acted , the present bill would bring under State jurisdiction the majority of the horse activity in Tennessee which has not and would not be involved in the soring of horses or cruelty to animals . Even youth in amateur saddle clubs who pay entry fees to exhibit and participate in trophies and prize money would come under the jurisdiction of the State . They would be required to obtain licenses , pay fees , and in turn pay additional fees for each horse exhibited in each class of a show which had entry fees . This encompassing measure would inhibit the horse industry severely . Most important , it would restrict and minimize participation in a worthwhile family hobby and pastime . The proposed legislation would also require licenses for out-of-state trainers and exhibitors to show in approved shows in Tennessee . This would significantly reduce and spell the death knell of many horse activities .
On behalf of horse organizations he represents in west Tennessee , Mr . Ricards promised an aggressive campaign to modify or defeat the intended legislation .
TYDINGS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE - SENATE APPROVAL ASSURED
The infamous Tydings Horse Protective Bill S . 2543 has now been voted " out of the full committee ” and is scheduled to go before the U . S . Senate for a vote before the 91st Congress adjourns . Approval is virtually assured as little can be done to defeat a bill such as this after it reaches the floor of Congress .
It has been a ten-year battle on the part of a few individuals who took it upon themselves to protect the Tennessee Walking Horse from the alleged abuses heaped upon it by owners and trainers . In this battle they suffered at least three major setbacks when attempts to get legislation were defeated . They never let up , however , and continued to blast away at the Walking Horse industry as the only culprit in the horse world . What motivated these people is a mystery- . What prompted them to present so many misconceptions and half-truths is a mystery . Our steadfast refusal to defend ourselves is an even greater mystery .
When a few select individuals were asked to go to Washington and testify before the Tydings Committee , nobody could tell our senators WHY they should vote against a bill designed to eliminate the " soring ” of Tennessee Walking Horses . Those who were reported to be competent spokesmen for the Walking Horse industry were certainly NOT representative of the average Walking Horse owner and trainer who is honestly trying to reap pleasure or profit out of his activity . For the most part they represented a fringe element of malcontents in our business who , despite the fact that they have expressed an interest in our breed for years , have never owned a good horse nor do they own one now . And yet . . . yet , these are the people who went to our nation ’ s capital to testify on behalf of all of us . Needless to say , they " done us in right well !”
It is with considerable disdain that we present , in its entirety , the Tydings Bill .
91st CONGRESS 1st Session S . 2543
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 2 , 1969 Mr . TYDINGS ( for himself , Mr . CASE , Mr . GOODELL , Mr . GRAVEL , Mr . MOSS , Mr . NELSON , Mr . PELL , Mr . PROXMIRE , Mr . RANDOLPH , Mr . SPONG , Mr . THURMOND , Mr . YARBOROUGH , and Mr . YOUNG of Ohio ) introduced the following bill ; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL To protect interstate and foreign commerce by prohibiting the movement in such commerce of horses which are " sored ”, and for other purposes .
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled , That this Act may be cited as the " Horse Protection Act of 1969 ”.
SEC . 2 . ( a ) A horse shall be considered to be sored if , for the purpose of affecting its gait , a blistering agent has been applied internally or externally to any of the legs , ankles , feet , or other parts of the horse , or if burns , cuts , or lacerations have been inflicted on the horse , or if a chemical agent , or tacks , nails , or wedges have been used on the horse , or if any other method or device has been used on the horse , including , but not limited to chains or boots , which may reasonably be expected currently ( 1 ) to result in physical pain to the horse when walking , trotting , or otherwise moving , or ( 2 ) to cause extreme fear or distress in the horse .
( b ) As used in this Act , the term " commerce ” means commerce between a point in any State or possession of the United States ( including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ) and any point outside thereof , or between points within the same State or possession of the United States ( including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ) but through any place outside thereof , or within the District of Columbia , or from any foreign country to any point within the United States .
SEC . 3 . The Congress hereby finds ( 1 ) that the practice of soring horses for the purposes of affecting their natural gait is cruel and inhumane treatment of such animals ; ( 2 ) that the movement of sored horses in commerce adversely affects and burdens commerce ; ( 3 ) that horses which are sored compete unfairly with horses moved in commerce which are not sored .
SEC . 4 . ( a ) It shall be unlawful for any person to ship , transport , or otherwise move , or deliver or receive for movement , in commerce , for the purpose of showing or exhibition , any horse which such person has reason to believe is sored .
( b ) It shall be unlawful for any person to show or exhibit , or enter for the purpose of showing or exhibiting , in any horse show or exhibition , any horse which is sored if that horse or any other horse was moved
to such show or exhibition in commerce . ( c ) It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct
any horse show or exhibition in which there is shown or exhibited a horse which is sored , if any horse was moved to such show or exhibition in commerce .
SEC . 5 . ( a ) Any representative of the Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized to make such inspections of
any horses which are being moved , or have been
44 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse