This weekend's conference will feature panel discussions on the topic of soring, the illegal practice of causing pain to a horse's legs and feet to increase the high-stepping show ring gait that is performed in some Tennessee Walking Horse show divisions.
Topics include the truth about ending soring, equine drug testing standards, gaited horse biomechanics, new technologies in detecting soring, and what you can do to help. Panelists include veterinarians, horse show judges and trainers from different segments of the gaited horse industry. Additionally, Pat Parelli will be a panelist on the keynote topic of humane trends in the horse industry after his Friday night horsemanship demonstration. Other panelists of note include singer/songwriter Mary Ann Kennedy and 16-year-old April Zendarski, who, with other members of her Girl Scout troop, created a well-circulated video publicizing the practice of soring.
In addition to the panel discussions, the conference includes the "Sound Trainers Luncheon." Several trainers from around the country specializing in the humane training of gaited horses for a wide variety of equestrian disciplines will offer presentations, and conference attendees can join in the discussion with the trainer of their choice.
FOSH's mission is to bring an end to soring and to promote sound, naturally gaited horses for pleasure and show. For more information, visit www.fosh.info.