The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry

by Erin Shott

     Tenneseee Walking horses trying to get his or her horse to have a "big lick." This includes soring their feet, putting pads on them, and chains. This is no humane way to go about it. Yet, you see it in shows and training all the time.
 Anybody who owns a horse or is in the horse industry knows of the issue about owners who own
       To the FBI, the official definition of animal cruelty is: "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment. Included are instances of duty to provide care, e.g., shelter, food, water, care if sick or injured, transporting or confining an animal In a manner likely to cause injury or inflicting excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering, e.g., uses objects to beat or injure an animal..." This definition addresses the soring, chains, and pads. These are objects that hurt, burn, and injure the horse just so they can have a "big lick." "
       The show judges are encouraging this technique and behavior out of people, because they give the 1st place ribbon to the horse who has the "big lick" and did not put a stop to this ignorance in the first place. My question is why have they not been shut down yet? This has been going on for years with little progress. But, according to the FBI, and to anybody who cares about the health and well-being of the horse, this is abuse.

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