Bribery alleged; dissastisfied exhibitors complain

SHOW, the Tennessee walking horse industry's regulating body, suspended exhibitor Clay Mills of Mount Airy, N.C., and said it would seek a five-year suspension and $25,000 fine as the organization investigated bribery allegations.

Rumors of bribery and corruption at the Celebration filled walking horse internet message boards and picnic table conversations Tuesday, but were not confirmed until late afternoon.

"We are investigating the situation," said Dr. Doyle Meadows, CEO of the Celebration and head of SHOW, an acronym for "Sound Horses Honest judging Objective inspections Winning fairly," the Celebration's horse industry organization, or HIO.

Meadows confirmed Tuesday that one subject involved in the investigation is Mills, who has served on the TWHBEA's board of directors in the past. Meadows would not release the name of the designated qualified person involved, or how the alleged bribe attempt was made or for what purpose.

"We're still determining if he can show," Meadows said Tuesday. "The problem is, we have a big horse show to put on right now."

But in a news release issued much later Tuesday, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration spokesman Jimmy Burton stated, "A preliminary investigation was conducted and the allegation was found to have merit.

"Because the gravity of the circumstances SHOW HIO found it appropriate to suspend an exhibitor, Clay Mills of Mount Airy, N.C., immediately and indefinitely and will seek a five year suspension and $25,000 fine," the statement concluded.

Turned away

Those watching the inspection area at Calsonic Arena were talking about Mills, but not nearly as much as they were talking about the inspections.

In the first few hours of Tuesday night's show, for every horse that came out of the arena with a blue ribbon, at least two were denied the chance to enter, and some owners were upset.

"I'm gonna sue the hell out of them," said Robert Wiley, watching his wife's horse, Lane View's Master, being inspected again, this time by independent veterinarians set up on the Champions Arena outside. "The horse passed the thermograph, the two DQPs. Then the government turned him back for being sensitive in one foot. They poked and poked at the foot."

Minutes later, the horse was led back from the independent vets.

"They said he's compliant," the groom said.

"This is so ridiculous," said Wiley. "What the government is trying to do -- what are they doing."

His wife, Gloria, said the horse has never failed to pass an inspection before.

"And he's been through the government (inspections) several times," she added. "I could have sold a horse tonight -- if I could have gotten him in the ring."

In a three-hour time period, at least 20 horses were observed being turned away, some for "sensitivity," but many for the "scar rule," which doesn't allow any sign of pitting, granulation or scarring on the foot above the hoof.

One of the horses turned away on the scar rule actually won a blue in a class earlier in the Celebration, and passed inspections at three other shows this summer to place as well. Another "scar rule" horse had also showed -- and ribboned -- at this year's Celebration, as well as at several summer shows, passing inspections there. In fact, about a fourth of the horses seen turned away in that time period had already passed previous inspections and earned ribbons at this year's Celebration.

"I have absolutely no respect for our federal government, the way they are selling us out," said Wiley. "All these shows raise money for charity."

"They're destroying the show," said his wife. "And we're showing sound horses."