New to HHT forum...
Hello, I just found the HHT web page through another message board. Glad to be here and hope to meet lots of fine folk! I live in Huntingdon and have worked closely with the town, county and Dr. Butler with small animal and horse rescue for quite some time. I probably know some of you from somewhere else... I'm looking to help HHT if at all possible, though I think I'm a bit far to do much. Looking forward to talking with all of you! mom2bbjandag

Welcome! Glad to have you here. Do you have any equine? If so, any pics of your equines? We LOVE pics! Stephanie

Welcome! I think you came over from the Yuku board, right?

Hi Katy, I did. Thought I recognized your name too! I'm spending waaay too much time on the computer! I'll try to get pics on... I'm not smart with computer stuff and will have to find time to figure it out.

Welcome! Dr. Butler was the best EVER!!!! Any friend of his is a friend of mine!

HAY there! I'm new as well
My name is Penny and I belong to a group called One Horse at a Time. We've been looking for like-minded people to network with. Happy to be here.

Hi, my name is Gale, I am also a member of One Horse At a Time. Glad to have found you.

Welcome ladies! Nice to have you with us!

Thanks Double V - both Gale and I, in addition to working on our own rescue group, have a passion for TWH - I own one (mr. Midnight is what I call him! LOL!) we currently have a petition going to end soring and plan a big letter writing campaign. Was wondering what HHT's stance on that was?

ooooo boy don't get me started on soring! i live in an area where the "big lick" is the most sought after gait. i would rather have a barefoot or flatshod, non-sored gait anyday! i can't stand to go to the shows and see those poor horses barely able to stand wearing pads and chains! ok so you got me started, i gotta stop before i go on all day about it... glad to see y'all helping horses in need! welcome to our forum.

We own (are owned by) four TWH's. Three were abused and one, even though he was a flat shod RWGC, was labled as "too old" when we got him... he was 18! lol As for my stand on soring and padding and everything that goes along with it.... wanna see my TWH t-shirt that says "Natures Glide Ride! Go Natural or GO HOME!" ??? Our youngest was sored before we got him and the mare I lost last year due to choke had been severely sored to the tune of pulling 3" galvanized nails out of the soles of her feet!! Pride and Gunner (a HHT rescue) were both starved but as far as we can tell never physically abused. Why anyone who professes to be a "horse person" could do this to thier animals is quite beyond me. And how anyone could think that a healthy 18 year old horse is "used up" is also beyond me but I'm very glad they thought so! Several people here on the board have rode or been on rides with Blazer and they can tell you he's a been there, done that kind of horse that's still young enough to do it all again! lol Here are some pictures of my soul mate Gunner aka He's A Smokin' Gun, he was a HHT rescue that we fostered and then adopted.... FORGOTTEN.... UNFORGETTABLE!!!! Over 16hands of unforgettable at that! lol Heehee.... sorry, I take every available opportunity I can to show him off! :lol:

Soring
It's wonderful to have found this forum! Like I said - we've got a petition going can be found at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/533003783 It sounds like our two groups can really help each other. This is wonderful. We facilitate rescues - generally on a one on one basis - or by sponsoring a horse in a rescue facility. Bossmare - the link you gave me earlier to your position on soring - is that the main website where I can find STERN? learning my way here. As for our campaign against soring - we've got the petition going - the next phase is a letter writing campaign, including letters to the editor, etc. FOSH has agreed to post our petition on their site - and many of their members have signed it. We've also hooked up with the author of making the gait, and the owner of silver phoenix ranch (Andrea) who has great informational resources. This practice has to stop. The biggest impediment I see at the moment - is raising public awareness - Racing was put in the spotlight with the tragic death of Eight Belles - tragic but unfortunately what was needed to let the public know about the real truth of the racing world. After public awareness - there needs to be more venues where one can showcase their sound, un-sored, un-padded horses. THere is only ONE venue in the entire state of Kentucky - the new 3-phase event. There are tons of shows, but as you probably know, the KWHA hasn't signed onto the las-*test*-('") operating plan SOOO there is no way I would even take my horse to one of their shows. sorry - stepping off of my soapbox Again - it is a blessing to have found this group - I may not post often here - (busy getting our organization off and running) but nonetheless - I'm happy to have found you. I think there is a real opportunity to work together on critical issues.

White Paper by the AEP
Did you guys see the White Paper published today by the AEP? (Association of Equine Practicioners)? They came out strongly against soring and had a very detailed plan about how to end it - including getting rid of the industry-sponsored DQPs and suggested that independent vets conduct the inspections.

Here is my hope for Tennessee. Go to page 20. http://www.ourcoop.com/include/images/cooperator/88cooperator.pdf