Editor’s Note: Chuck Cadle, executive director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association sent The Report the following letter in response to David Howard’s editorial which was posted online and printed in the June 25, 2007 Walking Horse Report.

David,
 
While at the American Horse Council meeting this past week, I met with the Farm Bureau to discuss  their letter in more detail.  When they discussed soring they were not "only" referring to middle TN trainers and the performance horse, they were referring to flat shod horses, the national  situation and were including other breeds (AQHA, Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, and even cattle).  I believe that Mr. Stallman's comments were taken totally out of context due to select groups being gunshy about the word soring.  They asked me to reread the letter's first paragraph - Mr. Stallman  was addressing all breeds not just the TWH breed and certainly not middle TN and the performance horse. The AFBF applauds the current work by trainers and owners in the TWH industry to only show compliant horses; however, abuses are now taking place in other breeds as well and they feel that it is the responsibility of the breed registry to foster an environment in which the industry takes responsibility for enforcing the HPA.
 
I recognize that we are so close to the situation dealing with our horse that we tend to overlook the fact that other breeds are also violating the HPA. This is just one more reason for us to self-regulate and allow the $400K allocated for enforcement of the Act to be spent on other breeds rather than ours. From my meetings in DC, I am confident that if we can bring the HIOs to align in support of self-regulation, our industry will restore its positive image, especially in light of the great strides that the majority of our TWH trainers have taken to restore integrity to our industry.
 
Regards,
 
Chuck