TWH industry mourns Mona Dean
Mona Faye Horton Dean, 88, of Lizard Lick, passed away November 28, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 28, 1936, in Wake County to the late Earl Horton and Pearl Johnson Horton. Mona was a lifelong resident of Wendell and a proud graduate of Wakelon High School in Zebulon. She furthered her education by earning a bachelor’s degree from Meredith College, a testament to her dedication to both learning and her community.
Mona loved the town of Wendell and all it had to offer. She became an active member of the Wendell Garden Club, where she found joy in nature and working alongside friends. Mona’s deep appreciation for local history led her to become a devoted sponsor of the Wendell History Museum.
In her professional life, Mona worked alongside her husband at C. Proc Dean Inc. and Wendell Transport, where they made significant contributions to the local economy and community.
Mona had a lifelong love for Tennessee Walking Horses, a passion she devoted much of her time to. She was a proud member of the North Carolina Walking Horse Association and was known for her skill and dedication in the show ring. Throughout her career, Mona was the proud owner of several world champion horses, including two world-grand champion horses.
Mona is survived by her son, Carl Proctor Dean II (Amy); grandchildren, Jordan Elizabeth Dean and Carl Proctor Dean III (Alexis); great-granddaughter, Graycen Louelle Dean; sisters-in-law, Janet Sassnet and Peggy Dean; nieces and nephews, Earl Oliver Horton III (Nela), Griselda Goodwin (Neal), Bonita Arvizu (Henry), Leigh Tetterton (Bobby), Paul Sassnet (Marcy), and Pam Gambill (Arnold); and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Proc Dean, and her brother, Oliver Horton.
A visitation will be held from 12:45-1:45 pm, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Wendell United Methodist Church, 129 N Main St, Wendell, NC 27591, with a funeral service starting at 2:00 pm. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery, 536 W Academy St, Wendell, NC 27591, immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wendell United Methodist Church, 129 N Main St, Wendell, NC 27591 or to the NC Walking Horse Association Scholarship Fund (NCWHA), 213 Lindsay Creed Lane, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.
Tennessee Delegation Members lead letter with Rep. Rose to USDA defending Tennessee Walking Horse Industry Friday, August 9, 2024
Tennessee Delegation Members lead letter with Rep. Rose to USDA defending Tennessee Walking Horse Industry
Friday, August 9, 2024
U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) and six other Members of Congress, five from the Tennessee Delegation, led a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlining serious concerns about USDA Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) inspections and violation reports from recent Tennessee Walking Horse shows.
Representative Rose, who has spearheaded the defense of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry in Congress, urged USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Michael Watson to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams in the letter.
U.S. Rep. John Rose released the following statement:
“Despite attempts by USDA to decimate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and those that depend on it, they will not go down without a fight,” said Rep. Rose. “The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry is rooted in tradition and strives to uphold the sensible and reasonable regulations in the Horse Protection Act. The industry condemns bad actors who are tarnishing its reputation. However, USDA is overstepping its boundaries and must reconsider the science behind horse inspections and VMOs’ authority and allow the Tennessee Waking Horse Industry the ability to continue to thrive.”
Read an excerpt from the letter here:
“Since the first notable Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1939, the Walking Horse industry has evolved and has embraced the provisions established in the HPA. Tennessee Walking Horse shows are the most regulated equestrian events across the U.S. Each animal exhibited is thoroughly inspected by a USDA-approved Designated Qualified Person (DQP) or Horse Industry Organization (HIO) representative or APHIS VMO prior to competing.
“The Tennessee Walking Horse and National Celebration event are vital contributors to the U.S. job market and economy. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry provides approximately 20,000 jobs to the market and has a nearly $3.2 billion economic impact. Walking Horses reside in all 50 states, and shows are held across the U.S. annually. The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is the largest Walking Horse show globally, hosting roughly 100,000 fans from more than 40 states annually over eleven days in Shelbyville, TN. With over 1,300 animals expected, the late August event is a widely respected national show with nearly a century of deep-rooted traditions.
“As we approach the historic Celebration, breeders, trainers, exhibitors, and supporters are threatened by erroneous inspections. Compliance, safety, and wellness are integral to the traditions and standards upheld by the Walking Horse industry. However, outlier inspectors are using aggressively subjective measures of inspection and disqualifying compliant horses. We urge you to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams. Thank you for your immediate consideration of this important issue.”
Read the full letter here.
The letter was also led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Andy Ogles (TN-05), and Mark Green (TN-06). Rep. Harold Rogers (KY-05) also signed the letter.
Background:
The Horse Protection Act (HPA) was enacted in 1970 to outlaw the practice of “soring” horses. Despite being illegal for over 50 years, a very small, limited number of individuals still engage in soring, leading an overly ambitious USDA to establish stricter regulations for the compliant majority. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has embraced HPA provisions, and the shows are among the most heavily regulated equestrian events in the United States, with thorough inspections before and after competitions.
In March 2024 during the National Trainers’ Show, the USDA unexpectedly announced plans to change inspection tactics, which caused major confusion. Since then, two specific VMO inspectors, Kerry McHenry and Amy Adams, have issued a disproportionately high number of violations, disrupting standard protocols, leading Members to send this letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack and APHIS Administrator Watson.
U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee
Comer Calls on OIG to Initiate Review of USDA’s Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act
Comer Calls on OIG to Initiate Review of USDA’s Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act
Friday, August 9, 2024
Requests additional USDA documents and communications to better understand how the department has enforced the HPA
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is conducting oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and its promulgation of a final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments. Considering information obtained by the Oversight Committee and recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows, it appears the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has, at times, exceeded its HPA authority in inspections related to horse shows. In a letter to Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong, Chairman Comer requests the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the USDA’s policies and practices regarding implementation of the HPA and its impact on the horse show industry. In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, Chairman Comer seeks additional documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.
“According to information received by the Committee, USDA officials have in fact arbitrarily changed commonly accepted practices through e-mail updates mere hours before a competition, haphazardly disqualified horses based on inconsistent inspection methodology, and refused to engage with industry stakeholders in a context where there is no appeals process for USDA-disqualified horses. The Committee has also received allegations that USDA disqualified horses for a competition without basis and as retribution for a lawsuit filed against USDA by impacted stakeholders in the horse show industry. We ask that you undertake a review of any retaliatory actions taken against the horse show industry by USDA in response to critical observations of USDA’s stewardship of the HPA or its new final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments,” Chairman Comer wrote to Inspector General Fong.
Specifically, the Committee has received allegations that the Assistant Director of USDA’s APHIS, sent an e-mail to horse show representatives on new competition inspection requirements two hours prior to a competition without warning or prior notification of forthcoming guidance.
“USDA’s delegation of authority to APHIS to administer pre-and post-show horse inspections appears to have been used as retribution against horse owners’ and trainers’ efforts to exercise their legal rights and harmed their ability to earn a living,” Chairman Comer wrote to Secretary Vilsack. “The Committee has concerns regarding USDA’s compliance with the HPA in light of recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows. We write to request documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.”
Read the letter to USDA Inspector General Fong here.
Read the letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack here
TWH Industry mourns Tandy Darrell Warren
Mr. Tandy “Darrell” Warren, age 69, of Lewisburg, TN, passed away
with his loving family by his side on Monday, August 5, 2024. Darrell was
born in Columbia, TN on December 10, 1954, to the late Sammy Davis and
Christine Kincaid Warren. Darrell worked with Neely Coble for 41 years
as a mechanic, outside of work Darrell loved walking horses and spotted
horses.
Darrell is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Nancy Sinner Warren;
children, Carey (Chris) Hight, Gretchen (Grant) Forrest, David
(Gretchen) Curley, Richard (Wendy) Curley, John Curley, Jimbo
(Angela) Warren and Kevin (Shannon) Duvall; grandchildren, Lola
Forrest, Bryant (Abby) Pratt, Sarah Elizabeth Hight, Caroline Hight,Tabatha Curley, Paige Curley, Isabella-Grace Curley, Bernie Curley,Elizabeth Curley, Mary-Margaret Curley, Stacy Warren and Christopher“Beaver” Warren; great grandchildren, Emerson Pratt, KennedyCampbell and Hunter Warren; brother, Richard (Linda) Warren andnephew, Jason Warren. A Celebration of Life Service will be held later. In lieu of flowers, theWarren family would like memorial donations in Darrell’s memorymade to the American Cancer Foundation.LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATION SERVICES, Chapel Hill,TN in charge of arrangements, 931-364-2233.
Gilbert to judge TWHYA Summer Splash; Pre-enter most classes for free!
Gilbert to judge TWHYA Summer Splash; Pre-enter most classes for free
Monday, August 5, 2024
The Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association (TWHYA) is finalizing plans for their 6th Annual Summer Splash Youth & Halter Show this Saturday,, August 10, at Maury County Park in Columbia, Tennessee. Vickey Gilbert of Rogersville, Alabama will judge the 31-class program, which includes just about every class for youth exhibitors and halter horses one can imagine. New to this year’s schedule is a showmanship class for youth exhibitors. The Summer Splash is the primary fundraiser for the TWHYA and funds the majority of youth programs offered by TWHBEA. This year the show will also be a fundraiser for the Spring Hill FFA, who will be operating the concession stand.
To make the show as affordable as possible for youth exhibitors, and to incentivize exhibitors to make their entries early, entry fees for all classes (except Riders Cup) are free if entered before 5pm on Friday, August 9, 2024. Pre-entries can be made online, in-person at the TWHBEA office, or by emailing an entry form to jozburn@twhbea.com. More information about the show, including a link to enter online, downloadable entry form, and class schedule can be found at www.TWHBEA.com/splash. You can also call 931-359-1574 or email info@twhbea.com for more information.
2024 CELEBRATION ENTRIES BY CLASS
CLICK LINK BELOW AND DOWNLOAD PDF OF CELEBRATION CLASS ENTRIES.
Celebration success!!! Post over 2500 entries!
Celebration entries remain consistent
The 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held August 21st through August 31st and will once again host over 2.500 entries. The total number of pre-show entries was 2,536 matching the total from 2022, which was the first time in 12 years that the Celebration had topped 2,500 entries.
The total number of entries is 34 entries higher than last year and the total this year is a 25% increase just five years ago. “My goal the last two years has been to pass that 2,500 entries mark. We did it first in 2022 and that was the first time to get above 2,500 since 2012. I’m thrilled we are over 2,500 and that we surpassed the last two year’s numbers. I can’t thank our trainers, exhibitors, and owners enough for supporting our World Grand Championship show” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.
The Celebration added a late entry deadline this year for the first time. The late deadline was used by 28 entries in total, 13 of which were Maiden entries at the International last week. The Celebration previously announced that Maiden entries could use the late deadline with no penalty due to the fact that championship was not held until after the original Celebration deadline.
For more information on the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration visit www.TWHNC.com
Despite Pending Lawsuits, APHIS is hiring New HPIs
APHIS seeks equine professionals for inspector roles
July 31, 2024
One of the changes to Horse Protection Act (HPA) regulations earlier this year, in an effort to end horse soring, meant the elimination of industry self-regulation and the role of lay person inspectors at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.
Going forward, only U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspectors and independent non-APHIS–employed horse protection inspectors (HPIs) who are screened, trained, and authorized by APHIS will have inspection authority, beginning with the 2025 show season.
These third-party inspectors must be veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or state or local animal welfare officers; all must have equine knowledge and experience.
Updates to the Horse Protection Act remove the ability for horse industry organizations to train and license inspectors for horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will screen and train applicants, preferably veterinarians, to be horse protection inspectors.
“This puts the welfare of these competing horses in the best trained, knowledgeable, ethical, non-biased, and most qualified hands possible to conduct these important inspections,” said Keith Kleine, director of industry relations with the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Individuals interested in applying to become an HPI can complete an application on the APHIS website.
While HPIs may not conduct inspections until the new rule goes into effect February 1, 2025, APHIS began the HPI application process on June 7, so that training and authorization of HPIs can occur beforehand.
Currently, horse show managers can voluntarily hire USDA-trained lay inspectors, known as designated qualified persons (DQPs) as chosen by certain horse industry organizations (HIOs). APHIS also has its own veterinary medical officers (VMOs) who perform inspections at some venues.
“While APHIS attended only a fraction of the events at which DQPs were appointed to inspect horses, APHIS consistently reported much higher rates of noncompliance at these events based on its VMO inspection findings when compared to DQP findings. Moreover, virtually all noncompliances were found in padded horses competing in the Performance division,” according to the Federal Register notice. This is also backed up by APHIS inspection data from 2017-22.
Soring is the practice of applying a substance or mechanical device to a horse’s forelegs that will create enough pain that the horse will exaggerate its gait to relieve the discomfort. The resulting high-stepping running walk, or “big lick,” is rewarded by horse show judges, although showing a sored horse is illegal.
Tennessee Walking Horses commonly suffer from the practice of soring. Other gaited breeds, such as Racking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, and Missouri Fox-Trotters, may also suffer from soring.
“The gaited horse discipline(s) and the equine industry cannot afford the risks and costs of continued ineffective supervision and enforcement of the Horse Protection Act,” said Kleine. “The independent inspection process in the new rule should strengthen the competition at these shows and benefit the many owners and trainers who do right by their animals.”
This change is one of the recommendations from the 2021 National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus report regarding, “A Review of Methods for Detecting Soreness in Horses.”
Now, all regulatory requirements concerning DQPs and HIOs will be removed. APHIS will take on program administration, HPI training, and HPI disciplinary actions as needed for enforcing the Horse Protection Act.
Because horse protection inspectors are not USDA employees, they set their own rates and schedules. At an event, the HPI will, at a minimum, physically inspect every Tennessee Walking Horse and Racking Horse in each gaited class. They will also inspect the first-place finisher of each gaited class. Each HPI will follow APHIS procedures to detect and diagnose soring and the use of any prohibited substances or devices, according to the USDA.
HPI applicants must abide by a Code of Conduct that includes complying with USDA-related laws, regulations, and policies. Applicants must agree to document and report all noncompliances
USDA files Motion to Dismiss in Wright’s vs. USDA Monday, July 29, 2024
USDA files Motion to Dismiss in Wright’s vs. USDA
Monday, July 29, 2024
The United States Department of Agriculture filed a motion to dismiss on July 25, 2024 in the Michael, Casey and Josh Wright vs. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Administrator Michael Watson case.
The USDA argues the Wright’s lack Article III standing and thus the complaint should be dismissed. The USDA also argues several of the Wright’s claims are time-barred by the Administrative Procedures Act’s six-year statute of limitations. The answer by the Wright’s attorneys (Torridon Law Firm) is due within 28 days of the Motion to Dismiss and they will object to the USDA’s positions. The court will then decide next steps in the case.