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HEADS UP ON SORING HORSESMarty Irby Executive Director, Animal Wellness Action
I want to bring the press up to date on what’s happened this year on the Tennessee Walking Horse front as regards the painful practice of soring horses’ hoofs.
Soring is the intentional infliction of pain to horses’ front feet by means of applying caustic chemicals to the skin or inserting sharp objects into the horses’ hooves. Then, large-stacked shoes are nailed to the feet and chains are placed around the pasterns to slap to sore skin and cause the reaction that produces the ‘big lick’ that is highly rewarded at Tennessee Walking Horse shows.
Last week Animal Wellness Action {Ref #1} advocates uncovered the existence of a new display, promoting the pain-based ‘big lick’ gait on the walls of the new State Library and Archives in Nashville.
Apparently, Tennesseans in 2021 aren’t as familiar with the issue of chains and soring as I thought – perhaps that’s due to the influx of newcomers that have moved into the state. Several stations in Tennessee and Alabama aired the We’re grateful for their coverage and the work of the journalists who have exposed this agonizing issue.
In August, I uncovered that Jackie McConnell, the Tennessee Walking Horse torturer who was convicted in 2012, was allowed to return to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and was allowed to give a trophy at the event that Governor Bill Lee attended.
What’s even more interesting is that McConnell’s return to the event was a result of the Celebration’s board voting to allow him to come back, and more importantly that board was chaired by Tennessee House Speaker Pro-Tempore, Pat Marsh.
I bring this to the attention of TheDogPress.com and TheDogPlace.org because I’m concerned that Tennesseans and the general media in the Volunteer State just don’t care about the issue anymore. Earlier this year I penned a five-part-series on the history of horse hoof soring and where we stand today. It was well-received and we also wanted to make sure you have this information should the NetPlaces Network care to bring further attention to what has given Tennessee an international reputation as the ‘Horse Abuse Capitol of the World.’
I am glad to assist and provide for you my credentials as executive director at Animal Wellness Action (honored by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II, for my work on this issue in 2020 {Ref #2}) but I am also a former 8-time world champion equestrian who has witnessed the scourge of soring since early childhood, now more than 40 years ago.
Many thanks for your time and consideration. I can be reached at marty@animalwellnessaction.org should your readers wish to communicate further.
Marty Irby was named one of Washington DC’s top lobbyists in 2021. He has been published by USA Today, NBC News and other major outlets. In 2012 Marty was officially recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his work to protect horses {Ref #2}. NetPlaces Network welcomes Marty Irby as a vital news and legislative contributor.
Marty Irby is the Exec. Dir., Animal Wellness Action, and can be contacted by email: marty@animalwellnessaction.org, phone: 202-821-5686, or snail mail: 611 Pennsylvania Ave. SE #136, Washington, D.C. 20003.
Reference Information: {# 1} Animal Wellness Action ~ {2} Marty Irby honored by Queen Elizabeth, II TheDogPlace.org EST 1998 © Dec 2021 https://www.thedogplace.org/Politics/heads-up-on-soring-mb21IR121.asp SSI Brought to you by the NetPlaces Network
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