# Talk:Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Parking this here for now. May be worth adding later if it plays out. 
http://www.t-g.com/story/2250515.html White Arabian Filly (Neigh) 16:02, 27 November 2015 (UTC)

White Arabian Filly, The following bare URLs need to be filled in by hand:
http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2015/09/05/tennessee-walking-horse-national-celebration Processing error (Fetching error)
http://www.walkerswest.com/champs/merrygoboy.htm Processing error (HTTP Error: 404)
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/08/28/s-walking-horse Processing error (Fetching error)
I filled in nine others with ReFILL.
Cheers! {{u|Checkingfax}} {Talk} 05:19, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, I will try to fill them in later. I think I wrote them down wrong and/or typed them wrong. I will see if I can find the correct urls to the specific pages and then fill them in.
Update:Successfully filled in. 😊
White Arabian Filly (Neigh) 13:57, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

@White Arabian Filly: Hi.  It is still not clear what "hoof testers" are.  Are these specialised people, tools, or what?  Trying to help here - the term is rather inaccessible at the moment and I believe you are trying to get this to GA. DrChrissy (talk) 21:48, 6 June 2016 (UTC)

Hi DrChrissy. They are a metal tool with blunt, open, circular blades, something like large pliers. They are placed over a hoof and then squeezed down in a few places to see if the horse flinches. They can be used to detect foot abscesses, abuse, or other problems within the hoof. Here is an article explaining their use and it has a couple of pictures. I don't I have any, but I've seen them used. I know we don't have an article on them alone, but they should probably have a section at farrier or something. (I can do that tomorrow, and then we can link to that.) White Arabian Filly Neigh 22:04, 6 June 2016 (UTC)
I've edited using the url you provided.  Is it OK? DrChrissy (talk) 22:19, 6 June 2016 (UTC)
Yes, that's fine. I just didn't think to explain them before because virtually all horse people know what they are. I had hoped to find a photo of them on Commons, but I didn't have any luck. White Arabian Filly Neigh 20:24, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
I am not a horse person and to be honest, I think it sometimes helps to have a non-horse person helping out.  It does not mean you are wrong, it just means my suggestions hopefully make the article more accessible. ....trying to help. DrChrissy (talk) 23:26, 7 June 2016 (UTC)
Your edits helped. I probably should have thought to explain them before, although I do think that the farrier article could use a section titled "tools" and hoof testers could be given a short description there. I'll try to get on that sometime this week. White Arabian Filly Neigh 15:09, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
We do have the glossary of equestrian terms that can sometimes be linked, and we started it in part for that reason, to have something to link to. I think that the farrier article could benefit from a "tools" section, and we could do it as a chart or a gallery too.  (FWIW, {[u|White Arabian Filly}}, I have a few farrier tools at my barn (that I do not use, someone gave them to me when they found them in their grandfather's garage or something...) that I could photograph).  Montanabw(talk) 23:47, 9 June 2016 (UTC)
One page it could be entered is Equine podiatry.  Just a thought. DrChrissy (talk) 13:04, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
Except that "equine podiatry" is actually a fringe concept in practice, at least in the US it's a self-annointed group of people who don't like veterinarians and horseshoers... (speaking of an article that needs work!) Horse hoof might be better.  Montanabw(talk) 18:23, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
It is a bloody mine-field out there! I will now have "them" on my tail for being a fringe POV-pusher! Hee hee.  What I should have perhaps explained is that it appears the hoof testers are used by vets as well as farriers, so putting it only on the farrier article might not give it the exposure it needs.  Horse hoof seems a good option.  Just thoughts. DrChrissy (talk) 18:57, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
 Putting it at horse hoof may be best for now, although I do think I can round up enough sources to put in something about the common tools at farrier, and then also mention it in the horsey part of the veterinary medicine article. Yep, the equine podiatry people do tend to be a fringe group with odd ideas. I remember one horseshoeing video that had comments by some of them at the bottom. "Hooves are hearts, and they expand and contract when the blood flows into them, which is ruined by horseshoes!" That person needs to ask a vet how hooves actually work... 🙅White Arabian Filly Neigh 19:56, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
I believe the frog helps in the circulation of the lower leg, but a horseshoe is attached to the hoof which is fixed and could not have any such action.  Is this right? DrChrissy (talk) 20:01, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
Yes, the hoof wall can expand a tiny bit, but it's so minute it wouldn't be affected by shoes, since correctly fitted shoes extend about a quarter of inch beyond the edge of the hoof. As for hooves pumping in and out, they don't. A lot of that stuff is made up by bored trolls who need to get real lives. White Arabian Filly Neigh 20:17, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
Hmmmm, I think I got that from the Frog (horse) article, but I see that it is nor referenced. DrChrissy (talk) 20:46, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
I do think it's true, but it needs a source. The frog feels rubbery and is softer than the rest of the hoof. Actually, I think it's the only thing that keeps horses from falling down more often than they do. Their bare feet don't grip too well. White Arabian Filly Neigh 21:02, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
Actually, the hoof needs to expand at the heel, but proper shoeing only puts nails to about the widest part of the hoof, about halfway back, precisely to allow for it.  The frog and heels DO actually have a cardiovascular effect, helping move blood back up the leg...  Montanabw(talk) 05:38, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

The small section on controversy is insufficient per WP:WEIGHT to cover the vast quantity of published ongoing and repetitive controversies in this industry and specifically for this "show".    ▶ I am Grorp ◀  04:42, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

I think as long as there can be solid sources added and a neutral tone, it could be expanded.  It’s kind of like the Calgary Stampede article where there is a legitimate need to discuss the serious problems they have with accidents and fatalities in the chuckwagon races.  Montanabw(talk) 05:55, 2 April 2024 (UTC)
Somewhere between this article and the Soring article, we could definitely mention that the inspections, in practice, have failed. As I was reading on this subject, these points were made:
Budget constraints limit the number of shows USDA inspectors can attend to a small percentage of all shows.
Comparing percentage of violations found per number of horses inspected, USDA inspectors cited 15 times more competitors than non-USDA inspectors.
When arriving competitors noticed USDA tents on the showgrounds, competitors routinely left the showgrounds without unloading their horses.
Penalties for violations of HPA are weak, usually a small citation, and considered a "cost of doing business".
Trainers consider the HPA inspections subjective with lots of false positives.
Soring is still a rampant part of the business.
   ▶ I am Grorp ◀  07:25, 2 April 2024 (UTC)

My take is that the Walkers West site might be commercial, but the historic information appears to be accurate. I wouldn’t tag it so much “self-published” as “uncited.”  I don’t think being a commercial site is, by itself, disqualifying, though if better sources can be found that would be good. JMO.  Montanabw(talk) 06:08, 2 April 2024 (UTC)