Are walking horse trainers heartless scoundrels who go to any lengths to give that extra kick to their high-stepping horses?

Reputable trainers are outraged at the charges being made against their industry, but like it or not they must face the fact that they and walking horse owners are going to have to take some giant steps in damage control.

Last Saturday's night's fiasco at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was the chaotic finish to what has been a turbulent season for the walking horse industry. Whether the stake class should have been called off or not is something trainers and owners are working out with management.

But it is not the primary issue for those in the industry, nor for the city of Shelbyville which is getting a black eye in the process.

Newspapers across the country are publishing stories charging those within the walking horse industry of horrendous abuse to the walking horses, and the city of Shelbyville is being accused of being uncaring about any abuse at the expense of our greed -- the boon to our economy during the 10 day show.

One syndicated columnist writes: "[U.S. Department of Agriculture] inspections give little insight into the cruelties imposed on animals by some 'admirers' of Tennessee walkers."

She adds, "Some owners and trainers pour acid on the horses' joints to induce severe pain so they lift their hooves high to avoid moving the 'sored' skin and muscles.

The Nashville Tennessean has been unrelenting in its criticism of the walking horse industry, and of this community, in both news articles and editorials.

"The walking horse is adored for having a dignified look, but scarcely little looked dignified about the events in Shelbyville," one Tennessean editorial read. Another stated, "[T]he community should always want decisions based on what's right, not what that economic impact might be."

One local spectator late Saturday evening in the barn area overheard a visitor caustically comment, "This is what Shelbyville deserves."

Most of those affiliated with the walking horse industry are denying the abuse charges, but they're not the loudest voices being heard.

For years there have been charges that walking horses are trained with inhumane soring techniques such as mustard and acid. Recent accusations add that some owners and trainers drive spikes or nails into the horses' front hooves.

If there is any truth to this charge, those owners and trainers not only should be banned from exhibiting their horses, they should be jailed.

If there is no truth to this horrendous treatment charge, owners, trainers, walking horse board members and anyone else involved in the industry must speak out -- in unison. Bickering within weakens their cause.

The loudest rebuttal from those in the industry to charges against them is that the USDA has a specific agenda and is flexing its mighty muscle of power against the walking horse industry.

If the USDA is over-zealous, that simply means owners and trainers must be equally zealous in their unity in heeding the Horse Protection Act and in assuring that standards are clear.

There may well be abuses in other horse sporting events, but that is not the argument here. Let's worry first about our own.

Two weeks ago in this section of the Times-Gazette, we extended a welcome to our Celebration guests and expressed our appreciation for the boost to our economy the annual event creates.

Let's hope we can repeat those sentiments in 2007.