McHenry County case brings first known convictions for steer-tailing GLASGOW, Scotland; WOODSTOCK, Illinois––August 2026 may be noted in some quarters as the month in which both the government of Scotland and circuit judge Justin M. Hansen of McHenry County, Illinois formally recognized that removing the tails of large quaduped grazing animals from their hindquarters constitutes […]
Behind the Calgary & Omak Stampede wild rushes of frightened animals
Neither Stampede’s signature event resembles any authentic Old West or Native American tradition OMAK, Washington; CALGARY, Alberta––The 2026 “stampede” subset of the rodeo season, consisting most notoriously of the annual Calgary Stampede and Omak Stampede, ended on August 16, 2026 with the fourth and last running of the year of the Omak “Suicide Race.” Riders […]
Risk of horse slaughter resuming in U.S. offsets Bouvry closure in Alberta
Canadian horse slaughterhouse may have closed in anticipation of U.S. competition FORT MacLEOD, Alberta; WASHINGTON D.C.––Animal advocates celebrating the recent closure of the Bouvry Exports horse slaughterhouse in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, once the biggest in Canada, may be celebrating prematurely. The real reason for the Bouvry Exports slaughterhouse closing may be anticipation that horse slaughter […]
Photos posted just before “Big Lick” barn fire illustrated multiple hazards
“This disaster was preventable and shows why the Big Lick needs to end,” says Citizens Against Big Lick. SEAGROVE, North Carolina––Only minutes after ANIMALS 24-7 posted Year of the Fire Horse arrives early, hits “Big Lickers” in North Carolina, our initial coverage of the Callicutt Stables barn fire that on February 15, 2026 killed 36 […]
Year of the Fire Horse arrives early, hits “Big Lickers” in North Carolina
36 walking horses killed, with seven survivors, in barn fire at former “Big Lick” world champion Callicutt Stables SEAGROVE, North Carolina––The Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese astrological calendar cycle formally begins on February 17, 2026, but arrived two days early in Seagrove, North Carolina, where a fire breaking out around 12:45 p.m. […]
National Celebration of “Big Lick” mostly celebrates getting away with it
The annual event appears to be more about defiance than about the horses SHELBYVILLE, Tennessee––Empty seats to the left of them, empty seats to the right of them, horse manure piling up behind them, into the 87th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration rode 1,300 contestants in the world’s most notorious exhibition of what the […]
Did the Omak Suicide Race start with a horse massacre & the KKK?
Uncovering the nasty origins of an ugly event OMAK, Washington––The 91st edition of the bizarre and often deadly “World Famous Suicide Race” held annually in Omak, Washington, is to conclude on August 10, 2025, as the final event of the annual Omak Stampede Rodeo. Checking to see how many horses died at Omak this […]
“All identified” in Big Lickers attack on members of Horse Plus Humane Society
Three members of Preisner family injured for videotaping Big Lick horses & riders COLUMBIA, Tennessee––“Update: Thank you. All attackers identified!” the Horse Plus Humane Society of Hohenwald, Tennessee posted to Facebook late on June 1, 2025. The identification may facilitate either criminal prosecution or a civil lawsuit seeking extensive damages. Identification of the suspects, whom […]
Trump USDA announces “Big Lick” equine circles of hell to continue
A Donald Trump administration for the second time scraps a soring rule just before it was to take effect WASHINGTON D.C.––The politics of trying to reform the “Big Lick” show horse industry much resemble “Big Lick” horse shows themselves. First the horses, whose legs have often been sored to induce the “Big Lick” goosestep, […]
San Diego H.S. says “no cruelty” in rodeo death of 8-months-pregnant mare
Mare and foal died from “ruptured uterine artery” moments after violent ride SAN DIEGO, California––“The San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement team has concluded their investigation into the tragic death of a 16-year-old pregnant horse at the rodeo held at Petco Park,” the society announced on March 6, 2025, but the findings suggest they […]