The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) was established as the breed registry in 1935 for the Tennessee Walking Horse. TWHBEA is the largest member driven organization dedicated specifically to the Tennessee Walking Horse. TWHBEA is NOT in support of H.R. 1518 also known as the PAST Act.

At its December 2013 annual meeting, the International Board of Directors of TWHBEA overwhelmingly voted to oppose Whitfield’s PAST Act, and its Senate companion, which would eliminate the performance division of the Tennessee Walking Horse. The International Board of Directors strongly supports working with Congress and other industry stakeholders who support laws and regulations that use objective, scientifically proven testing methods.

Unauthorized “Poll” by Pat Stout, TWHBEA Horse Show Vice President

In September of 2013 then Vice–President of Horse Shows for TWHBEA, Pat Stout, sent an unauthorized mailer that included a question regarding H.R. 1518 to all of the eligible to vote TWHBEA members. Upon discovering the unauthorized mailer, the then TWHBEA President Loyd Hall Black, Jr. stated “This mailer was not sent out by TWHBEA or paid for by TWHBEA. In fact, TWHBEA makes no request or requirement that you answer this mailer or do anything whatsoever with the mailer, and you can certainly throw it away if you want.”

TWHBEA recently published a January 9, 2014 Report of the Enforcement and Bylaws Committee which stated Ms. Stout knowingly and misleadingly disseminated false information; disseminated the mailing list to one or more nonmembers; engaged in a practice which had the effect of corrupting the integrity of the Association; disseminated and made false statements concerning TWHBEA and not only failed to correct that false information, but has continued to endorse it; conducted herself so as to cast doubt on her own integrity; violated the Oath of office; failed to abide by the bylaws, rules, regulations and code of conduct standards of TWHBEA; and through her actions and statements has brought disrespect upon the breed and to TWHBEA.

Whitfield/HSUS supporters claim the Stout poll results show a 63 percent support of the PAST Act. However, when using the Stout poll data, only 16 percent of TWHBEA members are on record supporting the PAST Act. There are only 3 states in which the majority of their TWHBEA membership is in support of the PAST Act. Those 3 states comprise fewer than 0.45 percent of the total TWHBEA membership

The results of the unsanctioned poll were 16.27 percent of the TWHBEA membership supporting the PAST Act and an overwhelming 83.73 percent of the TWHBEA membership opposing the PAST Act.