A federal judge in Chattanooga has allowed bond for four men charged in a horse soring case, but Jackie McConnell is objecting to the conditions for his bond and will be back in court to fight the restriction that bars him from training horses while waiting trial in May.
Illegal soring of Tennessee walking horses
Gaited horses are often the victims of soring by unethical trainers.
Because of ongoing criminal activity with at least nine suspensions for violations by horse industry organizations over the past few years, prosecutors maintain that restricting McConnell from working as a horse trainer should be part of his bond agreement.
Co-defendants Jeff Dockery and John Mays have agreed not to train or care for horses other than their own as they await trial, and Joseph Abernathy will be allowed to continue to working as a farrier, but he must provide a weekly client list, including contact information.
Four of the nine violations by McConnell related to soring of horses.