DESIGNATED QUALIFIED PERSON (REGULATES SORING)

Sydney Christen & Ashley Sutton

Soring

Soring involves the intentional infliction of pain to a horse's legs or hooves in order to force the horse to perform an artificial, exaggerated gait.

Caustic chemicals—blistering agents like mustard oil, diesel fuel, and kerosene—are applied to the horse's ankles and hooves.

Pressure shoeing; involves cutting a horse's hoof almost to the quick and tightly nailing on a shoe, or standing a horse for hours with the sensitive part of his soles on a block or other raised object.

What are some common breeds?

Tennessee Walking Horse, Peruvian, Pasofino, Missouri Fox Trotting Horses, Kentucky Mountain Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, Racking Horses and Tigers. NB

Pasofino PeruvianRocky Mountain Horse

Interviewed

Jeff Smith – Pennsylvania (phone)

Nya Bates – Idaho (email) Tammy McFarlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1dVnFKWpUw 35 second mark

Did you have a horse background?

“Not really....I was born to affluent parents and was raised in Beverly Hills, California but never played with dolls-rather I was building barns with my model horses and my brother's wood blocks.” NB

“No horses till out of high school.” JS

“Always been around horses.” TM

What made you want to do this career?

“As a Farrier, I wanted to learn more about gaited horses especially the MO Foxtrotter. A former student of mine, Albert Cook, had just taken on the DQP Coordinator for the MFTHBA and asked me about becoming a DQP. I wasn't familiar with the program, so after talking to Albert and doing a little research, I signed on. What better way to learn about horses gaits, legs, and feet then by picking up hundreds of them in a weekend and examining each one?”

“Now after working with and seeing the DQP program in action, I can tell you there are many reasons I renew each year.”

“Job that needed to be done. More of a hobby than a career.” JS

“The plight of the TWH/Racking/SSH that are creatively shod to enhance gait.” NB

Furthest you have traveled?

Least/most # of horses inspected per show

Lives in Pennsylvania Has traveled as far as Washington State. JS

All over the US. NB

Most 300 horsesLeast 20 horses

What classes do you need?

Classes every year 2 day seminar with hands on 8 hours: 1st day listening & 2nd day hands on Recertify every year JS {4 hours with the USDA present}. TM

USDA training program & the FOSH DQP training program. It helps to have a background in medicine and lameness in

horses. Being a horse trainer and familiar with the TWH movement is

especially important. NB

14 hour training session with the USDA to learn about: The HPA (Horse Protection Act) Basic antimony of a horse - how to identify a sore or suspected sore horse Test on what was learned to make sure you are qualified to inspect horses

Then a yearly renewal class

What do you look for while inspecting & how long does it take?

3 major things in our inspection of the horse 1. Appearance - scars indicative of abusive training

techniques, peeling of skin on ankles2. Locomotion – moving freely, lame movement3. Physical exam – signs of stress, sweating, quivering

On average an inspection takes roughly 3 to 5 min per horse unless, something has been found to be non-compliant with the

horse. TM

Any badges needed or papers to bring to shows?

A license badge, USDA tickets, current HPA violators/suspension lists and the HPA rules & regulations. NB

Small badge around neck or pinned on (like cops) JS

Our DQPs get a new badge after their renewal training class every year- with a updated picture and current DQP number. The DQP that are inspecting the horses are to wear their badge from the time they come onto the property, until they leave. TM

Salary - plus how many shows per year

$225 per diem NB Depends...sometimes half a dozen and sometimes just

a few (more recently)

Get paid per show and it greatly changes JS Around 20 shows a year, but less with more people

becoming certified DQPs

Who do you report to & what do you do if you find a sore horse?

We write a ticket, notify show management, the HIO and the USDA NB

We have to move the horse and the person whom is leading it through the inspection over to the side. Write them a ticket on a form that the USDA provides us with. Then we have to get the owner, and exhibiter, to sign said ticket form. If they refuse, we can still process it. We turn it in to our DQP administrator and they processes it onto the USDA web site. TM

When do you meet with other DQP’s to discuss findings?

When a horse is inspected, and there is another DQP available for a second opinion; we ask them to re-inspect the horse before we ever discuss what we found to be suspicious or whether or not the horse is sore. TM

Uses a 2nd DQP - if looks like there is a problem (preshow). The winner (post show) gets checked again. JS

Any specific tools you have to use when inspecting?

We only use our hands and eyes when inspecting a horse. Hands seem to be the best way to work with our breed of horses. Some other DQPs use a hoof tester, as we will start to do in 2014. The tester helps with testing of sensitivity in the horses hoof. TM

Seasonal or year long schedule?

Schedule is flexible: On an average - each DQP does around 6 shows a year. Some shows may be longer than others. It is seasonal: It normally starts in May and ends in early October. TM

More in Spring, Summer & Fall than in Winter. NB

March to October. JS

Did you create a specific program that you and the

program you work with follow when looking

at horses?

The HIO (Horse Industry Organization) had a Plan Of Action approved annually by the USDA. Until it evolved into Points Of Emphasis - and the final rule set forth by the USDA. TM

How long have you been a DQP?

I have been a DQP since 2008, and a trainer since 1974. NB

1999 – 2011 JS

Most memorable moment?

I was threatened to get shot by the owner when Jeff disqualified his horse. JS

Winning a Plantation TWH Class at a prestigious horse show with a barefoot TWH. NB

Why would the owners want to hurt the horses?

Win at all cost. JS To win, to collect stud fees, garner accolades,

trainers to get business, etc.. NB

2013 WORLD GRAND CHAMPIONI AM JOSE

• Sell for $30,000 to $100,000, but can fetch as much as $1.6 million

• Stud fees for champion stallions can run as high as $4,000 per mate Average about $2,500

• Top stallion that nets $4,000 to sire a colt can be used perhaps 250 times a year, bringing in $1 million in stud money

Williams III, Chambers G. "Tennessee Walking Horse Soring May Be Motivated by Big Money." The Tennessean, 24 May 2012. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.