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Whitfield (R-KY) Pushes Elimination of Walking Horse Industry and Risks Ethics Violation to Help Wife’s Employer

Shelbyville, TN – Today, the Performance Show Horse Association (PSHA) reacted to misleading and inaccurate testimony given by U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield yesterday to the Rules Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Whitfield was pushing to add an amendment to the Farm Bill that would destroy the walking horse industry, an industry that generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity each year and tens of millions of dollars to charities throughout the country. In addition, the Whitfield Amendment would add millions of dollars to the cost of the Farm Bill to taxpayers by forcing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to hire hundreds of new inspectors and other personnel.

Yesterday Whitfield told the Members of the Committee, during a discussion of proposed amendments to the farm bill, that the amendment would only change the industry’s self-inspection process. What Whitfield failed to tell his fellow Members of Congress is that:

The amendment eliminates a total division of the equine breed, impacting more than 10,000 horses that would be deemed no longer fit for their intended purpose;
Take from hard-working taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars of investments and income without cause or any scientific evidence;
Eliminates the Horse Protection Act’s self-regulation, which is far superior to that of the federal government and which does not need the hundreds of new federal employees required by Whitfield’s amendment;
Eliminates self-regulation that is far superior than that of the federal government whose services he wants to expand; and
Creates a federal bureaucracy that will result in a huge cost to taxpayers by increasing the agency’s budget in order to do the same thing that the industry does today at minimal cost to the taxpayers.

One other important fact Mr. Whitfield failed to tell his fellow Members is that he is sponsoring this amendment because his wife is a paid lobbyist for the Humane Society Legislative Fund, one of the main advocates for this amendment. This action by Mr. Whitfield would appear to be a violation of the House Code of Official Conduct and a violation of House Rule 25, Clause 7.

Congressman Ed Whitfield, a Republican from Kentucky, submitted his original amendment, H.R. 1518,that would remove the padded shoes and action devices from Tennessee Walking Horses as amendment #127 to H.R. 1947, known in this congress as the Farm Bill.

The Rules Committee held their lengthy meeting and selected over 100 amendments to ride with the Farm Bill, but Congressman Whitfield’s failed to be included.

Congressman Whitfield briefly addressed the committee, gave a short background of the Horse Protection Act, as written, and swiftly described the mechanics of his amendment. Unfortunately, Congressman Whitfield failed to explain the intent of the amendment, and told the committee his amendment merely called for the enforcement to be moved from the industry to trained professionals within the USDA, and to discontinue the self regulation.

WHOA will host the International Pleasure and Colt Grand Championships July 28th – August 3rd, 2013, at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The class sheet for the International will be posted this week along with the stall and camper space reservation forms.

Once again, the Pleasure and Colt International will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ And Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) World Versatility Show and National Futurity. The World Versatility Show is scheduled for July 25th – 27th and the National Futurity will be held the evening of July 28th.

Both shows will also be held at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum. Those wishing to reserve stalls and/or camper spaces for the World Versatility Show or National Futurity should contact the WHOA office at 615-494-8822.

Please visit www.walkinghorseowners.com to learn more about WHOA and its activities.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Beech and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wiley are very proud to announce that the oldest and most historic sales facility, serving the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, is now under a new lease and new management. The Sale of Champions, affectionately known as “The Old Reliable”, will now be managed by Wayne and Freda Dean of Lewisburg Auction Company Inc,of Lewisburg, Tennessee.

“We are very excited to have Wayne and Freda on board to our brand new management team. They both bring us many years of experience in the walking horse industry and providing auction services” said Ray Beech, whose family has owned and operated this historic sale since 1962. “Wayne and Freda are one of the most respected stable owners and trainers in the breed, owning and operating Wayne Dean Stables for many years”. “Wayne has served on many boards of the industry, is a multi year board member of the Walking Horse Trainers Association, and Freda has been involved as a strong supporter and officer of the Walking Horse Trainers Auxiliary, and other industry boards”, Beech added. “This sale means a lot to our industry and a lot to Bedford County and we are proud to lease the facility and put this sale, that is so special to our family, in good hands.”

“Its an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a historic event, and use the back drop of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration to serve our customers this next Celebration Sale.” Says new sale manager Wayne Dean.” “ Three generations of my family, and three generations of the Beech Family are both deeply involved in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and will be active, working , promoting, and operating this sale in our various roles.” Dean added.

Since 1962, The Sale of Champions has been held at its present location, at Whitthorne Street , Shelbyville Tennessee. The historic Celebration Sale is also adjacent and walking distance from this year’s 75th Anniversary Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

Dates and sale information will be published soon, for The Sale of Champions. Call Wayne Dean today for sale information and entry deadlines, 931.703.9547.