For the first time, The Kentucky Derby and the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship will be held on the same evening – one an event known to all, the other a regional event in the more obscure world of showing Tennessee Walking horses. While the soring of Walking Horses has become a high-profile issue … Read more
“There once was a horse; a black stallion named Carbon Copy. Carbon Copy was a perfect model of the Tennessee Walking Horse. He knew voice commands and would respond to a whistle — so people say he could take himself around a ring to show off without anyone on his back. Carbon Copy was the … Read more
Press Release The animals were all placed for adoption by the Bureau of Land Management’s adoption programs, which put federally protected equines at risk of slaughter WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM — This month, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II recognized lifelong horseman and Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty Irby “for his extraordinary efforts to reduce violence … Read more
While the nation is grappling with the COVID-19 crisis and seeing major protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, animal protection advocates continue to grapple with the various crises and abuses that those we work to protect face each day, including the ongoing mistreatment of Tennessee Walking Horses. I’ve been working for the … Read more
Nearly a decade ago, I made a new friend named Priscilla, our paths having merged in an improbable circumstance. From within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, I had been working for years to curb the practice of soring — intentionally inflicting pain to horses’ front feet to create an artificial high-step known as the “Big … Read more
On Saturday, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville crowned its “Big Lick” World Grand Champions — Rodney Dick and “I’m Mayhem.” Although he’s been a serial violator of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) for decades, Dick was allowed to compete on the main stage for a shrinking and increasingly uninteresting event. It turns … Read more
Animal Wellness Action has been leading the charge to end the scourge of soring since we opened our doors last year, and prior to that, our leadership team worked together in many capacities over the past decade to eradicate soring from the equine world — it’s an issue that continues to command my attention, and … Read more
Council Passes Resolution 1868 Urging Senators Lamar Alexander and Marsha Blackburn to Cosponsor and #PassthePASTAct The PAST Act, led by U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), cochairs of the Congressional Veterinary Medicine Caucus, was cosponsored by 308 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis), and its Senate … Read more
House passage of anti-soring bill a personal and movement milestoneThe House voted 333 to 96 today – a landslide vote – in favor of strengthening the federal law against horse soring. It’s a joyous moment for me and all animal advocates, horse lovers, and other people of conscience. Almost exactly seven years ago, I was … Read more
Measure to Stop Animal Cruelty Builds on Law Led by the Late U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings (D-MD) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act by a vote of 333 to 96. The measure seeks to strengthen the Horse … Read more