Wow! It’s only Tuesday and we’ve already had a bounty of drama! Seems we have the asstards of the PSA contingent on the run as they have now gone to ground and hid. Have no worries though, we have endless fodder stored up and my tentacles continue to reach far and wide. We are business as usual and can devote more time to the real issues now that the HFA buffoonery has been silenced. Not sure about y’all but I’m putting this one in the victory column and directly attributing it to them not liking the view in the mirror we keep holding up for them. I’ve been busier than anybody should ever have to be lately, and my connection is a bit dicey for the next few days, so please bear with me. Sadly, the PSAs never take a break and I may have to write several chapters to Point and Laugh Friday if the first few days of this week are any indication. Today, I want to talk about some articles they use to prop up their stance on slaughter. I’m sure you’ll be as confused as I am as to how they think they help them out, but we’ll discuss them anyhow, because that’s what we do best!
Mindy `Puppymill’ Patterson
Today’s lunacy is brought to you mostly by Slaughterhouse Sue’s favorite foot soldier. The one and only, Mindy `Puppymill’ Patterson, clueless leader of the Cavalry Group and tireless advocate for animal cruelty in Missouri and beyond. She has taken a page out of Ole Suey’s `Rallying Your Dwindling Supporters’ handbook and gone into a frenzy of linking up articles to inspire and motivate the three remaining members of the United Horsemen. The first article we are going to look at today is about the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration being held in Shelbyville this week. It is the biggest event of the year for the TWHA and I’m going to tell you right now that Puppymill is `shocked and horrified’. It appears that after irrefutable evidence of soaring and other brutality used on the Big Lick horses, that the TWHA has finally decided to become pro-active and have implemented their toughest testing in the 74 year history of this event. They are also practicing transparency by posting the results of their testing online within 24 hrs. (http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120822/NEWS01/120822011?fb_action_ids=3608637094717&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366) I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I don’t see a lot negative in this link. It looks to me that this breed is finally trying to clean up its act and do right by the horses they identify themselves with. Not so fast……according to Puppymill, it’s all a great big conspiracy by the HSUS and USDA….
“The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has been wrongfully vilified by HSUS and USDA because of the bad actors. I attended the opening day of The Celebration in Shelbyville, TN last week and was shocked and horrified as I witnessed first hand how HSUS and USDA have successfully diminished this national annual event. I’m saddened by the low participation and low attendance because the participants are simply afraid to show up. HSUS has gone after the TWHA because they are considered to be the “easy target” or, in my opinion, the gateway to destroy other horse events! We all had better be prepared to defend the TWHA because they will be coming for all other horse events next!”
– Where to start? If you read the linked article, it clearly states they are expecting 200,000 spectators by the end of this week. That sounds pretty strong to me, but I suppose the fact that most people will show up for the championship and big classes held at the end of the week is lost on Puppymill. I guess she couldn’t scream `diminished’ had she bothered to show up later in the week. Also, I belong to an industry that has come under heavy scrutiny due to some public asshattery by the minority. As a result we have detention barns and very strict testing procedures. You know what? If you aren’t a cheater, you embrace that sort of thing because it doesn’t change how you do business and it might weed out the bad apples. It tends to level the playing field and the real horsemen will rise to the top. If you aren’t cheating, you have no worries and you aren’t afraid to show up. The TWHA is an `easy target’ because of their inability or refusal to police itself. The atrocities committed against the Big Lick horses disgust the general public and are completely barbaric. It’s been the worst kept secret in the horse industry for years, but with the internet, social media and people being more conscious of these things, it is not acceptable on any level any longer. I guess if you’re a PSA the answer to all this is to just slaughter horses and shut up about the abuse. Just to reiterate, Puppymill is `shocked and horrified’ and blaming the HSUS and USDA for all of this.
Ok, let’s move onto another concern that Puppymill Patterson has. She linked this article about how we all may be forced to be vegetarians by the year 2050. (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/vegetarian-2050-190426669.html). I’m not sure about the rest of y’all, but I think by the year 2050 I’ll mostly be eating soft food if I’m even kicking around at all so I probably won’t care. At any rate, the article talks about drought conditions and the estimated water shortage not being able to support the estimated 9 billion people’s eating habits by that year and that raising animals for food will take up 5 to 10 times more water than raising the crops for a vegetarian based diet. Nowhere in this article does it mention horses. However, Puppymill’s comment upon linking this article was: “Doom & gloom. And more proof we need U.S. horse slaughter now.” Go ahead and read what she said three more times and it still won’t make one lick of sense. Of course, the UH half wits are on the same wavelength, so they get it….
“The article is a good point to start several discussions. 1. Is it really inevitable that the world population will reach 9 billion? i’m happy with 7. In fact, I thought we had enough at 6 billion. Maybe we need to start figuring out what it takes to stabilize the increase in population instead of killing time worrying about how to feed all. 2. I think there is currently enough food production to feed everyone. The problem is the food and people are not in workable proximity to met nutrional needs. The same goes for water. Maybe we should devote efforts to proper distribution of humanity rather than throwing resources at feeding people in food scarce locales. 3. The artilce doesn’t seem to consider that water is a naturally reused resource. 4. The article makes no mention of increaseing water use efficiency.”
– I sincerely hope this person is not serious in what they are suggesting…..
“the article also doesn’t cover the fact that hsus and peta are doing all they can to ensure that this is the case by doing away with farming”
– HUH????
Guess what? She wasn’t finished yet! There was an article about the slaughter plants they are trying to open which I’ll cover in more detail in the next few days. It pretty much deserves its own treatment. There was also this little petition Puppymill wants everybody to sign because she is going to Washington DC in a couple of weeks and wants to present it. (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/investigate-usda-aphis-and-stop-proposed-rule-to-regula.html) It has an entire 2600 signatures on it so I’m sure the boys in Washington will take it very seriously. Hell, Mendy Tobiano and her multiple personalities may account for a third of them for all we know. Basically it’s a move to halt the proposed rule to regulate pet sellers and that shouldn’t surprise any of us that know that Mindy is a huge puppymill supporter and one of the PSAs that think any sort of regulation or law in place to make sure animals are handled humanely infringe on her God-given right to be an asstard. I sure wish I could be a fly on the wall when this little band of animal abusers take their cause to DC. I always enjoy comedy.
The UH’s Tour Van
So that’s a little sampling about what is going on in the PSA world this week. It’s been active for sure! That’s the good thing about silencing pockets of these people…..there are always more that are willing to step up to the plate. Still, we will methodically keep countering their propaganda with the truth and eventually more will just go away. You know, we have had a few venture over here with some questions. I don’t even mind that if it’s civil. Please look upon that as an opportunity to educate and maybe sway some opinions. While nobody likes to poke fun and tweak noses more than me, we are all here for a reason and can’t afford to lose focus just yet. Stay dry everybody!
Shedrow Confessions 
“The sky is falling, the shy is falling” says Mindy Patterson… Maybe we can scare up some support, if we panic the masses…. Are you kidding me? Please, all they are concerned about, is preserving their way of “life” and their own rights to be abusive, and NOT be held accountable.. Most criminals don’t like cops either… Wonder why?
These people are l i k e from some kind of… “Third World Country” or something… One we don’t seem to know the name of, and appears to be a secret. Maybe it’s a membership thingy.. They must pump a few of these credences out, every other day or so.. ((( Head to table, head to table.. ))). “Stupid is good”.. easier to defeat them with their own crap!!! 🙂
I almost couldn’t believe what I was reading today…
Glad to see Ms Patterson and her “Calvary Group” get some face time. Her comments regarding the TWHA crackdown, while appalling, are hardly surprising considering the source. The ‘Calvary Group’ is a lobby organization dedicated to opposing even the most modest of animal welfare reforms or legislation. It’s no surprise that the “flowchart” provided on their website is from Olson-Frank-Weeda, home of Chuck Stenholm, lobbyist for the foreign horsemeat industry.
Their sole purpose is to serve as a front group to protect puppymills, unregulated exotic animal ownership, the horsemeat industry, and the most egregious animal farming methods whether it’s battery cages for hens, veal crates, or gestation cages for sows; all while trying to appear mainstream, using the purposefully deceptive argument of “property rights” and predicting the apocalyptic “end of all animal agriculture” as the result of any animal welfare legislation.
I can’t type, because I laughed ’til I cried and maybe tinkled a little bit.. all right for an old woman.. Absurdity, and stupidity! Does she truly believe that taking the opposite side from any thoughtful individual or the HSUS and USDA,will really influence people. she may lose the 3 that she still has. Maybe just put a banner at the top of her BLOG! IF NOT FOR SORING, NO BIG LICK! Sorry: Piece of SHit/Stupid Animal Haters. so that’s my PSSA name for them.
yes horse parts has either gone underground or been disbanded depending on who you ask. some bunker mentality going on there,i suspect they cant stay silent for too long…why do PSAs think there is some HSUS/PETA/vegan/AR/ treehugger conspiracy trying to take away people’s rights to abuse / kill animals?
This is one of those people on the PSA side I just can’t seem to find any common ground with…and it just adds to my confusion honestly. I cannot take a stand on one side or the other because I seem to find more asshats like her than the good, honest, willing to inform folks. Well, I guess I just keep wading through information until I feel like I can make a responsible, well informed choice. Thanks SRC.
Rachel ~ These people make no sense becaise they have to lie and spin because no one would support their real agenda of no regulation on how animals may be treated.
You want info. Here it is – again….
EU regs: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/residues/docs/requirements_non_eu.pdf
General
White Paper – Eliminating Horse Slaughter: https://www.box.com/s/67a22403323dd820a2cc
Help For Horse Owners: https://www.box.com/s/27babf26b88b21f042da
Abandoned Horses Final: http://www.box.com/s/sn881xn6m3ukb5t3ks4k
The Great Disinformation Campaign: http://www.box.net/shared/pavcpk4hms5n08nk7j55
Poll: Final: http://www.box.com/s/qu4kg98ytilrp0zpij18
Research Confirms Opposition To Horse Slaughter: http://www.box.com/s/g9s6xfaay8amt0o0m6nh
Bazaar Know The Facts Campaign: http://www.box.com/s/52e553eb4baf1c3b4b04
Detecting Bute Residue: http://www.box.com/s/171cf01f320611effb73
EWA Calls Wallis on Bogus Bute Comments on Facebook: http://www.box.com/s/u11mb9n4dbh74asj6o3r
Wallis’ Frequently Asked Questions With Real Answers From EWA: http://www.box.com/s/b6305d65467f0e122c38
Mt Grove Town Council Rejects Horse Slaughter Plant: http://www.box.com/s/87hjng23y08o4crsk9kc
MO Death Threats: http://www.box.com/s/i4csj78ir3jre7kzzako
HSUS Letter To USDA Per Legal Issues: http://www.box.com/s/0r9fhgettgs8voytjkq1
MacPherson Law Center to Attorney Dan Erdel: http://www.box.com/s/8390d499424abbcc7e97
The Art of Deception: https://www.box.com/s/6e0db12dd66f83b093f1
Study Shows No Increase In Abuse And Neglect Cases Since Closing of Horse Slaughter Plants: https://www.box.com/shared/5bylj7kuub
Cruelty
Captive bolt study: http://www.box.net/shared/3jbna7fyga
Double Deckers And Horses: http://www.box.net/shared/5dkjmqnddd
From Pasture To Plate FORBES: http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2011/12/06/horse-slaughterhouse-investigation-sounds-food-safety-and-cruelty-alarms/
Dodman Report: http://www.box.com/s/l6i1nid7ffjrktligft8
Investigation Underscored USDA Documented Cruelty: http://www.box.net/shared/mn0i4jxilbgf479oy74l
A Look At The Horrors of Horse Slaughter: http://www.box.net/shared/p488uvqx7yss5q66zlus
Dr. Patricia Hogan to Congress: http://www.box.net/shared/oiv127djm2
Evidence: http://www.box.net/shared/ln4878ge4r
Horse Rescue Alternatives to Slaughter: http://www.box.net/shared/qkcncvn3ndijs1yxg10l
White Paper on Slaughter Alternatives: http://www.box.com/s/67a22403323dd820a2cc
Proposed Slaughter Facility: http://www.box.com/s/c2905d3a52db985753fe
From Pasture To Plate: http://www.box.com/s/gxu409snh6846pgm6ab3
Toxicology
Food And Toxicology Report: http://www.box.net/shared/lqi4hhkg42
Bute And The Passport System: http://www.box.net/shared/ln3qh88kz42avo4ys1oa
Horse Meat Is Deadly To Humans: http://www.box.net/shared/smhn2fmdeb
Why The Issue With Bute: http://www.box.com/s/e1ae613e90cc9ebbef6e
An HSUS Report: Food Safety Risks Associated With U.S. Horse Slaughter: https://www.box.com/s/0f774651812b16fa10a8
Horse Passports And Why You Need Them And What They Contain: https://www.box.com/s/c26dc21083d75ce42223
AAHS Horse Slaughter Truth – Deception: http://www.box.com/s/6iefybkhnq8964qzctfz
Dodman Report: http://www.box.com/s/l6i1nid7ffjrktligft8
EU Food & Veterinary Office Report on Slaughter Plant Inspection: http://www.box.net/shared/vakp0ly3ta8kdxmip2jt
FVO Inspection of Mexican Plant OFFICIAL: https://www.box.com/s/bgsda62zd15xh4r8bs27
FVO Inspection Report Canada: https://www.box.com/s/horrns3xsr50th1f0dct
Canadian Response To FVO Inspections: http://www.box.com/s/aos488pdftk07bnvxmzf
Former Mayor of Kaufman, TX, Home of Dallas Crown: http://www.box.net/shared/7bfkrn9u6s
EU Rules Final: http://www.box.net/shared/nqa43gkco6
The True Unintended Consequences of Horse Slaughter: http://www.box.net/shared/qtk3eyxrqlgoh3gs38fs
Environmental
Letter from Kaufman ex-Mayor, Paula Bacon: http://www.box.com/s/io01c9vhaj5pkur0ol7a
Letter from Paula Hooper Denman: http://www.box.com/s/e583k0gkqqc9nvfl32ky
This is only part if my personal collection of documents – I haven’t even uploaded new stuff yet. These are pdf docs you may download if you so desire – or, you can read them online. They are public and I wish everyone would share them with anyone they wish.
There is also a world of iron-clad documentation at http://kaufmanzoning.net. EVERYONE who truly wishes to learn the truth needs to visit this site. Kaufman, Texas was the site of one of the two plants in Texas – Dallas Crown. At the time I and my horses were in Dallas where I was born and raised. Kaufman is about 30 miles away.
I was in Kaufman AND Dallas Crown in 1991. I was helping my friends in their frantic search to their horses that had been stolen right out of their stalls at our boarding stable. One was in the stall next to my horse, another across the barn isle and one down a few stalls. We were like family at this barn, and I will never, EVER forget the shock, terror and grief we all felt. These horses were beloved pets, just like my own beloved DJ who just as easily have been taken too.
Even after all these years I HATE posting about this. I hate THINKING about it. It’s very painful, but I suck it up and continue because I want people to KNOW what horse slaughter really is, always has been and always will be.
Personal? OH yeah.
Shedrow, once again you are right on the mark. I have attended local TWH shows and was appalled at the blatant wrongness of it all. The shows HAD to be rigged! At one show, there was a beautiful black horse ridden flatshod who was the crowd pleaser. Everyone went wild over that horse. You could tell he was very well trained. And he enjoyed strutting his stuff. But did he win? No, some old doctor from Texas took home all the trophies. His horse wasn’t NEARLY as high stepping as this black guy was. I couldn’t figure it out. And I noticed that ONLY the biglick horses were allowed to win the bigger prizes. I never went back to any TWH shows. So…if they want to call foul and blame the HSUS or PETA or whoever they can, they all just have their heads stuck up their rear ends. This is another beautiful thing that mankind has F’d up. What is wrong with letting them go natural? Some of those horses seem to just float across the show ring in their natural gait Anyway, THEY did all that to themselves. By being so damn corrupt. WHY can’t they understand that?
The thing that escapes Pattersons attention is: CONSUMERS want to see changes/improvements in the farming/breeding/rodeo/shows/AG & Pet industries , with a computer in virtually every household, everyday more & more consumers become aware of issues that need to be addressed/corrected/regulated across the board..ppl like her completely miss the writing on the wall..vegans don’t become vegans due to any animal welfare group..they become vegans once they see the truths of industrial food production in this country and see the disregard ppl like Her have for not only the animals but consumer concerns as well..they are as usual shooting themselves in the foot, and to obtuse to even notice.
I also don’t understand what’s so bad about becoming vegan/vegetarian by 2050 if it saves water. That’s a no brainer. Suck up more of the earth’s resources so I can get my meat fix? That’s right selfish. It’s not like you should eat meat three times a day, everyday. That much meat is bad for you!! And how is any of this related to horse slaughter, Ms. Puppymill person? We need to throw another source of meat into the food chain? How about some of those puppies that are overbred at the puppy mills you defend? Maybe we should gobble up a few thousand of those a year? That would drive up the price of dogs and we wouldn’t have as many starving dogs in this country. You just about can’t give a dog away, these days.
In the video Wild Horses and Renegades James Anaquad outed several PSA’s. It was of their own doing. Open mouth insert foot, ankle and leg…that’s how bad it was.
I’ll probably be giving away my age, but I remember the first horse show I ever attended while in my teens and the Tennessee Walkers were not sored, only wore light ankle chains, maybe one or two had front boots. And they were beautiful and performed awesomely. I later learned to ride on walking horses and gaited horses and over the years, have boarded my horses at TWH show barns.I witnessed firsthand these horses being subjected to caustic chemicals applied to their ankles and pasterns and the grotesque pads and shoes they had to wear to give them the “big lick” that the crowd loved at the shows. When the horses got a whiff of the stuff before it was applied they would roll their eyes and snort and try to dance away from the trainer. I even attended the Celebration back in the early 70’s and believe me it is one hellishly huge chaotic carnival. Remember trainers riding their sored horses up the ramp into horse vans or hiding in out of the way stalls to avoid the Federal investigators that randomly scoured the grounds for violators.That is a part of my history with horses that I am not proud of. because I watched and did nothing. Now I applaud the HSUS for placing a billboard across from the Celebration entrance which is lworded both in English and Spanish offering $10,000 reward for info on horses being sored. That may account for some of the low turnout this year. Whatever it takes to put an end to the “Big Lick” and the ruthless, inhumane trainers and handlers of this wonderful, long-suffering breed!
I agree with you. TN Walkers are really nice horses. It’s an absolute crime what greed has done to that breed and public perception. I just cannot fathom how anyone can look at cleaning up the cheating as a bad thing. That video that was floating around a few months ago with that trainer stock prodding and soring his horses just broke my heart. Why do so many PSAs want to defend such cruelty? Clearly they do not have the animal’s welfare at heart.
They used to break their tails, too, Deanna. I remember a barn that had an old tail setting device. They would break the dock rendering the horse’s tail useless, then it was set in an unnaturally high position to look fashionable. I think this was banned in the 50’s or 60’s. I guess they felt like they should be able to continue with other abuses?
Remember that sappy organ music they used play at Tennessee Walking Horse shows? I loved horses but I knew this was a bizarre and grotesque world, even as a kid.
I think they still play that music actually LOL
Dorothy, I am sure there was some actual breaking of tails, either intentionally or as a result of tail-cutting gone wrong. The procedure I am familiar with is the operation of cutting the ligaments along each side of the tail before it attaches to the croup or rump, if you will. This renders the tail flexible so it can be put in a tail set harness which keeps the tail up…….result of trying to make the show horse appear to have a high tail which is exhibited naturally by horses when they are alarmed or gaily prancing or galloping around a field. I am amazed at how much I have evolved in the past 40 or 50 years….. I actually used to ride and show these horses and embrace the culture and yes, even the sappy organ music.
My mom took me to a TWH show when I was about 4 or 5 yrs old. All I remember, is that the horses had a wild-eyed look, as if they were frightened. They had some kind of tail things to hold the tails up in an unnatural position, abnormal looking shoes and tack. Someone told my mom it was for training purposes. What struck me even then, was how miserable the horses looked. I felt sorry for them. My mom didn’t say anything but I think it was disturbing for her too, she was very sensitive about animals.
I have never been able to understand the appeal of the “Big Lick”. My first horse, a black Tennessee Walker mare, was a wonderfully sweet horse with a smooth-as-silk gait. Isn’t that supposed to be the appeal of the TWH? Good tempered and smooth gaited? The “Big Lick” looks grotesque, and clearly is not natural to any horse. I don’t get it…
First time I saw a Big Lick horse canter, i thought he had broken a leg or something was horribly wrong. I guess it is not unlike what happened to QHs as far as the WP horses. Way back when, they used to be very natural looking in the show ring with their big butts, pulled tails to enhance that appearance and they and they all showed with natural headsets on a loose rein. Now look at them. All tall and lanky, many looking more like TBs, dragging their noses on the ground and shuffling around the ring. Somewhere along the way people decide to exaggerate a good thing and you end up with the abuse and cruelty in the ring. I don’t get it either….there is nothing beautiful about it.
I have a TW/draft cross, and I was looking at videos on-line trying to understand the different gaits of gaited horses. I came across a video of a big-lick horse cantering – it was grotesque and freakish. I don’t understand how anyone could find something so unnatural for the horse attractive in any way. Much less inflict cruel training methods on a horse in order to achieve it.
The PSAs ought to realize that they lose a lot of credibility when they attempt to defend abusive practices. But it just goes to show. that they really are not concerned with horse welfare, at all.
The first horse I ever rode all by myself was a Tennessee Walker, a big strawberry roan named Big Red. He was not a show horse, just a family guy with a naturally smooth gait. My Father was leading me around the paddock and I raised my heals up and brought them down hard on Red’s sides. He cantered around the pen once and then stopped. Everybody was mortified and running after “the baby”. I sat up there and just laughed and laughed. I was four years old and that’s still one of the best rides I’ve ever had.
Sounds like my story too, Dorothy! I was on a big walker, just a trail horse, named Firecracker, who was as sweet as the day was long. Shame what they do to these amazingly sweet horses. I guess it’s the bully mentality kicking into gear since the horse is so gentle. Makes for a great mental case when they’re done.