Tennessee has a decades-long tradition of showing beautiful walking horses. Most notable are their high-stepping horses, whose distinctive prancing gait captures many oohs and aahs in the show ring. Sadly, this gait isn't always natural. An undercover video presented by Journeyman Pictures shows that trainers use cruel methods -- including beating their horses, weighing their hooves down with lead, and burning their legs with caustic substances.
These cruel methods give unethical trainers an unfair competitive advantage over trainers who treat their horses well. Animal rights activist and Elvis' daughter Priscilla Presley points out, "The Tennessee Walking Horse has a beautiful natural gait. For some reason, we want more." Horses should be admired and celebrated for their natural beauty, not a false effect achieved at the animal's expense.
Horses should be protected under the USDA's Horse Protection Act, but this cruelty has gone largely unchecked for decades. Please sign the petition to urge the USDA to investigate Tennessee Walking Horse shows and to make it a priority to punish abusive trainers!
Tennessee has a decades-long tradition of showing beautiful walking horses. Most notable are their high-stepping horses, whose distinctive prancing gait captures many oohs and aahs in the show ring. Sadly, this gait isn't always natural. An undercover video presented by Journeyman Pictures shows that trainers use cruel methods -- including beating their horses, weighing their hooves down with lead, and burning their legs with caustic substances.
These cruel methods give unethical trainers an unfair competitive advantage over trainers who treat their horses well. Animal rights activist and Elvis' daughter Priscilla Presley points out, "The Tennessee Walking Horse has a beautiful natural gait. For some reason, we want more." Horses should be admired and celebrated for their natural beauty, not a false effect achieved at the animal's expense.
As you know, horses should be protected under the USDA's Horse Protection Act, but this cruelty has gone largely unchecked for decades. We respectfully urge you to investigate Tennessee Walking Horse shows and to make it a priority to punish abusive trainers!
