by David L. Howard
(Copyright) Toby Scarbrough's appeal of his suspension by the National Horse Show Commission has been scheduled for November 4-6 at the NHSC offices in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Scarbrough was reportedly suspended on March 14 for ten years, fined $5,000 and prohibited from ever getting a judges license or serving on any NHSC committees for a violation of rules at the 1997 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Scarbrough immediately appealed this suspension and two previously scheduled hearings have been postponed enabling Scarbrough to continue showing.
The two previous appeal hearings were scheduled for June 18 and September 17-19 but both were postponed. The original tape and information were turned over to the Commission in early January of this year and a complaint was filed by Craig Evans. Lonnie Messick investigated the charges and issued the suspension on March 14.
On June 18, the day scheduled for the first hearing, Scarbrough filed for a Temporary Restraining Order to postpone the hearing and that same afternoon Judge Lee Russell heard Scarbrough's petition. The judge denied the TRO and instructed lawyers for both sides to reach an agreement so that the hearing in front of the Independent Hearing Committee could be held as soon as possible.
The NHSC then set a hearing for September 17-19 which was subsequently postponed.