Flicka Woo woo, received my tickets for the team dressage at the Olympics!! (22.05.2012)
Flicka There's so much to catch up on here-Trot ON I've missed you!!! (22.05.2012)
JessAndGrenville123 Oh and can someone answer my question about strangles in the vet talk group, i am worried about the foal... (21.05.2012)
JessAndGrenville123 Think i am going to get back lady to come and have a look at G's back, just hope he doesn't kick her, i'm only person he lets near his back (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior So sorry Fancy for your loss! (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior Sat on Junior fully and walked a few steps, don't wanna rush anything. I was nervous but I had no reason to be! He was great! So proud! :D (21.05.2012)
FancyTheMustang (21.05.2012)
FancyTheMustang (21.05.2012)
FancyTheMustang ¢¾¢¾¢¾RIP Daisy! :'( I'll see you again someday in heaven. ¢¾¢¾¢¾ (21.05.2012)
ChanChie went down to the feild earlier to find the pony eating mud even though his feild is full of grass. I dont half worry about this pony. Hehe (21.05.2012)
Loes and co My saddle will be shipped to me tomorrow - hope to get it before the weekend :-D (21.05.2012)
EveRebecca I wish Wednesday would hurry up!! I want to ride! (21.05.2012)
msps had a wonderful lesson on ziggy yesterday practicing my 2-point position. my new helmet is in also!! it's an IRH medalist helmet :) (21.05.2012)
Flicka That video of the Tennessee Walking Horses in the Trot ON blog made me cry :( (21.05.2012)
Loes and co another sunny day and my friend form holland will meet my horse and dogs today - nice one :-) (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior MONSTERS! (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior Just read the Tenesse Walking Horse abuse blog. Those people should have that done to their legs and no medical treatment! Those people are- (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior So proud of Junior's first time under a saddle!0 (21.05.2012)
KklovesJunior So I put a saddle on Junior, who did nothing. I then stood in a stirrup and laid across the saddle! HE DID GREAT! I'M SO HAPPY! (21.05.2012)
FlyingChanges Yay another riding lesson booked for after work on Wednesday - have FINALLY convinced my partner to take a lesson - should be hilarious! (20.05.2012)

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APPALLING ABUSE OF TENNESSEE WALKING HORSES.

Having watched this video we're sure you will be left as sickened as we are that horses are subjected to such terrible cruelty in order to feed a human lust for ribbons and money.

A dark shadow has hung over the Tennessee Walking Horse industry for some time now with many believing there is a widespread use of cruel training methods to produce the horse's unnatural gait, the so-called 'big lick'.  Now an ABC News investigation  featuring a video recorded by The Humane Society of the United States (above) has caught one of the industry's top trainers, Jackie McConnell beating and torturing his horses in his stables outside Memphis.

McConnell is witnessed overseeing his grooms as they carry out the inhumane and illegal practice of 'soring'. Caustic chemicals are applied to the ankles of the horses before they are wrapped in plastic so the chemicals eat into the skin. Then the ankles are wrapped with large metal chains so the ensuing pain reaction causes the horses to raise their feet even higher. The video goes on to show McConnell and his stable hands abusing horses with wooden sticks and electric cattle prods in a training process called 'stewarding'-teaching them not to flinch when the judges check their legs for evidence of soring.  At one point a horse which is obviously in so much pain it can't bear to stand up is beaten and dragged.

Leaders of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry maintain that the vast majority of their horses aren't subjected to 'soring' however a random inspection by the agents of the Department of Agriculture at last year's annual championship found that an incredible 52 of 52 horses tested positive for some sort of foreign substance around the front hooves, either put their to cause pain or to hide it.

At least Pepsi having seen the film immediately withdrew their sponsorship of the annual Tennessee Walking Horse competition, the Celebration, and McConnell faces federal charges but something bigger needs to be done-it's time the industry cleaned up for good.

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Let's hope something good comes out of this brutal video-it's time for ch

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