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Budweiser & Big Lick

13K views 88 replies 29 participants last post by  SueNH 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I don't know how many of you have seen this, but Budweiser has signed on to sponsor the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, TN. I am sure most of you have seen the video of Jackie Mcconnell and the horrifying TORTURE the horses went through...all to obtain the unnatural and ridiculous gait known as "The Big Lick." There are no words to describe the level of cruelty these horses endure.

The Shelbyville show has long been considered the cruelest show for Tennessee Walkers and all who support it are also supporting the soring practices. Pepsi couldn't back away fast enough once they found out about the abuse occurring at the show.

Please tell everyone about Budweiser's support of this show and the cruel practice of soring. Contact Budweiser and voice your disapproval. It may not make a difference, but we won't know until we try.

Here are all the necessary links:
The article: Roy Exum: The Budweiser Clydesdales Wept - 08/05/2013 - Chattanoogan.com


The heartbreaking video (WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC):
 
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#3 ·
I just posted this on FB a bit ago:
I have been posting a link to the story and some info on every local news page I can find. I hope everyone does the same! If even ONE media outlet picks up the story, it could go nationwide and gain enough attention to convince Budweiser to pull their sponsorship. It will also bring the abuse even further into the spotlight. I will add a comment to this that shows what I have been posting.

COMMENT: Budweiser is sponsoring The 75th Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, TN. Amazing that a company that has an equine association would show support for a show that is so well-known to encourage the horrific practice of soring to obtain the unnatural "Big Lick" gait.
Contact Budweiser and voice your disapproval for their support. Hoping news station will pick this up. The more we reach the sonner Bud will pull their sponsorship, the sooner the Big Lick is eliminated from competition.
Roy Exum: The Budweiser Clydesdales Wept - 08/05/2013 - Chattanoogan.com


I have had one news station say they will bring up the story in their meeting. That give me hope. Share with all local news outlets you can contact. I have been doing so through their FB pages.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Im reckoning this is more about misinformation -- what does budweiser and soring have to do with each other? You mean budweiser is so horrible because they want to make money off shelbyvilles biggest event that brings in millions to Their city?

Every paded walker aint sored by the way- those bad people that do the soring end up behind bars and banned from the TWHBEA and showing at their events- to add.

Dont get me wrong- when i first seen a walker with them big pads on i thought it was silly looking and i do today- no need to say every padded walker is sored though- its false.


i dont mean any disrespect but this thread is ignorant.. couldnt ignore it. :-p


And i had to add something else-- when the padded shows are in town its more than just the show ring-- the whole town of shelbyville cellebrates.. its not 'big lick day' its 'the walking horse celebration ceremony' Budweiser could be sponsoring other events or venues in the local area too.. ill be sure to be there and 'investigate' the budweiser.. :-p
 
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#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
i dont mean any disrespect but this thread is ignorant.. couldnt ignore it. :-p
Ignorant?! Outrage!!!! outrage!!!:wink:

Haha im just kidding. But really. I can see your point of view. But it sure would make a statement for sure if budweiser pulled out because of the "big lick cruelty"


Especially for non horsey folk....when I ask my friends what they think when they think horses they say "the big brown fluffy ones in the budweiser commercials during superbowl" so if their "big fluffy superbowl beer horses" said they wouldnt support it...that would be an eye opener for them haha



And i had to add something else-- when the padded shows are in town its more than just the show ring-- the whole town of shelbyville cellebrates.. its not 'big lick day' its 'the walking horse celebration ceremony' Budweiser could be sponsoring other events or venues in the local area too.. ill be sure to be there and 'investigate' the budweiser.. :-p

have some for me lol
Ignorant? psh. Smh lol


Butreally....make sure to THOROUGHLY investigate their beverages ; P
 
#12 ·
Making those horses bounce like that, man pretty dumb looking, pretty stupid thing to do, and yeah, I call it cruel.

At the same time though I don't think Budweiser is condoning it, they are a big company, in fact they are a huge company, with that they have a lot of people there and with having so many people there I am sure this decision came from someone who knows very little about horses who said "Hey this is a good event we can sponsor" Why, because sponsoring events is how they make money, and that is the name of the game and I have no problem with that.

On the other hand, the guy in the video abusing the horses, well lets just say id like to introduce him to my German Shepherd and then pour a little of that caustic in the open wounds.
 
#13 ·
At the same time though I don't think Budweiser is condoning it, they are a big company, in fact they are a huge company, with that they have a lot of people there and with having so many people there I am sure this decision came from someone who knows very little about horses who said "Hey this is a good event we can sponsor" Why, because sponsoring events is how they make money, and that is the name of the game and I have no problem with that.
Other companies have pulled sponsorship because of the ties the show has to such abuse. So if they have the knowledge to pull out I have no reason to think that Budweiser would be any different in lacking the knowledge. Needless to say, after the outcry on their FB page, they know now. Many are boycotting.
 
#17 ·
I believe I saw that same video a few years ago. That was one specific trainer, I think he was jailed .
Not all breeders and trainers are abusive. They do use the pads on the hoof, but the soring is illegal at a sanctioned TWH show, and if exhibitors are caught with chains and soring they are kicked out. You should contact the TWHA and ask them about this issue also.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Toto, you are mistaken if you think all the offenders are prosecuted or even "pointed out" at shows. There is a strong undercurrent with the "inspections and inspectors" at the shows and many violations are ignored.

Last year McConnell, after all that was proven about him, received 3 years PROBATION and a fine. That's all. So much for real punishment.

Admitted Tennessee walking horse abuser avoids prison | timesfreepress.com

The Congress tried to beef up the horse protection act....but the twhbea board of directors voted it down. They don't want it stronger. It might be too hard to let these things slip through the cracks.

LAST YEAR 76% of the horses tested by the USDA tested positive for soring agents. You can bet 76% of those trainers were not prosecuted. Why is it that when the USDA comes behind the SHOW testers, self-policing of the industry became 700 percent better

http://www.tennessean.com/article/2...groups-find-more-violations-when-USDA-present

Foreign Substances Found in 76% Horses Tested by USDA at Walking Horse Event | TNReport

People who really believe these practices are gone, are deciding they like looking at these shows with blinders on. What they refuse to see, must not exist.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I didnt read where those horses were shown after being tested and results shown said they was sored? Youre right- the USDA is stepping in to stop the soring and sored horses from showing in the events its a good thing for it too.

would you say the sored horses aint being shown then- If so dont that mean theres no soring in the show ring?

Im not saying people wont try it- its illegal to drive drunk and people do it Budweiser dont condone driving drunk but they do earn their money when people buy their beer- they might be drunk driving or they might be responsible drivers and have a designated driver-- Budweiser aint supporting soring either-- some people might be there and sore horses but not everyone at the shows are doing it.

The walkers with the big pads are going to show and the celebration events are all kinds- halter showing (not padded horses) flat shod (not big pads regular shoes) yearling glasses (not ridden or padded or shod) etcetra- there is classes for horses with no shoes too- its a celebration of the walking horse not the celebration of soring.

I agree with abuse can be seen at any show- its up to the people hosting the shows to decide that those horses aint allowed to participate in the show and thats what goes on at the celebration- followed by jailing.


You know the trainer got jailed and convicted of horse abuse before getting a court date to decide he got probation- i dont see where the twhbea let him show again- far as i know hes banned from the association and showing horses in the twhbea shows-- i dont think he can even register a horse in the twhbea or have papers transferred in to his name.


I dont think soring is right at all- its abusive and horrible but i can say its not whats being shown in the twhbea shows today.
 
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#21 ·
That video is absolutely horrific. It made me sick.

I hope that whomever made the decision at Bud was ignorant to these practices (though, I do agree that not /all/ of them are sored...).
There are cruel people in every sport, and every discipline... Gah, /I'm upset now ;-;
 
#23 ·
I, for one, have sent Budweiser a note through their contact page expressing my disappointment that this is the equestrian event that they have decided to sponsor and associate themselves with. There are many other shows/disciplines they can sponsor that don't have the reputation of abusive practices that this show does. I, too, hope that this decision was made by some non-horsey higher-up who knows little to nothing about horses, and who would be aghast to learn what he has agreed to sponsor.
 
#25 ·
I also sent them this message "It has come to my attention that Budweiser has decided to sponsor the "Big Lick" horse show this year. It breaks my heart to think that a company that has used horses to promote it's product will sponsor a show known for such horrid abuse against horses. Please reconsider your sponsorship of the most cruel horse show in the world. Please send a message that your company does NOT stand behind animal cruelty and take a stand against it. Please say "NO!" to soring horses."
 
#24 ·
I live in a wilderness setting, and have never been in the show circuit - my horses are loved beyond measure and enjoyed as the magnificent creatures that they are. To purposely harm them is unfathomable - another harming them would be in-excusable (and my fury would be such that they wished they never got out of bed that day). Regarding the soring topic - I do believe that there is a special place in hell reserved for those people.
 
#27 · (Edited)
How can someone write a letter calling the tennessee walking horse celebration ceremony 'the big lick show' demanding Budweiser stop selling beer at the event and expect to get credibility or respect?


The celebration dont condone soring and budweiser dont either- sored horses aint shown in the ring- if they find out there had been soring the owners go to jail!
 
#31 ·
The Horse Protection Act (HPA) is a Federal law that prohibits horses subjected to a practice called soring from participating in shows, sales, exhibitions, or auctions. The HPA also prohibits drivers from transporting sored horses to or from any of these events. APHIS works actively with the horse industry to protect against such abuse and ensure that only sound and healthy horses participate in shows. Our ultimate goal is to end this inhumane practice completely.

Soring is a cruel and abusive practice used to accentuate a horse’s gait. It may be accomplished by irritating or blistering a horse’s forelegs through the application of chemicals such as mustard oil or the use of mechanical devices.

Walking horses are known for possessing a naturally high gait , but in order to be successful in competition their natural gait is often exaggerated. The exaggerated gait can be achieved with proper training and considerable time however, some horse exhibitors, owners, and trainers have chosen to use improper and inhumane training methods to shorten the time it would take to produce a higher gait without abusive practices.

Soring is very illegal and the horse protection act is working .
 
#35 ·
I didnt say soring aint happening- i said no sored horses have been in the show ring since 08 and thats a fact! They might show up with them but theyll be leaving in handcuffs!

no need for sarcasm just prove me wrong if you can- ill pay for your celebration ticket and well go around inspecting ourselves drinking budweiser if you really want. :thumbsup:

ill let you sock me if im wrong, lol. :-p
 
#37 · (Edited by Moderator)
Quite the contrary, I am saying humans are stupid for doing things like using chemicals and "mechanical" devices to try to make a horse walk in an unnatural way because they think it looks cool.

To me it is about as cool as someone who wears their pants down around their butt.
 
#36 ·
Toto-how do you then explain the findings from 2008 to last year! That some 70% of the horses had been soured? Did you not read the article? Or are you saying it is a lie? In which case, I would expect there would be a law suit, which there has been none....

And no, I have no desire to go, thanks. You and I will not be drinking buds anytime soon for sure. Like in this life time.
 
#40 ·
I did read the article- it dont say anything about them being shown- they talked about those horses being tested and being sored before they entered the ring- thats when they do the testing-- exactly what i had been saying and i stand by it.

If you been to a twhbea show youd know they test the horses before they get to the ring to start showing. ;-)

is it something i said? :lol: :-p
 
#38 ·
I haven't to been to any Big Lick shows, I don't know anything about their testing methods or hung out any Walker training barns, I know squat about Big Lick except what I have read or seen on TV. BUT, I will say when I see those guys riding the Big Lick horses they remind me of child molesters, hovering over the horses, looking for little kids to prey upon.
 
#42 · (Edited by Moderator)
Toto-I am done discussing it with you. It is clear to me that you are seeing what you want to. You and I will never agree on this for sure. Some folks from this area who support these shows have seen this for so many years that it becomes part of their culture in a way, so they really see nothing wrong with it. I will also say that if you really believe that any trainer who has been doing this with success and making $$ for clients by doing so for years will stop just because he has been banned-you are being fooled. I would bet he has others following his direction in the barn and at the shows. Until the culture changes and people stop going to these shows and contributing $$ to it by doing so, it will continue.
I personally not only have no interest in watching such deformed looking gaits, but I also would not give one single penny toward going to such an event. EVER.
 
#49 · (Edited by Moderator)
Sorry about that-tried to edit it.

Toto-I am done discussing it with you. It is clear to me that you are seeing what you want to. You and I will never agree on this for sure. Some folks from this area who support these shows have seen this for so many years that it becomes part of their culture in a way, so they really see nothing wrong with it. I will also say that if you really believe that any trainer who has been doing this with success and making $$ for clients by doing so for years will stop just because he has been banned-you are being fooled. I would bet he has others following his direction in the barn and at the shows. Until the culture changes and people stop going to these shows and contributing $$ to it by doing so, it will continue.
I personally not only have no interest in watching such deformed looking gaits, but I also would not give one single penny toward going to such an event. EVER.
Youre done discussing it with me because you do not have any factual information to back up your story.

budweiser wasnt even sponsoring the celebration- a local distributor was selling bud light, lol.

im reckoning Yall confused the budweiser people- they thought yall were saying their horses were sored pulling the budweiser wagon- or something of the sort from your letters reply-- i was a little confused too. :-x

This thread is looney! Sorry but it is- I can give you fact all day but am glad you're going to throw up the white flag here because im not going to let you bash the walking horse or the walking horse industry when you know nothing about any of them. :-x
 
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