Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) announces that speakers and plans for the Fourth Sound Horse Conference on March 29 in Brentwood, Tennessee, are solidified. FOSH anticipates a future without soring, which is the illegal and cruel practice of using chemical and mechanical methods to create pain in a gaited show horse’s front feet to exaggerate their animated step, most prevalent in Tennessee Walking Horses.

The purpose of the 2014 Sound Horse Conference is to demonstrate the positive future of the Tennessee Walking Horse when soring becomes a thing of the past. The Sound Horse Conference kicks off on Friday, March 28, with a social hour mixer. Saturday provides several panel discussions with a range of topics that include Making a Good Career with Tennessee Walking Horses, the Future of Competing in various disciplines with Walking Horses, including Rail Classes, Dressage, Endurance and Versatility. The Current Soring Tactics presentation will have several veterinarians and also a multi-time World Grand Champion winning trainer who will speak publicly for the first time about soring methods. The USDA will present on enforcement, and several speakers will tell their story of how soring has changed their life decisions. Sunday will provide an opportunity to watch a demonstration of developing gait with several rescued Tennessee Walking Horses, available for adoption from Horse Haven, and two high-profile young riders exhibiting their finished Tennessee Walking Horses.

Sponsors include FOSH, Humane Society of the United States, American Horse Protection Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Parelli Education Institute, National Walking Horse Association, the Animal Welfare Institute, Frank Neal and David Pruett. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Space is limited. To register please visit www.SoundHorseConference.com.

FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and actively fights against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH, the only national organization that represents multiple gaited breeds, or to become a member and help FOSH in the battle against soring, see www.fosh.info.