Big Lick revisited

[Minimor]

There's a big discussion now on the Chronicle forum about the Big Lick horses. Check out the posts by "formerbiglicker"--this link should take you to page 33 of the discussion, & formerbiglicker posts about half way down this page. He gives some interesting, if sad, info about the chemical soring agents used on these horses, and he explains how the soring works to change the horse's gait.

Big Lick horses

I think the topic is up to 36 pages now, but most of the posters aren't involved with the big lick horses and don't know a lot about how they are trained & sored. I knew they were "usually" sored, but didn't know anything much about the soring agents & how they were used. I also thought more had been done to stop soring, but according to 'formerbiglicker' on this thread, the people policing the shows are generally people from within the industry & they overlook a fair bit. Trainers only leave the shows when the USDA people show up with their own vets.

Interesting too is the part about the "sniffer device" they now have to detect the chemical agents on the horses' skin--the poster says the industry is now looking for a way around this, and he figures it will lead to the use of injections, rather than topical agents. Tsk.

 

[Minimor]

okay, I put the link back in--my post isn't the same as the original one, but the info is there.

I've been seeing a few double posts since I did this one, so I guess I'm not the only one having problems. It's just that kind of day I guess! :lol:

 

[tracyCCF]

I would like to know where this topic is, if someone can direct me there. I show padded performance horses ( I have 6 right now) and would love to see this. I for one, will attest that there are SOME who are not sored.

 

[mininik]

I just bumped the thread I started about Big Lick TWHs. It was called "Amazing GAITS" and sparked quite a bit of controversy. It'd be great if you'd post your thoughts...

 

[tracyCCF]

I will, I ll go read it now. I would even post my horses, but I for the life of me, cannot post pictures. Call me computer illiterate where this forum is concerned. I always end up with red x s

 

[RENMACMINIS]

Tracy I am with you I have 2 TWH's and my dearest most closest friend in the world and her husband have a training and showing barn in Virginia. I can attest that not all people sore their horses to get them to hit those gaits. I visit them regulary and help them in the barn.. thats where I go to take mini vacations from the hubby and kids. I have rode every single horse in the barn and NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM are sored. The only thing that they use are the wooden beads around the front feet to get them to lift more. They have padded and plantation horses in their barn. I have also met several breeders, trainers, owners of TWH's that do not have anything to do with Soring. I have also met several trainers that do sore. And trust me they have heard my feelings spoken loud and clear on the way they treat those horses. Yes at most shows I have been to when the goverment inspectors show up you see more than half the horses leave b/c they know they are going to get busted for soring. I will also say this that if you are a trainer and you dont sore and you arent afraid to speak out against others who use that practice you will be shunned by the ones who believe in soring. You will also not place so well at shows b/c of you doing so. I have seen this first hand at many shows my friends attend. I think it is a sad pathetic life that the trainers and owners lead when they let the almight blue ribbon come before the well being of a horse.

 

[tracyCCF]

I posted on the other forum too, but i will say this, not all the trailers pulling out are truly because their horses are sore. The trainers hate being singled out as a breed, and they have a coalition (sorta ) that says when the government shows, they dont. trying to send a message. I always show when the government is there, i dont mind, as I work for them.

 

[whitney]

My 2 cents

We ALL have a choice.

In every breed of horse there are those that violate the RIGHT to own them.

I find the MOST fault in the shows that promote cruel behavior, or turn a blind eye and REFUSE to police their own exhibitors. In my mind it's the same as child abuse. SHAME on them.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

How can trainers condone the people who are being cruel??

I'm sorry but if you condone an action, you are guilty of it.

By not supporting the governments attempts to level the playing field, which would surely go in their favour, they are supporting the cruel actions of the other trainers.

They should be proud of their stand, and rightly so, not keeping a foot in each camp.

P{perhaps the USDA should require the showground gates be shut half an hour before they arrive- that would set the cat among the pigeons.

If you cannot police your own people you just have to stand back and allow someone else to do it for you, I am afraid.

 

[Margo_C-T]

I have never seen a 'big lick' Walker in the flesh, and never wish to-but will say that all of the photos and videos I have seen of them made me ill.

I am not here to argue with those who say they don't sore( and I am sure, there ARE some few who don't)--I do find the explanation about the trainers who pull out when the government pulls in very ironic...they 'resent' being 'singled out' as a breed?? What's shameful is that they HAD TO BE singled out, because the abuses and cruelty were SO BLATANT in their breed showing!! Before anyone else jumps in to say that abuses and often cruelty almost certainly happen , in some way, in ALL breeds-especially relative to the show ring--I will say that I KNOW, and I AGREE WITH, that allegation...however, the fact that someone else is doing something wrong does NOT make what 'YOU'(editorial "you"-not directed at anyone here) are doing wrong OK, does it????

Apparently, there is often 'supposed to be' self-regulation with the showing of 'big lick' Walkers--from everything I have read, this is frequently not very effective, to put it kindly. As little use as I have for most of the activities and beliefs of PETA, I often wonder why we NEVER hear about them protesting at 'certain' breed horse shows.

My neighbor owns Walkers--shoes them himself with what is called a "lite"shoe( he's not particularly good at it, and the "lite" is still a heavier shoe than I would use on anything I ride), but the horses are beloved and well-cared-for, and seem to do OK in flat work--and by and large, it is clear that they are basically a kind and gentle-natured breed. They are BRED to be a comfortable, and ground-covering ride--one wonders, why that wouldn't be enough,for every afficianado of the breed?

(To those of you who ride flat, and lite shod, kudos! If 'padded' means those built-up layers with a shoe on the bottom and a hoof on top,with a metal band to hold it all on--all I can say is, I wouldn't do that to a horse-with or without the added effects of the blistering and other agents of pain- I have seen what the hooves of a Walker who'd been wearing all of that look like, and they weren't healthy...that's all I'll say about it, at least on here.)

Sidebar,for you QH people of long standing--I had on occasion wondered about the name of a son of the great QH, "Leo"--the offspring's name was "Croton Oil". Now I know that croton oil is one of the blistering agents used on gaited breeds....made me wonder what the reason was behind naming a QH that way?

Whitney has it right....