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113055
Sored Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction
Merlin ID: 214845
Caption
Dutch, a Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction while still wearing stacked shoes, with pasterns scarred by chronic soring abuse.
Credit
The HSUS
Sored Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction
Merlin ID: 214839
Caption
Dutch, a Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction while still wearing stacked shoes, with pasterns scarred by chronic soring abuse.
Credit
The HSUS
Sored Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction
Merlin ID: 214833
Caption
Dutch, a Tennessee Walking Horse rescued from New Holland Auction while still wearing stacked shoes, with pasterns scarred by chronic soring abuse.
Credit
The HSUS
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Merlin ID: 170297
Caption
The 75th Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee on August 29, 2013.
Credit
The HSUS
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Merlin ID: 170207
Caption
The 75th Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee on August 29, 2013.
Credit
The HSUS
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Merlin ID: 170193
Caption
The 75th Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee on August 29, 2013.
Credit
The HSUS
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Merlin ID: 170129
Caption
The 75th Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee on August 29, 2013.
Credit
The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 160059
Caption
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. The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County SPCA and Horse Haven of Tennessee with the seizure. The barn was used by Larry Wheelon, who has been charged with one count of felony animal cruelty on suspicions of soring - the application of caustic chemicals and painful devices to the hooves and legs of horses to produce the artificial high-stepping “Big-Lick” gait that gains unfair competitive advantage at horse shows. Additional charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation. The sheriff’s office assisted in serving a search warrant last Thursday after receiving a tip about possible animal cruelty. Authorities said they discovered horses visibly in pain and several barely able to stand. Wheelon, who is an active director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer’s Association and sits on its ethics committee, has been cited by inspectors at least 15 times for violations of the federal Horse Protection Act between 1993 and 2012. He is also an AAA-rated judge with Shelbyville, Tenn.-based S.H.O.W, which is the largest of the USDA-certified horse industry organizations that self-police competitions. The horses will be thoroughly examined and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location pending the final disposition of this case.
Credit
Kathy Milani/The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 160045
Caption
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. The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County SPCA and Horse Haven of Tennessee with the seizure. The barn was used by Larry Wheelon, who has been charged with one count of felony animal cruelty on suspicions of soring - the application of caustic chemicals and painful devices to the hooves and legs of horses to produce the artificial high-stepping “Big-Lick” gait that gains unfair competitive advantage at horse shows. Additional charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation. The sheriff’s office assisted in serving a search warrant last Thursday after receiving a tip about possible animal cruelty. Authorities said they discovered horses visibly in pain and several barely able to stand. Wheelon, who is an active director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer’s Association and sits on its ethics committee, has been cited by inspectors at least 15 times for violations of the federal Horse Protection Act between 1993 and 2012. He is also an AAA-rated judge with Shelbyville, Tenn.-based S.H.O.W, which is the largest of the USDA-certified horse industry organizations that self-police competitions. The horses will be thoroughly examined and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location pending the final disposition of this case.
Credit
Kathy Milani/The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 160043
Caption
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. The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County SPCA and Horse Haven of Tennessee with the seizure. The barn was used by Larry Wheelon, who has been charged with one count of felony animal cruelty on suspicions of soring - the application of caustic chemicals and painful devices to the hooves and legs of horses to produce the artificial high-stepping “Big-Lick” gait that gains unfair competitive advantage at horse shows. Additional charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation. The sheriff’s office assisted in serving a search warrant last Thursday after receiving a tip about possible animal cruelty. Authorities said they discovered horses visibly in pain and several barely able to stand. Wheelon, who is an active director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer’s Association and sits on its ethics committee, has been cited by inspectors at least 15 times for violations of the federal Horse Protection Act between 1993 and 2012. He is also an AAA-rated judge with Shelbyville, Tenn.-based S.H.O.W, which is the largest of the USDA-certified horse industry organizations that self-police competitions. The horses will be thoroughly examined and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location pending the final disposition of this case.
Credit
Kathy Milani/The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 160041
Caption
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. The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County SPCA and Horse Haven of Tennessee with the seizure. The barn was used by Larry Wheelon, who has been charged with one count of felony animal cruelty on suspicions of soring - the application of caustic chemicals and painful devices to the hooves and legs of horses to produce the artificial high-stepping “Big-Lick” gait that gains unfair competitive advantage at horse shows. Additional charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation. The sheriff’s office assisted in serving a search warrant last Thursday after receiving a tip about possible animal cruelty. Authorities said they discovered horses visibly in pain and several barely able to stand. Wheelon, who is an active director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer’s Association and sits on its ethics committee, has been cited by inspectors at least 15 times for violations of the federal Horse Protection Act between 1993 and 2012. He is also an AAA-rated judge with Shelbyville, Tenn.-based S.H.O.W, which is the largest of the USDA-certified horse industry organizations that self-police competitions. The horses will be thoroughly examined and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment and will be cared for at an undisclosed location pending the final disposition of this case.
Credit
Kathy Milani/The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Investigation
Merlin ID: 158833
Caption
The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video footage on May 25, 2012 revealing cruel treatment of horses in the Tennessee walking horse industry. The subject of the investigation, nationally known trainer Jackie McConnell, notified the federal court in Tennessee that he intends to plead guilty to felony conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act. The video, shot over several weeks in 2011 at Whitter Stables, operated by McConnell, shows individuals abusing horses by using painful chemicals on the horses’ front legs to force them to perform an artificially high-stepping gait for show competitions. This cruel practice, known as “soring,” has been illegal for more than 40 years under the federal Horse Protection Act. The footage also shows horses being brutally whipped, kicked, shocked in the face, and violently cracked across the heads and legs with heavy wooden sticks. The investigator documented the cruel practice of “stewarding”—training a horse not to react to pain during official show inspections of their legs for soreness, by striking them in the head when they flinch during mock inspections in the training barn. The investigation also uncovered the illegal use of numbing agents for the purpose of temporarily masking a horse’s reaction to pain so it can pass official horse show inspections.
Credit
The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Investigation
Merlin ID: 158811
Caption
The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video footage on May 25, 2012 revealing cruel treatment of horses in the Tennessee walking horse industry. The subject of the investigation, nationally known trainer Jackie McConnell, notified the federal court in Tennessee that he intends to plead guilty to felony conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act. The video, shot over several weeks in 2011 at Whitter Stables, operated by McConnell, shows individuals abusing horses by using painful chemicals on the horses’ front legs to force them to perform an artificially high-stepping gait for show competitions. This cruel practice, known as “soring,” has been illegal for more than 40 years under the federal Horse Protection Act. The footage also shows horses being brutally whipped, kicked, shocked in the face, and violently cracked across the heads and legs with heavy wooden sticks. The investigator documented the cruel practice of “stewarding”—training a horse not to react to pain during official show inspections of their legs for soreness, by striking them in the head when they flinch during mock inspections in the training barn. The investigation also uncovered the illegal use of numbing agents for the purpose of temporarily masking a horse’s reaction to pain so it can pass official horse show inspections.
Credit
The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 114469
Caption
A horse waits in a stable during an animal cruelty investigation by law enforcement officials and the Humane Society at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 114461
Caption
Veterinarian Angie Lingl investigates for signs of soring at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 113101
Caption
A horse waits in a stable during an animal cruelty investigation by law enforcement officials and the Humane Society at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 113095
Caption
A horse's leg shows an unnatural deformity according to veterinarian Angie Lingl during an investigation at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 113081
Caption
A horse waits in a stable during an animal cruelty investigation by law enforcement officials and the Humane Society at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 113059
Caption
A horse waits in a stable during an animal cruelty investigation by law enforcement officials and the Humane Society at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
TN Walking Horse Rescue
Merlin ID: 113055
Caption
A horse waits in a stable during an animal cruelty investigation by law enforcement officials and the Humane Society at the stables of well-known Tennessee walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell in Fayette County, Tenn. The undercover investigation led to felony criminal indictments against McConnell, for multiple violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Evidence was found of soring, the application of painful chemicals, and heavy metal chains applied to the horses front legs. Photo by Lance Murphey
Credit
Lance Murphey/For The HSUS
Undercover Investigation: Horses Abused at Top Training Barn (Media B-Roll)
An undercover investigator with The Humane Society of the United States has documented trainers and grooms at ThorSport Farm cruelly “soring” Tennessee walking horses to create an exaggerated and unnatural gait known as the “big lick.”
Tennessee Walking Horse Cruelty B-roll
B-roll of the Tennessee Walking Horse "Celebration" event, and video and pictures of a cruel practice known as soring.
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