion is better than expulsion….and as you can see…all the name calling and posting of videos has not shamed them into stopping…they just ignore you and pay you no mind…they go on like a duck in the rain….
I have never in my entire life seen anything as ridiculous as what this man is forcing this poor horse to do. Oh my, this horse is doomed unless there is a stop put to this. What the hell are these complete idiots thinking. Oh the hell came up with this gait. Stop the madness.
It’s not a gait, it’s a style of showing. The gait itself is completely natural and normal for Tennessee Walking Horses. It’s the style of weighted shoes, heavy chains, and yes, creating pain to change a horse’s weight bearing. THOSE are the problem with what you see.
Just making sure you don’t think that every Walking horse is gaiting because it’s forced to do so– the gait in natural. Big Lick is not.
This is a reply to Mandy– Your defense of the “naturally” gited ASB is to be commended, but your “facts” about which TWH started the big lick trend is a little “off” — by about 10 years– and the TWH pic you posted is of WGC Midnight Sun — which is NOT the horse that started the BL trend.
For the record WGC Midnight Sun had a powerful running walk with lots of reach, and step-under, but not as much lift as his arch rival Merry Go Boy who was described as having a light airy way of going with lots of lift in front like an ASB.
The TWH who started the whole BL trend was three-time WGC Talk of the Town (three consecutive titles), who showed in the 1950s. Unfortunately, this horse who combined Sun’s powerful reach and Go Boy’s high action had been gelded before it was obvious that he had a show career in his future. In an attempt to duplicate his gait– which would never be genetically passed on– the TWH trainers took a page from the ASB trainers’ play book and began trying to “nail on” the desired gait by adding pads to create stacks– something that had never been done to TWHs in the ring before ToTT.
In their desire to recreate ToTT’s gait, they took the use of leather pads to new and unfortunate hights. (Yes, sad but true, the ASB boys pioneered the use of pads to manipulate gait, but the TWH boys took it to new and outrageous heights– and then they added the chains in the show ring for good measure– and later all those “soring” agents so the horses would react more strongly to the action devices on their front pasterns) Yes, ASBs and TWHs had been “worked” with “action devices” — first bell boots and later chains and rollers outside of the show ring. ASB people still use these devices outside the ring to “enhance” the ASB’s natural gait, but the TWH boys have been much more “honest” in their own twisted way by allowing these things to be worn in the actual show ring as well as by using them in “training.”
And now after decades of “trashing” this fine breed called the TWH with abuse, lies and dishonest practices, the “good old boys” are expected to just own up and quit their soring because the USDA is on their case (belatedly by about 50 years)– give me a break! It will take more than the government to stop them– they have to be hurt in their pocketbooks!
The “breed” actually existed for about 100 years before the Tennessee boys got together in the 1930s to “create” the TWH. The first horse recorded to have done a running walk was Bald Stockings, who was foaled ca. 1838. He is believed to have carried Morgan bloodlines as well as to have been of Standardbred or trotting background– as was Black Allan F-1– the “recognized” progenitor of the modern TWH. Easy gaited- “plantation pacers” or “walkers” were known and prized throughtout the South even before the War Between the States in 1860-65. It is true that many of these horses came from breeders in the “horse country” of Tennessee and Kentucky, but many southerners in other states bred plantation walkers as well.
These horse were prized for their stamina and easy gaits by more than just the planters. They were highly prized by circuit riding judges and preachers as well as army officers– or anyone whose livelihood required them to spend long hours in the saddle.
I can agree that what has been done to these wonderful horses since the 1950s all for the sake of show blues and championships is one of the worse sustained crimes ever perpetrated against a particular horse breed. But, I’m sorry that I just can’t agree that the guys in Tennessee in the 1930s created the “breed.” Walking horses have been around since at least the middle ages– they were called “amblers” in England. The modern walking horse owes his existance to the skill of breeders who worked to combine the Naagansett Pacer, Morgan, TB – and even it is rumored some German coach horses– into a level-headed, sweet tempered reliable easy-gaited animal long before the TWH breed studbook was drawn up. Why, several of the foundation horses of the breed were long-dead before the studbook was compiled. If you look at the first volume of that book, you will see that many of the “foundation” TWHs came from Mississippi, Louisiana and other southern states.
As a lover of all horses, I say outlaw any device or practice designed to manipulate or “change” a horse’s natural genetically-created way of going. I say outlaw the use of unnaturally heavy shoes, pads, nerve blocks, ginger, soring agents or chemicals — at all times–for all breeds– and not just in the show ring.
I have not belonged to the TWHBEA or registered any of my walkers with the association because I refuse to support what I have come to believe is a corrupt and cowardly organization– an organization that continued to allow people who have been suspended for soring horses to not only register horses and belong, but to serve on the board and as officers.
I say its high time to boycott the TWHBEA. I have not even attended a TWH show since 2000- and then only to present the pernament championship trophy in honor of my late husband to the Lightshod North American Grand Champion.
Elysian Feilds Farm: Spot on with your information and post. I could not have said it better myself. The Soring was from an “accident” from a leg bracing agent (of God knows what) and got the horse to high step it thus the owner liked and was liked by the judges and began the soring of the gaited breeds to create the reach, height, and cadende with out all of the wet saddle blankets and time it takes to train.
I dont like the heavy shod plantation style either. Soring occurs in that just as prevelant. However with the Heavy shod at least the horse is not stilted up on pads shifting weight (to much weight) to the rear then made to work of that rear with the action included with all of that. Heavy shod plantation are often pressure shod, thier method of soring (the guilty party that is.) Its hard on the joints, Heavy shoes on myself makes my knees sore over time. I used to walk with those ankle weights and found that my knees just plain ached and I couldnt understand why. This was back when I was in my early 20s and I went to the doctor to be sure nothing was going on other than my normal early stage arthritis. My doctor imediatly told me to stop walking with the weights for they can do more harm than good even on a regular person with out early stage arthritis. We arent designed to carry such weight on our lower appendages. Now that I am older arthrits has begun to claim victory on my whole body (its a family history of arthritis I am one of the lucky ones to getting nailed by it and I am only 40 yrs old. By the time I am 60 I will be having serious issues with it. Something to look forward to. )
We humans look for lighter, better fitting, more supportive and etc shoe so why on earth would we subject horses with the very exact thing we are trying to eliminate? Big clod hopper shoes that cause more strain and etc on the limbs. The drag of some heavy shoes is also stressfull to joints, some done to change the timing on the foot falls and break over time. I would much rather work with the horse that has a natural talent for the gait and put some time, and wet saddle pads on him/her. The lift should come from the shoulder not the feet alone.
I dont agree with everything Gary Lane writes in his book about training the TWH (and other gaited breeds) but in whole he has alot of good points and alot of good training ideas and they arent based on weighted shoes and short cuts. The book is called “Training the Gaited Horse from the Trail to the Rail” for those that are intrested.
Charm- ANY breed can and does have the silve dapple gene come up. From the looks of it your boy is a silver dapple. (you would need genetics to know for sure) The silver dapple gene is a modified black gene. Meaning with out this modified gene you boy would be black.
the mountain horses just bred for the silver dapple which is why the genetic disorder became prevalent in the RMH/KMH and UMH lines. If you have questions ask your vet next time he/she is out to check your horses eyes for cycts. They can do that in a dark barn w/a flashlight. Most horses even w/cycsts are FINE so unless you are seeing vision issues I wouldnt worry about it.
Thank you again! She’s not showing any signs of eye problems, although as you probably noticed she has a white sclera (Some App in her background? Who knows?), so I’ll certainly keep an eye on HER eyes. She’s only ever thrown blacks, and one buckskin paint, which is what first called my attention to the difference in her. I couldn’t figure out how a brown mare was throwing blacks and buckskins! Her owner told me that she wasn’t bred to black horses when she threw that color. The silver dapple explains it.
Of course now she isn’t a broodmare– she’s just our kid safe mare.
Is anyone else thinking of these?