Pat Stout, vice president, Horse Shows Division of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed registry known as TWHBEA, said she is asking for a vote of members on whether they support the "Prevent All Soring Tactics Act.
She said on Friday she mailed a post card ballot to all eligible voting TWHBEA members regarding a “POLL ON HR 1518/S.1406”.
Ms.
Stout, of Cookeville, said she is asking the members to vote “YES” or “NO” on the following poll question:
“I am FOR passage of HR 1518/S. 1406 – “Prevent All Soring Tactics” Act to remove the pads and chains in order to end the public perception of soring and abuse presently associated with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed, to eliminate HIOs and to increase penalties for soring”.
Ms. Stout said, “I feel like the TWHBEA membership never gets a chance to directly voice their opinion on issues. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this question, and I believe it is important to let each member have their say on this paramount matter facing the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.”
She said she was going to “vote YES” on the Poll question, and she urged all members to vote their convictions on this matter.
Ms. Stout said, “I felt strongly about this issue, and I personally paid for the deposit required by the Cook and Company CPA firm in Arab, Alabama to count the votes. She said that the cost of mailing the cards was paid for by an annonymous individual. Stout said, “Cook and Company CPA firm will tabulate the “Poll on HR 1518/S. 1406” ballots the same day that the TWHBEA Directors ballots are counted.” The ballots must be received by the certified public accounting firm of Cook and Company of Arab, Alabama on or before Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
On May 23, the Executive Committee of TWHBEA voted 7 – 4 to endorse HR 1518, Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, which was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on April 11, 2013, by Congressmen Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Steve Cohen (D-TN).