Friction at the Celebration Between Local and USDA Inspectors

Another good article in today's Tennessean about what's happening at the Celebration in Shelbyville. According to the latest news, there is tension between the local group inspecting the horses and the USDA inspectors. An outside veterinarian from Lexington has been called in to offer his opinion but the only opinion that really matters is that of the USDA inspectors. If they reject a horse or trainer, they are immediately out of the Celebration.

We're glad to see that U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais has become involved in the inspection issue:

It was the second night of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, the biggest show since the local industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture squared off in federal court over the fairness of new, standardized penalties for horse abuse.
The USDA, which certifies 12 local groups to perform inspections in its place, is threatening to decertify the one based in Shelbyville over its failure to adopt the new rules. The local group, known as SHOW, is arguing that the rules don’t allow an appeals process for trainers who are cited, denying them due process.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais waded into the fray with an Aug. 16 letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that claimed USDA penalties against trainers have increased more than tenfold since SHOW joined a lawsuit against the USDA in June.
Vilsack hasn’t responded yet, but DesJarlais said he spoke to a USDA representative at the Celebration.
“Everybody seems to want the same thing,” he said. “SHOW wants a fair event; the USDA wants to prevent the abuse of animals.
“I’m making sure what both parties say makes sense.”

Representative DesJarlais, from Tennessee's 4th District, is a good person to tackle Secretary Vilsack and the USDA. He sits on the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry in the U.S. House of Representatives. From a number of angles, horses in our state (and in the U.S.) are one of his concerns.

We'll see how things go today, but the Celebration is only getting started. There is still over a week to go. Things could get even more interesting.