SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - The SHOW HIO was the affiliating Horse Industry Organization for the 80th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, held August 22nd through September 1st. SHOW conducted 2,012 inspections at the Celebration, 1,830 pre-show inspections and 182 post-show inspections. In total, there were 64 horses disqualified with 71 total violations.

The 96.2% compliance rate is an improvement over the 94.4% compliance rate in 2017. Of the 71 violations, 61 occurred during pre-show inspections and 10 occurred during post-show inspections. Of the 1,830 pre-show inspections, 1,213 were padded entries and 617 were flat-shod participants. The compliance rate among the padded entries was 94.4%, an improvement over 91.7% last year, and the 99.7% compliance rate among flat-shod entries was an improvement from 99.1% last year.

The 80th Celebration showed a dramatic improvement in foreign substance, illegal shoeing and high band compliance from last year.  Those three categories had 31 violations in 2017 and only 10 in 2018. There were two more scar rules written in 2018 versus 2017 (14 versus 12) and 10 less sensitivity non-compliances in 2018, 43 this year compared to 53 in 2017.

The improvement in compliance at this year’s show is a positive step forward and one the industry can utilize as it continues its progress toward achieving the dual purposes of the Horse Protection Act, eliminating soring and promoting fair competition.