As part of a plan announced prior to this year's Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, 16 key officials with the show -- management, judges and industry stewards -- agreed to submit themselves for polygraph testing in September.

The show has announced that 15 of those people passed with flying colors; one had questionable reactions, which the unnamed subject -- a judge -- is blaming on stress because a threatening message was left in his driveway.

The tests were conducted in September and the results of the testing procedure were compiled during the past month. A total of 16 individuals were examined over a four-day period and, according to the examiner, only one individual was judged to have any sort of deceptive reaction during the examinations.

The testing procedure was part of an overall plan announced prior to the 69th Celebration "designed to ensure the health and safety of participating animals, compliance with the Horse Protection Act, and show integrity," acccording to a TWHNC news release. All 16 of those who were tested signed releases prior to the show giving their consent.

During the polygraph examinations, some answers by one subject of the examination were inconsistent with others, according to the examiner. During a second examination, it was learned that an implied threat was allegedly made toward the individual following the competition and it was the examiner's opinion that this incident may have had an effect on this individual's ability to complete the examination in a satisfactory manner.

The subject reported to the examiner that he found a page from the Aug. 29 edition of the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal newspaper rolled up and placed on his driveway. On the newspaper, an article titled, "Former Senator Ford Gets 5-1/2 Years for Bribery" was marked with a crayon and the individual's name was written above the headline with an arrow pointing toward it.

The subject reported to the examiner that he did not mention the incident earlier because he felt threatened and was fearful for his family.

This year's judges were Mike Carpenter, Sam Sorrell, Allen Forman, Justin Jenné and Ronnie Spears.

Bob Campbell, a retired FBI polygraph examiner, conducted the tests.

"Polygraph testing is an opinion-based process," said Campbell in a news release. "It is best used by private companies and government agencies as an in-house tool to make better-informed decisions on personnel issues and processes. The Celebration should be able to take the information from these reports and make their event even better."

Each person examined was asked the following questions, along with generic questions to set a baseline, relevant to The Celebration:

• During the 2007 Celebration competition, did anyone seriously offer you something of value for your decision?

• During the 2007 Celebration competition, did you receive something of value for your decision?

• Are you intentionally withholding information that concerns the fairness of the 2007 Celebration?

All of these relevant questions were answered "no" by each of the persons examined.

Other information was gained through the process that will, more than likely, result in policies being enacted by The Celebration and/or the governing bodies that administer horse shows. A few of the individuals that were examined said they had received unsolicited and unwanted gifts after working different events in years past and felt uncomfortable getting them. While the gifts ranged from a halter to football tickets to a country ham, everyone questioned on the subject felt it would enhance the event and walking horse industry if a policy were put in place that forbids gifts of any kind at any time given to judges or inspectors.

In addition, all 16 individuals examined reported that they knew of nothing concerning the 2007 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration that was unfair.

Celebration officials said the testing procedure was put in place to bolster confidence in the inspection and judging processes at the 2007 Celebration.

"Our board of directors felt these tests would be a positive statement regarding the integrity of our event and add another layer of confidence to our exhibitors, ticket holders, and the outside world," said Celebration CEO Ron Thomas. "We have gained some very valuable information in this process that will help us in the future. This was an in-house, fact-finding exercise to be used to make our event better. We are satisfied with the process, results, and information gained."

In addition to polygraph examinations, The Celebration initiated a random drug screening program and eliminating the use of syringes on the Grounds by anyone other than a licensed veterinarian. Within the inspection area, hoof testers were used to detect any evidence of improper shoeing and selected flat-shod entries were required to have their shoes removed, inspected, and weighed following championship competition.

The Celebration implemented a more stringent overall security plan that included identification credentials for only those individuals allowed in the inspection area.

The show had a nearly 50 percent decrease in violations from 2006 and drew praise from the head of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Dr. Chester Gipson.

"USDA supports the actions initiated by The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration to ensure compliance with the Horse Protection Act, said Gipson in a news release. "Using a drug screening program to detect the use of prohibited substances, placing emphasis on detecting improper shoeing, conducting random inspections of the barn area and ensuring enforcement of the Tennessee Anti-Soring ordinance, are all measures that will protect the horses, as well as the integrity of the show."

Gipson went on to say that the program set up by The Celebration should be looked at closely by other show managers from around the country.

The Celebration is sanctioned through the National Horse Show Commission and selects its judges from a pool of NHSC-approved judges. The industry stewards (inspectors) are also supplied by the NHSC. Any further investigation or action taken regarding judges or stewards would be taken by the NHSC. The Celebration will make the results of the examinations available to the NHSC.