Location: WASHINGTON, DC
On the rare occasions when owners accused of soring Tennessee walking horses are suspended from participating in horse shows, they easily sidestep the law by transferring the ownership of their horses to others so the horses can continue to compete.
Tennessee Walking horse - Often victims of soring
The Humane Society of the United States is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit owners who are suspended (and who sign a consent agreement...) from transferring ownership of their horses to someone else for the duration of the suspension.
The Humane Society of the United States is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit owners who are suspended (and who sign a consent agreement instead of challenging the violation) from transferring ownership of their horses to someone else for the duration of the suspension. The HSUS letter to USDA is available here.
The HSUS has uncovered several examples of owners employing this tactic to continue profiting from abuse (documentation available upon request):
Facing a pending prosecution, owner and exhibitor Wilsene Moody-Kwok transferred ownership of ten horses to her husband, presumably so that her horses could continue to be shown, thwarting the intent of the penalty.
One of these horses, Moody Star, a grand champion and documented victim of soring at the hands of trainer Jackie McConnell, is competing while Moody-Kowk remains on federal disqualification. In addition to Moody Star, six other horses previously owned by Wilsene Moody-Kwok are being exhibited under Dr. Jack Kwok’s ownership.
Another walking horse owner, Mr. Randall Baskin, used a similar strategy to facilitate the continued exhibition of one of his horses under a family member’s name while he was on industry suspension (documentation available upon request). Both Mr. Randall Baskin and Dr. Jack Kwok own horses that have been entered into the qualifying class for the World Grand Championship of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.