And California voters dump horse racing bail-out measure WASHINGTON D.C.––The U.S. House of Representatives on November 14, 2022 for the second time passed the PAST Act, short for Prevent All Soring Tactics, and sent it to the U.S. Senate, where for the second time it is likely to pull up lame. But maybe not. Before […]
The “Big Lick,” Tunica, & the smell of horse manure in the morning
“Big Lick” industry hopes to raise a defense fund at show finale brunches in center ring TUNICA, Mississippi––Tennessee walking horse “Big Lick” fanciers either love the smell of horse manure in the morning, or, when converging for shows at the Paul Battle Arena, miss the odor of Sugar Ditch Alley, the open sewer for which […]
Horse defenders ask, “Where are the Cheshire cats of equine advocacy?”
Barn-sour big groups leave the hard work to Lone Rangers Fighting the horse’s rear ends promoting the horse racing industry, rodeo, and “Big Lick” horse exhibition, Political Animals founder Sherry DeBoer, Action for Animals founder Eric Mills, Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi, and Citizens Campaign Against “Big Lick” Animal Cruelty founder Clant […]
How the ghosts of Elvis Presley & Tom Parker help to fight “Big Lick” soring
Parker made Elvis, Elvis gave Priscilla Presley a voice, & Priscilla Presley stood up for the horses MEMPHIS, Tennessee––The clock appears to have just about run out on efforts to pass the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, or PAST Act, in the 117th Congress. Priscilla Presley, 77, retired actress and former wife of the late […]
Walking horse industry waits for the other (weighted) shoe to drop
“Big Lickers” hold out hope for a Congressional reprieve SHELBYVILLE, Tennessee––A legal showdown may be coming soon over enforcement of a new USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service rule meant to protect show horses, but not just yet. The mood midway through the 2022 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, supposed to climax on September […]
“Big Lick” horses win in court. Can they get a break from Congress?
Trump killed rule meant to stop soring WASHINGTON D.C.––Former U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2017 improperly blocked a new USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service rule meant to protect show horses from taking effect, ruled a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on July 22, […]
USDA-APHIS wants your 2¢ on animal-related federal law enforcement––NOW!!!
“Come on, animal advocates, let’s move fast! Your big chance has come at last! Want a chance to have your say? Tell it to the USDA!” WASHINGTON D.C.––The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS] is, until the end of July 2022, offering the public a unique chance to kibbitz on an “APHIS […]
Walking Horse National Celebration: don’t bet on the numbers
“Banned for life” trainer passed out a trophy SHELBYVILLE, Tennessee––Just what was celebrated at the 2021 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration? It wasn’t certainly wasn’t either ethics or economic success. Attendance, participation, and prize money claims included in Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration publicity appear to distort reality at least as much as the […]
Trump signs anti-race horse doping bill & $60 million gift to horse industry
Tax break for Paycheck Protection Program loan/grant recipients appears to have been the dangling carrot that brought horse racing industry support for omnibus funding bill WASHINGTON D.C.––U.S. President Donald Trump on December 27, 2020 “signed H.R. 133, an Act making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, providing coronavirus emergency response […]
Will anti-show horse soring bill pull up lame through last-hurdle compromise?
What would Marty Irby, Wayne Pacelle & Lamar Alexander think if weighted shoes were on their feet? UPDATE received on December 18, 2020, from Bernard Unti, senior policy advisor, Humane Society of the U.S.: “I’m pleased to share the news that the reckless attempt by an embittered faction within animal protection to swap in a […]