(Copyright 2003) The Walking Horse Report has learned that the National Horse Show Commission has reportedly suspended Toby Scarbrough for 10 years for an alleged violation of NHSC rules during the 1997 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. The NHSC, when contacted by The Report, would neither confirm nor deny the suspension.

In addition, Scarbrough was reportedly fined $5000 and is prohibited from ever getting a judges license or serving on any NHSC committees. Scarbrough was informed of the penalties on Friday, March 14, at the Commission offices in Shelbyville, Tenn.

If Scarbrough pays the fine and fulfills certain other requirements, the penalty would reportedly be scaled back to approximately five years, at which time the NHSC would review the matter and decide whether to invoke the remaining five years of the suspension.

Craig Evans had previously filed the formal complaint against Scarbrough and the NHSC?s Lonnie Messick investigated the charge and issued the penalty.

Scarbrough has reportedly retained Shelbyville, Tennessee attorney Brenda Bramlett and has appealed Messick's decision to the independent hearing committee of the NHSC.

No date has been set for the appeal but it will probably be May before a hearing can be scheduled. The Report will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.