When Cheaters Prosper: A Look at Abusive Horse Industry Practices on the Horse Show Circuit

摘要

In late summer, Shelbyville, Tennessee plays host to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration ("Celebration"). A staple on the Tennessee Walking Horse show circuit, the Celebration has been held annually without interruption since its 1939 debut, when Henry Davis first conceived it to showcase his county's most valuable asset, the Tennessee Walking Horse. Increasing in popularity over the decades and growing to over 2,000 horses in recent years, the Celebration is currently conducted on its own 100-plus-acre equestrian complex. The World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse's emergence on the eve of Labor Day commences the eleven-day festival, during which $650,000 in prizes and awards is given away.