Dear Friends of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse:

The USDA has announced the upcoming publication of a final rule that addresses recommendations made by USDA’s Office of the Inspector General following an audit of the APHIS horse protection program. A copy of the rule that was submitted to the Federal Register can be found here.

In summary, the rule includes the following stipulations:

-action devices will be eliminated 30 days following publication of the final rule
-removal of pads at conclusion of 2017
-removal of HIOs at conclusion of 2017
-rule is limited to the Tennessee Walking Horse and Racking Horse

This is precisely what we anticipated would happen and our legal team is prepared to respond; THIS IS NO TIME TO PANIC! Instead, the industry must remain calm, poised and steadfast in its effort to continue to prepare its oppositional response to the rule making. Our team of legal professionals are doing amazing work to position the industry to successfully seek a legal remedy to preserve the show horse for future generations of Tennessee Walking Horse enthusiasts. As much as we must remain calm, we must also remain confident in our own product—our show horse. Inciting, contributing or perpetuating dialogue about canceling shows or show seasons is unproductive and only goes to encourage those who oppose our show horse that we do not have confidence in our own position. 

Collectively, the industry raised the first $500,000.00 needed to fund the preparation of the industry response to the rule making as well as the necessary research, data and exhibits to mount a legal defense once the final rule was posted by the USDA. Our legal team is optimistic that the industry has a strong case but it will take the investment of additional legal effort to carry the matter over the finish line. We have been preparing for this moment; there is no longer any wait and see, no further conjecture or assumptions; the case before us is now clear and WE NEED YOUR HELP!. PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION TO THE FAST LEGAL FUND AND JOIN THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SUPPORTERS WHO REFUSE TO ALLOW OUR SHOW HORSE TO BE DRIVEN INTO EXTINCTION…MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY BY CLICKING HERE!

On behalf of the industry, I want to thank you for your continued support of the show horse!

Dr. Kasey C. Kesselring, President
FAST