SHOW opts out of Operating Plan, adopts own penalty structure

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Doyle Meadows, CEO of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and its SHOW organization, announced Wednesday that SHOW has opted out of the 2007-09 Operating Plan.

"After weeks of meetings, discussions and input from outside groups, SHOW has made the decision to opt out of the Operating Plan and institute a new penalty structure," he said.

"We are very serious about the enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and ensuring only compliant horses enter the show ring," said Charles McDonald, Chairman of the Board for SHOW.

The decision to opt out of the Operating Plan allows SHOW the opportunity to implement a new penalty structure.

"We are confident that the new penalty structure is more stringent than the current one afforded by the Operating Plan and will better enforce the Horse Protection Act. Many of the penalties go above and beyond what is required under the Operating Plan," continued Meadows.

The new penalty structure also eliminates the "ticket takers" that have previously been allowed to accept penalties under the Operating Plan. Under the SHOW penalty structure, only trainers that have showed in at least five classes during a calendar year or have been recognized and approved by SHOW HIO officials as a qualified trainer are allowed to enter horses.

The five classes must be at horse shows affiliated with the SHOW HIO.

The new penalty structure has been adopted and added as an addendum to the current SHOW rule book in lieu of the penalties previously enforced under the Operating Plan.