the future of the tennessee walking horse industry 2010 sound horse conference keith dane director...

The Future of the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry

2010 Sound Horse Conference

Keith DaneDirector of Equine ProtectionThe Humane Society of the United States

“Soring… one of the most significant welfare issues affecting any equine breed or discipline.”

AAEP White Paper, 2008

“The DQP Program should be abolished since the acknowledged conflicts of interest which involve many of [the DQPs] cannot be reasonably resolved, and these individuals should be excluded from the regulatory process.”

AAEP White Paper, 2008

“Many in the horse show industry do not regard the abuse of horses as a serious problem, and resent USDA performing inspections….The practice of soring has been ingrained as an acceptable practice in the industry for decades.”

Office of the Inspector General Audit, 2010

“We found that APHIS’ program for inspecting horses for soring is not adequate to ensure that these animals are not being abused.”

Office of the Inspector General Audit, 2010

“We are recommending that APHIS abolish the DQP program, and instead provide independent, accredited veterinarians to perform inspections at sanctioned shows.”

Office of the Inspector General Audit, 2010

“Soring is accepted as a universal method of training horses…” “Why would anyone want to have a horse that needs to have chains on its feet to make it pick its legs up?” “This industry should really consider reducing the size and changing the look of that package.”

“The lick that is walking through the gate at the Celebration can’t be produced without soring.”

Unlike some horse industry groups (like Show Jumping, Eventing, Racing) that have faced the fact that they have horse welfare challenges, accepted that they had a problem and embraced the need for change…

Tennessee Walking Horse Industry:

• Denial of problem• Refusal to reform• Flagrant disregard of Federal law, enforcers

Leading to:

• National stigma• Industry attrition• Jeopardized hope of future

Progress has been made – but it has been slow…and perhaps too little, too late Many horses are still being sored….and “sore is sore”

2010 Example: HIOs required to prohibit horses from showing back at same show following violation At least one show decided to treat each day of a multi-day show as a “separate show” to circumvent rule HIO stood ground - horses in violation were out for the entire show.

2010 Example: Grapevine says some HIOs will refuse to implement mandatory penalty structure

If decertified, shows will run as wildcat shows No concern about consequences from USDA

What can be done to end soring?

• Change judging standards• Better HPA enforcement/more funding• Stronger regulations• Scientific research• State laws/enforcement• Raise public awareness• Make soring socially unacceptable

What changes are needed? Owners

•must share in responsibility, liability for condition of horses

•should sit out when their horses have been found to be sore

•should suffer financial consequence of violation

What changes are needed? Trainers

• Harsh, meaningful penalties against violators – out of business when they harm horses and endanger the industry

• Ban trainers found to be using soring, numbing agents

• Open barns for inspection, to the public

What changes are needed?

Judging/show organizations • Determine what gait CAN be produced soundly, change standards to reward it

• Promote, reward sound flat shod horse – this is your huge untapped market

• Versatility/Natural Horsemanship/Other vehicles for rewarding excellence

What changes are needed?

Judging/show organizations • Deal with pressure shoeing – finally

•Pull shoes AND packages at horse shows – flat shod horses are not only victims of pressure shoeing•Drug testing

What can we ALL do to secure a future? 

• Support passage of laws to protect TWHs – KY law

• Support changes to DQP program• Support increases in USDA funding• Support changes sought in petition to USDA

What can we ALL do to secure a future? • Report soring - at shows, in barns – to industry officials, USDA/local law enforcement officers, HSUS. We will work to ensure laws are enforced and violators are prosecuted.

• Eliminate action devices – they encourage soring

• Reduce package size

Status quo will no longer cut it

New DQP structure can help change it

If business-as-usual, conflicts of interest continue, individuals move toward unaffiliated shows to avoid inspections…

…conclusion will be that this industry cannot be fixed…and more drastic measures may be needed

Petitions, audits, regulations are a first step toward tougher enforcement…they aren’t always the last

USDA, OIG, AAEP, Congress, humane groups are not enemies of the industry

We do not want to see it come to an end – but reform is inevitable, non-negotiable

Future cannot be an extension of the past

SORERS are the enemies of the industry, should be treated as such

We want to work together to secure a humane, prosperous future

It will take courage and leadership to accomplish change

..…..the future……?

Keith Dane Director of Equine Protectionkdane@hsus.org301-258-3076

humanesociety.org/horses