LuvinBullies
09-14-2006, 08:54 PM
WSMV-TV
8:44 a.m. CDT September 4, 2006
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - For the first time in 68 years, there was no grand champion crowned at the Tennessee walking horse celebration in Shelbyville.The final event was called off Saturday after federal inspectors decided most of the horses in that event showed evidence of possible abuse.Trainers claimed the feds were out of line and the fight led to the cancellation of the most famous walking horse competition in the world.One of the 10 walking horses scheduled to compete for the title of world grand champion at Shelbyville's celebration.Instead federal inspectors turned away all but three of the grand champion contenders and for the first time since 1939, celebration officials canceled the event."When they said only three of the horses had made it the crowd booed but when they said the three that had gotten through had elected not to show, the crowd cheered," said Nellie Brantley of Brantley Stables. The Abee family, which trains walking horses, was bitterly disappointed at the cancellation. "It's devastating to the owners and the fans," said Wayne Abee. "They check a horse at one show one week and turn him down the next and there's nothing wrong with the horse."The fight between the walking horse industry and the USDA inspectors was over a training practice called soring. Soring involves cutting or putting chemicals on the horses' feet to make them lift their hooves higher which creates the famous high-stepping walking horse gait.People in this industry claim training methods have changed and the horses aren't abused."You don't see walking horses so deep behind, now they're more pace walking, these horses are taken care of, they're being loved they're not being abused," said trainer Chase Williams.Trainers here say if federal inspectors want to make a point, they should punish people who actually are soring their horses."[if the USDA] needs to go after people and put em out of business they don't need to put the industry out of business," said Abee.The celebration pumps nearly $40-million into the Shelbyville economy every year. It is the single largest money-generating event for the city.Some fear if the dispute between trainers and officials isn't ironed out soon more fall events could be cancelled.
You can bet your bottom dollar AR groups did this to one of my favorite horse shows of all time. The Celebration in Shelbyville was a legend. I train these type of horses, and know many of the trainers. THEY ARE NOT ABUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8:44 a.m. CDT September 4, 2006
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - For the first time in 68 years, there was no grand champion crowned at the Tennessee walking horse celebration in Shelbyville.The final event was called off Saturday after federal inspectors decided most of the horses in that event showed evidence of possible abuse.Trainers claimed the feds were out of line and the fight led to the cancellation of the most famous walking horse competition in the world.One of the 10 walking horses scheduled to compete for the title of world grand champion at Shelbyville's celebration.Instead federal inspectors turned away all but three of the grand champion contenders and for the first time since 1939, celebration officials canceled the event."When they said only three of the horses had made it the crowd booed but when they said the three that had gotten through had elected not to show, the crowd cheered," said Nellie Brantley of Brantley Stables. The Abee family, which trains walking horses, was bitterly disappointed at the cancellation. "It's devastating to the owners and the fans," said Wayne Abee. "They check a horse at one show one week and turn him down the next and there's nothing wrong with the horse."The fight between the walking horse industry and the USDA inspectors was over a training practice called soring. Soring involves cutting or putting chemicals on the horses' feet to make them lift their hooves higher which creates the famous high-stepping walking horse gait.People in this industry claim training methods have changed and the horses aren't abused."You don't see walking horses so deep behind, now they're more pace walking, these horses are taken care of, they're being loved they're not being abused," said trainer Chase Williams.Trainers here say if federal inspectors want to make a point, they should punish people who actually are soring their horses."[if the USDA] needs to go after people and put em out of business they don't need to put the industry out of business," said Abee.The celebration pumps nearly $40-million into the Shelbyville economy every year. It is the single largest money-generating event for the city.Some fear if the dispute between trainers and officials isn't ironed out soon more fall events could be cancelled.
You can bet your bottom dollar AR groups did this to one of my favorite horse shows of all time. The Celebration in Shelbyville was a legend. I train these type of horses, and know many of the trainers. THEY ARE NOT ABUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!