The Tennessee Walking Horse community has recently come under fire when undercover video showed trainers soring horses.SHELBYVILLE, Tenn.- The consequences continue for a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer accused of abuse. Saturday, the SHOW Horse industry organization handed down the longest suspension ever for a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer.
Joe Cotton has been suspended for seven and half years and fined $5,000. Officials say, this past June at the Liberty Lions Club Show in Shelbyville, Cotton falsified entries for five horses, which is a violation of the Horse Protection Act.
"This is one of the longest suspensions ever issued to a Tennessee walking Horse trainer, even longer than what is required by the federal government," said SHOW President Dr. Stephen L. Mullins. "We take these violations seriously, and we are relieved to put this very troubling incident behind us."
In addition, he was allegedly verbally abusive to show officials. This happened while he was already on probation for other allegations. The Tennessee Walking Horse community has recently come under fire when undercover video showed trainers soring horses.
Soring is the practice of pouring chemicals, cutting and otherwise abusing a horse's hooves and lower front legs to induce the high step that wins competitions. Since the release of the video, officials have put tougher punishments in place for trainers caught soring.
