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, […]
Winning one for the horses––and perhaps a big win for greyhounds too
Biggest show in U.K. agrees that a tail is an essential part of a horse GLASGOW, Scotland––“Some great news for a change!” emailed Animal Concern Scotland campaigns officer Elena Edwards on March 3, 2025, but Edwards bannered the intention of the Welsh government to close the last greyhound track in Wales above her own unique […]
“Big lickers” reined in, but tongue-tied horses remain at mercy of shavetails
Soring horses to induce the “big lick” is far from the only questionable training & show tactic SHELBYVILLE, Tennessee––Keith Dane, senior director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States, was optimistic after the 86th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee concluded over the Labor Day weekend that an end […]
New Horse Protection Act regs: 270 days & election from enforcement
Stronger new Horse Protection Act rules will not take effect until after the 2024 show season; could be killed, again, if Donald Trump returns to the White House WASHINGTON D.C.––New Horse Protection Act regulations introduced on April 29, 2024, but not to be enforced until February 1, 2025, may at last end soring the legs […]
Necropsies dominate the 2023 Kentucky Derby post-mortems
15-to-1 longshot winner Mage is barely noticed amid seven horse deaths LOUISVILLE, Kentucky––Kentucky Derby post-mortems began in 2023 ten days before the 20-horse field walked to the starting gate, but they were called “necropsies.” The more familiar term “autopsy” is used only when the deceased is human. The upset victory by Mage, a horse with […]
“Greatest anti-soring advocate of all time” Clant Seay dies at 76
Walking horse defender BillyGoboy never slowed down in fight against the “Big Lickers” OXFORD, Mississippi––Citizens Committee Against Big Lick Animal Cruelty founder Clant Seay, 76, remembered by fellow campaigner Marty Irby as “quite a character and in my opinion the greatest anti-soring advocate of all time,” died on March 6, 2023 in Oxford, Mississippi. […]
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 […]
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 […]