While arrests were made earlier this spring of Maryville, Tenn., horse trainer Larry Joe Wheelon and two co-workers suspected of violating the Tennessee law against animal cruelty, an early June arrest was made of a farrier for his role in the disgraceful practice of soring. This represents the first time a farrier has been arrested in conjunction with ongoing state and federal soring investigations.
As the controversial American Farriers Journal series on the soring and pressure-shoeing situation wraps up in this issue, it’s a good time to reflect on several recent developments aimed at ending this illegal practice.
Many in the Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) industry maintain less soring and pressure shoeing is taking place than in the past. Others aren’t so sure, citing evidence that indicates that the banned practices are still all too common among high-level horses.
The Horse Industry Organization (HIO) operating plan contract for the 14 certified groups states, “A pressure shoeing violation shall be defined as soring, trimming or engaging in any practice the result of which causes the inducement of pain in the sole of the foot.”
Watching a Tennessee Walking Horse go through his paces can be confusing. The horse leans back into his haunches, driving off them powerfully, while his forelimbs stretch out ahead, churning the air and pin wheeling ahead of the rider.
In this episode, Mark Ellis, a Wisconsin farrier who learned the ropes with Renchin, recalls Red’s relationships with area veterinarians, his legacy and the second career as American Farriers Journal’s technical editor.
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