"A future without soring" is the theme of the Fourth Sound Horse Conference, being held on March 29 in Brentwood, TN. Soring is the illegal and cruel practice of using chemical and mechanical methods to create pain in a gaited show horse’s front feet to exaggerate their animated step, most prevalent in show Tennessee Walking Horses.
The purpose of the 2014 Sound Horse Conference is to demonstrate the positive future of the Tennessee Walking Horse when soring becomes a thing of the past. The Conference encourages actions and educates stakeholders and the public on the issues surrounding the efforts to end soring. Information is presented by veterinarians, clinicians, government enforcement leaders, professors, humane association professionals, and individual equine volunteers.
The Sound Horse Conference kicks off on Friday, March 28, with a social hour mixer. Saturday, March 29 provides a full day of panel discussions, with a range of topics which include Competing with Tennessee Walking Horses, Rescuing the Tennessee Walking Horse, Making a Living with Walking Horses, Current Issues with Pressure Soring and more. Sunday will provide an opportunity to watch an exhibit of rescued Tennessee Walking Horses available for adoption from Horse Haven, another exhibit by the Nashville Mounted Patrol on several donated Walking Horses, and foundational clinic basics on maximizing a Tennessee Walking Horse's gait.
Sponsors include FOSH (Friends of Sound Horses), HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), AHPA (American Horse Protection Association), AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), the Parelli Education Institute, NWHA (National Walking Horse Association) and individual sponsors Frank Neal and David Pruett. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
Pre-registration for the Sound Horse Conference is $145, and includes the kick-off social hour mixer, coffee, waters, and lunch during Saturday, a group dinner Saturday evening, and the Sunday demonstrations and presentations. Space is limited. To register, please visit www.soundhorseconference.com . For further questions, call conference organizer Lori Northrup at 716-474-7580.
FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and actively fights against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH, the only national organization that represents multiple gaited breeds, or to become a member and help FOSH in the battle against soring, see www.fosh.info .