or more member shows. For this plan to work everyone would have to agree not to participate in anything other than an association show.( 2) A Celebration Network— If the Celebration would set up a point system and rate all shows according to prize money and number of Walking Horse classes, they could " qualify” all horses for the World Championship show. This would apply to all association shows as well as independent shows and could certainly provide enforcement at all levels. Anyone— exhibitor, judge, or horse show manager— that did not follow the rules would forfeit their " qualifying” status.( 3) Licensed Trainers— It has been suggested that all professional trainers be required to have a state or federal license to train and show Tennessee Walking Horses. This would certainly control this phase of the business. For years, several organizations have issued Judges’ Licenses but with
no control over the independent shows, they have no real value. This would be the problem with Trainers’
Licenses, too.( 4) Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association— We could empower the Breeders’ Association to have control over all of our horse activity. To do so would require a membership vote to change the by-laws as they do not have any authority over judges, exhibitors or horse shows at the present. This plan works in several other breeds, but the structure of our Association is somewhat different from those which have such authority.
These are just a few of the many suggestions that we have had regarding the current situation in the Walking Horse business. If we are going to defeat the proposed federal legislation, which would put us all out of business, we had better have something to suggest in its place. If we don’ t we will eventually be controlled by law, whether we like it or not.
ELLINGTON ASKS TOUGH LAW TO HALT SORING OF HORSES
EDITOR’ S NOTE: Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington, in a surprise move, recently came out with proposed state legislation that would prevent the practice of soring Walking Horses for showring purposes. The following AP article appeared September 30 in the nation’ s news media.
Official opposition mounted against the practice of soring Tennessee Walking Horses to make them fancier steppers.
Gov. Buford Ellington announced he favors legislation " with teeth in it” to prevent the practice, and Congressman Dan Kuykendall declared in a House speech that he was " declaring war” against those who mistreat show horses.
Ellington said, " The present law has no teeth. I certainly do not want to see any cover-up legislation, but I will support legislation that will be effective.”
The governor said " it is much too early to decide” who will introduce the legislation or what it will contain. The next session of the legislature begins in January.
Ellington, himself the owner of three world champion
walking horses, says he is vitally interested in the solution to the problem of soring, even though he has no more horses presently in competition.
Kuykendall told his colleagues in the House that " as a Tennessean, the practice of soring makes me so man I start boiling everytime I think about it.” He introduced legislation in the House similar to that introduced by Sen. Joseph Tydings in the Senate. The bill proposes federal action to stop the practice.
Soring involves making the horses lower legs or hoofs sore so the animals will step higher and more quickly because of the pain. Theoretically, the fancier steps impress the judges.
ITEMS OF INTEREST: We Made The Society Page!
In a recent installment of " Betty Beale’ s Letter,” a syndicated column that appears in newspapers around the country, entitled WASHINGTON SOCIAL LIFE, it was pointed out that " the social season is on and Washington is really swinging." In referring to one social affair, obviously a cocktail party at which many of the world’ s " financial wheels” were present, the
writer noted that " attractive new Democratic presidential possibility Senator Joe Tydings of Maryland was there.” She went on to say, " Joe Tydings was being congratulated on his humaneness in introducing a bill to make illegal the soring of horses’ feet. Tennessee Walkers are trained in a hurry by use of...” and she went on in her " social letter” to elaborate on the drastic situation regarding our breed.
With the Viet Nam war, the war on poverty, the Electoral College issue and a few other similarly important problems currently hanging over our heads, we are pleased that this " attractive presidential possibility” felt that the issue of our training techniques was important enough to demand star billing at a cocktail party.
It was also brought to our attention that the only Sub-Committee member present at the hearing on Tennessee Walking Horses was Sen. Tydings. He was backed up by representatives of the Animal Welfare Institute, a group of self-appointed authorities on the training of Tennessee Walking Horses.
We Made LIFE Magazine, Also...
As most of you know, the Walking Horse industry suffered a scathing rebuff recently in the October 3 issue of LIFE Magazine. Sen. Joe Tydings( pictured below) was depicted as " a sportsman who has been riding since he was four,” and was therefore qualified to make decisions regarding Tennessee Walking Horses.( He is a Hunter-Jumper enthusiast.) Regarding the issue of Walking Horses, the senator said, " If we can close down some shows, we’ ll put a stop to all this.” And that, my friends, is the whole idea.
SPEAK UP AND SOUND OFF
By using Western Union’ s flat rate public opinion message telegraph service, you can inform the President of the United States, a Senator or Representative of your opinion on public issue for a flat charge of only $ 1.00 plus tax. Limited to fifteen words, your exact text is transmitted by telegraph and delivered like a regular telegram the same day. This is certainly an advantageous means of letting your legislators know how you feel about the various bills before them.
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