Farm Bureau Federation Endorses TWHBEA Sanctioning Plan
Friday, May 25, 2007

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Lewisburg, TN (May 25, 2007) – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) is pleased to announce that TWHBEA has received an endorsement from the American Farm Bureau Federation for our efforts in sponsoring a self-regulating program for the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation wrote, “The breeding and exhibition of purebred livestock is a time-honored tradition in the United States. Recording and preserving pedigrees and providing opportunities for breeders to compare the quality of their stock are important to maintaining genetic diversity. Breed registries, such as yours, provide an invaluable role as protectors of the integrity of their respective breeds.

Soring is a practice suitably cruel and abusive to be banned by an act of the United States Congress. Despite that, the practice continues today and, in fact, may be increasing in occurrence. The American Farm Bureau Federation has reviewed the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) sponsored Horse Industry Organization Sanctioning Plan. The Plan addresses soring at its root, policing both breeders and trainers and educating judges not to place sored horses, removing the most powerful incentive for the practice.

We applaud TWHBEA’s pro-active efforts to combat this archaic and illegal training practice. Your leadership in developing a program that helps the entire Tennessee Walking Horse industry is commendable.”

 “I appreciate the endorsement by the Farm Bureau for our sponsorship of the Sanctioning Plan. I also appreciate their extensive review of the plan and the suggestions that they made, which were accepted by the HIO Committee,” said Chuck Cadle, TWHBEA Executive Director.

“This endorsement is extremely gratifying as it comes from such a large agricultural national organization.  Their insight into the public perception of our industry and the benefit that this plan has to change that perception is more than encouraging.  The HIO Committee has made great efforts in furthering the goals of the plan’s purpose and sincerely appreciates the recognition and support that comes from this endorsement,” said Jerrold Pedigo, TWHBEA President.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA), headquartered in Lewisburg, Tenn., is the oldest and most prestigious organization devoted to the promotion and protection of the breed. Founded in 1935, the breed registry was established to record the pedigrees of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Its goal is to maintain the purity of the breed, to promote greater awareness of the Tennessee Walking Horse and its qualities, to encourage expansion of the breed and to help assure its general welfare. The updated Sanctioning Plan may be viewed here.

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