On August 28 AT 1:15 p.m., a press conference sponsored by TWSHO was called to order in the Calsonic Arena. Jeffrey Howard, along with independent veterinarians, Drs. Stephen Mullins, John Bennett, and Richard Wilhelm wanted to clear the air about the much talked about scar rule and its subjectivity. Dr. Scott Hopper from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY was also available to aid with the discussion via telephone. Trainers, owners, and the general public filled the room at the Calsonic Arena to hear what they had to say.

Dr. Mullins, President of SHOW-HIO read his statement while the lights and cameras flashed in his face. He stated scar rule violations from the USDA has significantly increased since last year. Actually, there have already been five times the number of scar rule violations in the past six days of this year’s Celebration than the whole eleven days of the 2011 Celebration. The scar rule has been marred and horses are unjustly being turned down. The main question is how does a horse pass USDA inspection, going in and coming out, then, 24 hours later get turned down for the scar rule? As Dr. Mullins stated, it is medically impossible for a scar to form over a 24 hour period.

During the question and answer session, the first question asked was . . . what do you really think is going on? While everyone laughed, Jeffrey Howard simply answered that there are a lot of discrepancies and like Dr. Mullins and Dr. Hopper said, it is a very subjective issue. Then, of course, what can we say about the video released by HSUS that started this wildfire? Howard answered that our industry doesn’t condone the actions in the video and Dr. Mullins stated that SHOW-HIO and TWSHO want to rid the industry of sore horse trainers to eliminate this problem.

After all the questioning, the public was taken to see two horses who were unfairly charged with scar rule violations and disqualified from showing during this Celebration. The horses were walked in a figure eight, just as inspection. They demonstrated how the horses walked while sound. Then, pulling his feet up and showing where to look for scars and how to distinguish what is and what is not a scar rule violation.

Everyone appreciated these gentlemen and others who gave of their time during a very busy week. We at the SCOOP are grateful for their clarifications and a better understanding of the scar rule.