The SHOW Horse Industry Organization (HIO) has suspended immediately the judging license of East Tennessee horse trainer Larry Wheelon following his indictment by the Blount County Grand Jury on Monday, December 3, 2013 on 17 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. SHOW had previously suspended Wheelon’s license in April for the same incident but his license was reinstated on August 15 when all charges were dismissed by Judge Robert Headrick.
Also indicted with Wheelon were Stacy Gunter, Brandon Lunsford and Blake Primm. All four men are free on bond and will appear in Blount County Circuit Court on Monday, December 9, 2013.
“We take any allegation of animal abuse seriously and will follow this process to conclusion and if any further action is deemed necessary, appropriate steps will be taken,” according to a SHOW official.