WEG Chooses Natural Tennessee Walking Horses for Its Exhibits
02. Nov, 2009 
4 Comments
From an October 30 article on Kentucky.com of the Lexington Herald-Leader by Janet Patton:
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association asked to participate in the exhibitions at the Kentucky Horse Park at the World Equestrian Games next fall (Sept. 25 to Oct. 10, 2010). WEG Chairman John Long says the board decided to allow them.
But, according to Jamie Link, WEG 2010 Foundation CEO, controversy surrounding certain aspects of breed management led the board to refund the TWH group’s $20,000 deposit and deny them exhibition space after all.
The games will highlight the National Walking Horse Association, which prohibits devices and practices that exaggerate the horse’s natural gait.
We recognized there is some controversy surrounding that breed. We made the decision that it’s not in our best interest to provide a showcase for a controversy like this.
–Jamie Link, WEG 2010 Foundation CEO
Some performance walking horses are trained in a stylized high-stepping show gait, called the Big Lick, for competitions. This can involve the use of illegal devices, such as padded shoes and chains, and toxic substances to make the horse’s feet sore. “Soring” practices are banned under the Federal Horse Protection Act, occasionally enforced by the USDA.
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association had agreed not to bring any walking horses in padded shoes or chains, and guaranteed that none of the horses in the exhibit would be “sore.” However after deliberation, the WEG Board ultimately decided that though the Tennessee Walking Horse is representative of Kentucky Culture, the group was not the best fit for the WEG. Link went out of his way to emphasize that the WEG board wants to support the Tennessee Walking Horse Group’s efforts to rehabilitate its image and reform its training methods.
If you’re lucky enough (or smart enough to plan) to go to the Kentucky Horse Park for the WEG in September and October of 1020 for the WEG, stop by and see the natural Tennessee Walking Horses of the National Walking Horse Association and lend them your support. I think they are up against an ingrained and insidious cultural institution and can use all the support they can get. They certainly deserve it. LIkewise, efforts by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association to change their regulations and to enforce those changes in their culture should be applauded.
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I think we should similarly start a new dressage organization–the Classical Dressage organization–which prohibits devices and practices that go against the tenets of classical dressage (like rollkur) and then maybe WEG can decide to not allow the FEI to participate because it is “not in their best interest to provide a showcase for a controversy like this….”
Wendy
Great idea. How would you see this developing? I think I”ll forward this to the Dressage Disgrace folks as well as to the other folks who might be able to really make it happen.
I believe that’s what Xenophon when it relaunches as a US based non-profit organization will work towards amongst other things. Rather then start a new association, it would be great to funnel everyone’s hard work and good will into one single org that can then have a bigger voice and impact. Keep an eye out for when Xenophon activates.
I think the hypocrisy in non allowing one kind of abuse but rewarding handsomely another will eventually will catch up with the WEG and FEI.
I would not be surprised if this decision comes in great part due to the fact that they do not want the negative press in europe and potential for disruption at the event keeping these folks in would have made likely.
“I think the hypocrisy in non allowing one kind of abuse but rewarding handsomely another will eventually will catch up with the WEG and FEI.” Let’s keep pointing that out. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.