Editor’s Note:

Several sound horse groups (Friends of the Sound Horse, the Sound Horse Organization, and the American Horse Defense Fund) joined with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to run two facing ads in Equus and Southeast Equine regarding soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. The first ad was a letter to Congress and the USDA asking for greater funding and the second ad was a series of pictures entitled “What kind of athletic training produces ankles that look like these?”

At the TWHBEA annual meeting, TWHBEA announced plans to run two ads in the February issue of Equus contradicting the ASPCA ads.

We received the following letter to the editor on the subject as well.

Southeast Equine Magazine
P.O. Box 1333
Columbia, SC 29202

Dear Sirs/Madams

Shame on you for accepting advertisement money and publishing the ads that appear on page 8 and 9 in your Dec. issue. These controversial advertisements give the walking horse industry a falst impression that all performance show horses are hurt to enhance the show.

My fifteen-year-old daughter has shown her walking horses at various events in Tennessee for the last two years, including the National Celebration. She also showed her horse at a “FOSH” horse show. At the “FOSH” show she won three blues and one red. She did well because there were so few entries (in one class she was the only exhibitor). Needless to say there were very few spectators., This was to be our only “FOSH” show.

At this years Celebration my daughter showed on Friday night in front of 30,000 spectators. During the ten day show, there were 5000 entries. I am proud of our walking horse industry. I am proud of the TWHBEA and its officers. I am proud of the owners and trainers who participate in the walking horse shows.

I am not proud of an organization that campaigns advertisements (paid) to mislead the public concerning mistreatment of Tennessee Walking Horses. It is in my opinion that “FOSH” is using this campaign to garner participation and support for their own benefit. How else can they afford to continue? It is obvious to me that “FOSH” is attempting to win over exhibitors by falsely accusing the TWHBEA and the walking horse industry of mistreating show horses.

My family wholeheartedly supports the TWHBEA and the walking horse industry and their ability to promote our sport. I do not think 35,000 people attended Saturday nights show to see horses that were crippled or lamed. Get real.

“FOSH” is attempting to make a name for itself at the expense of the walking horse industry and I for one will boycott any show, produce endorsement, or publication that accepts advertisement money from that organization. I am sorry that your publication is included in the above.

Most sincerely,
Bob Ramsbottom
Norris, TN