Tennessee Walking Horse Industry Permanently Bans McConnell
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- The Tennessee Walking Horse industry permanently suspended trainer Jackie L. McConnell from its premier exhibition and kicked him out of its hall of fame on Wednesday, The Tennessean reports.
The Tennessee Walking Horse's board of directors voted to ban McConnell from the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, a high-profile 11-day event that takes place every year in Shelbyville, Tenn., after a video surfaced of him abusing horses, the paper says.
In the video, McConnell is seen beating and applying harsh chemicals to horses' ankles at his farm in Collierville, Tenn. The practice is known as soring, and induces a high-stepping gait that is prized in the show. The video was aired earlier this month on ABC's Nightline news program, and led to a 52-count indictment against McConnell, along with three others, according to The Tennessean.
McConnell pleaded guilty on Tuesday to violating the Horse Protection Act. His probation sentence is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio
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