Wheelon, 68, vociferously denied Friday that there were any bolts in the feet or legs of any of the 19 horses seized from his stables Thursday by Blount County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A long-time horse trainer in Blount County, Wheelon also said he was not involved in any soring by using caustic chemicals like mustard oil or kerosene.
“That’s sickening,” he said in a phone interview Friday afternoon. “If those horses were sored, somebody came in the barn the night before (the April 18 raid) and did it.”
He said his vet checked every horse and took their pictures Monday and said “what good shape the horses were in. They were not sore.”Wheelon also said his wife videotaped the horses at that time.
The vet was testing the horses for Coggins Disease (equine infectious anemia).
He said he was completely surprised by the raid and declared his total innocence.
Wheelon, who lives on Miracle Landing Drive, Maryville, faces one count of cruelty to animals, He accused the Humane Society of using the situation as a way to generate donations.
He said the people seizing the horses Thursday “don’t know how to handle horses” and that’s what resulted in a 2-year-old stallion trampling a handler.
Wheelon said it appeared from the television video of the event that the horse “broke his foot off to the nub. Blood was flowing everywhere, He may be ruined.”
He also said it was the responsibility of the people seizing the horses to provide for the horses’ safety.
Probe continues
While Wheelon faces only one charge at this time, the investigation is continuing and more charges may be added later.
“Hopefully we will get co-conspirators and indict them all,” said Gino Bachman, animal cruelty investigator and president of the Blount County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Test results are not yet back on swabs taken in the initial April 18 raid at Larry Wheelon Stables, 2743 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, The swabs are being tested for use of illegal caustic chemicals, such as mustard oil or kerosene, used in the soring practice, which is illegal under the federal Horse Protection Act.
Soring is done to accentuate a horse’s gait. The training results in horses stepping higher, what is called the “Big Lick,” which scores high at horse shows.
Wheelon is free on $2,500 bond pending his first court appearance at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Blount County General Sessions Court before Judge Robert L. Headrick.
The prosecuting attorney will be Blount County Assistant District Attorney General Ellen Berez.
Wheelon’s attorney is Steve Williams.
(The Daily Times - April 26, 2013)
I find it hard to believe there are no comments. These photos show horses being tortured for no reason other than human vanity. Chinese foot binding, Karen neck stretching, Iban penis bars and the like at least only hurt humans. This is obscene, that horse in what I believe is referred to in 'the goat on a rock' stance is in extreme pain. It would be desperate to lie down except it's head would be in cross ties. In Australia, using a jigger (cattle prod) on a horse can have your race trainers license taken and a jail sentence. Wake up America, no other country in the world does anything except condemns this atrocity.
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