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June 7, 2013
Additional Arrests Made in Maryville, Tenn., Horse Soring Investigation
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office has served arrest warrants for two individuals suspected of violating Tennessee law against horse soring, an abusive practice involving the application of caustic chemicals and devices to the hooves and legs of Tennessee walking horses to deliberately inflict pain and force the horses to perform the artificial high-stepping ‘Big Lick’ gait for the show ring.
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May 13, 2013
Tenn. Governor Haslam Vetoes Anti-Whistleblower Bill
Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed the anti-whistleblower “ag-gag” bill, SB 1248/HB 1191, after hearing from thousands of Tennesseans urging the veto and a report deeming the bill constitutionally suspect by the Tennessee Attorney General.
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May 9, 2013
USDA Indicates 76 Percent of Horses Tested at 2012 Walking Horse Celebration Found Positive for Foreign Substances
In contrast to the two foreign substance violations reported by the Tennessee walking horse industry at the 2012 National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn., the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s testing revealed that 145 horses out of 190 tested, or 76 percent, were found positive.
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May 3, 2013
Bill to Criminalize Animal Cruelty Whistlblowers Reaches Governor’s Desk, Continues to Draw Criticism
As the anti-whistleblower “ag-gag” bill SB1248 was finally transmitted to Gov. Bill Haslam for his decision – two weeks after being passed by the legislature – more than 300 Tennessee clergy joined First Amendment and animal welfare groups urging a veto
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May 1, 2013
Tennessee Ad Calls for Governor to Veto Whistleblower Suppression Bill
The Humane Society of the United States has placed a full-page advertisement in The Tennessean as the latest in the deluge of criticism that has met anti-whistleblower “ag-gag” bill, SB1248, at every step of the legislative process.
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April 25, 2013
Maryville Horse Trainer’s Horses Seized in Soring Investigation
Authorities seized 19 horses who may have been subjected to the cruel practice of “soring” from a Maryville, Tenn., barn and transported them to safety.
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April 22, 2013
Tennessee TV Ads Call for Governor to Veto Whistleblower Suppression Bill
At a press conference at the state capitol, The Humane Society of the United States and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville District 13, screened a new television commercial showing violent abuse of horses from an investigation into the Tennessee walking horse industry. The commercial is the latest effort by The HSUS to urge Gov. Bill Haslam to veto SB1248, the special interest “ag-gag” bill.
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April 19, 2013
Tennessee Governor Urged to Veto Whistleblower Suppression Bill
The Humane Society of the United States urged Gov. Bill Haslam to veto Tennessee’s notorious anti-whistleblower, or “ag-gag,” bill, SB1248, which would make it a crime for reputable non-profit organizations and journalists to document and expose unethical and illegal activity in horse stables and at industrial agriculture facilities.
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April 12, 2013
A Sore Subject: The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry
The high-stepping stride of the Tennessee Walker has long entertained equestrians in the South. But the gait of these splendid animals too often comes at a cost, when they are intentionally made to suffer for the sake of the spectacle.
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April 12, 2013
Legislation to End Rampant Cruelty in Tennessee Walking Horse Competitions Endorsed by Animal Welfare Organizations
Animal welfare organizations applaud members of Congress for introducing federal legislation to stop the cruel practice of “soring”—the deliberate infliction of pain to the hooves and legs of horses to produce an artificial high-stepping gait that gains unfair competitive advantage at horse shows.
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April 1, 2013
Tennessee Grand Jury Indicts Former Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer Jackie McConnell
Court documents reveal a Fayette County Grand Jury has indicted infamous horse abuser Jackie McConnell and two co-defendants on 38 counts of animal cruelty for illegally soring and torturing horses as documented in a Humane Society of the United States undercover investigation conducted in 2011.
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January 24, 2013
The HSUS Commends United States Equestrian Federation for New Rule Protecting Walking Horses
The Humane Society of the United States applauds the United States Equine Federation for passing a new rule prohibiting participants in its licensed competitions from using certain devices that have long been associated with the abusive practice of “soring” show horses to make them perform the artificially high-stepping gait known as the “Big Lick.”
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December 12, 2012
New Poll Shows Voters in Tennessee and Kentucky Overwhelmingly Support Bill to Strengthen the Horse Protection Act
A new poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research reveals statewide voters, by a more than 5-to-1 margin in Tennessee and a more than 3-to-1 margin in Kentucky, overwhelmingly support stronger legislation to prevent the cruel practice of horse “soring,” the painful application of chemicals or other training methods to force the animals to perform an artificially high-stepping gait—known as the “Big Lick”—for show competitions.
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December 6, 2012
The HSUS Requests Investigation of Possible Cruelty to Tennessee Walking Horses
The Humane Society of the United States has asked 11 Tennessee District Attorneys General to acquire and test all “foreign substance swab samples” collected from Tennessee walking show horses during 2012 and to prosecute violations of state animal cruelty laws.
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December 3, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States Honors Roy Exum as Humane Horseman of the Year
The Humane Society of the United States has named Roy Exum the 2012 Humane Horseman of the Year. Each year, this award is given to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to protect America’s Horses.
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November 2, 2012
The HSUS Applauds University of Tennessee for Showcasing Only Sound Horses at Annual Homecoming Game
The Humane Society of the United States commends the University of Tennessee for choosing to allow only sound horses to participate at this year’s annual homecoming game.
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October 26, 2012
The HSUS Asks Federal Court to Uphold Vital Regulations to Protect Tennessee Walking Horses
The Humane Society of the United States filed a friend-of-the-court brief with a federal court in Texas, asking the court to uphold much-needed regulations issued by the United States Department of Agriculture to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act to prevent the cruel practice of horse “soring,” the application of painful chemicals or other painful training methods to force them to perform an artificially high-stepping gait for show competitions.
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October 11, 2012
Jillian Michaels, Emmylou Harris, Georgina Bloomberg Urge Support for Federal Legislation to Protect Horses from Abuse
Jillian Michaels, Emmylou Harris, Georgina Bloomberg and a cast of noted horse-loving celebrities and horse industry professionals have thrown their support behind recently introduced federal legislation, H.R. 6388, the Horse Protection Act Amendments of 2012.
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September 18, 2012
Federal Court Sentences Former Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer Jackie McConnell
Find out the sentence given to Jackie McConnell, the notorious horse trainer at the center of the HSUS's undercover investigation into the shocking abuse of Tennessee walking horses. And learn what The HSUS plans to do next.
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September 13, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Introduction of Federal Bill to End Rampant Abuse in Tennessee Walking Horse Competitions
The HSUS commends Reps. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., with original co-sponsors Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Jim Moran, D-Va., for introducing H.R. 6388, the Horse Protection Act Amendments of 2012.
