48 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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the following statement on July 31, 2014:
“I regret to inform you that Speaker of the House, John Boehner,
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stated preference for adhering to regular order. Furthermore, it is too
late in the year to resort to a discharge petition according to House
rules.
“I am sad that a bill which 70 percent of the House of
Representatives support, including 115 Republicans, can’t be
brought to a vote. I am particularly frustrated because many horses
will continue to be abused on a daily basis, unless the PAST Act
becomes law.”
There have been thousands of sound horse advocates as
well as numerous groups such as the American Horse Council,
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Equine Practitioners, National Sheriffs Association, Association of
Prosecuting Attorneys, and the veterinary medical associations from
50 states that have helped create vast support for this bill.
“I will not give up,” said Priscilla. “I remain dedicated to ending
the rampant practice of soring and I encourage everyone to ramp up
their efforts to do the same.”
While the PAST Act is temporarily stalled, Priscilla is doing what
she can to help horses at risk and encourages Speaker of the House
John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to step up and
end more than half a century of horse abuse by moving the PAST
Act to the Floor for a vote.
For the past six years, the Graceland stables have been a haven
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and our stable is full. I’m doing what I can to get the message out to
rescue,” Priscilla said.
Fans will be happy to know that there are tours of the Graceland
stables. “We have tours only on certain months because sometimes
it’s way too hot,” Priscilla said. “We love the people coming, they love
that tour so much.”
Priscilla added, “We have a Tennessee Walking Horse here that
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his legs, constantly making sure he is not in pain and helps him on
days he’s not doing that well. She has done amazing work with him.
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another horse that was rescued the day before [he would have been]
slaughtered.”
There have been many offers of gifts of horses, especially from
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again at Graceland — like those once ridden by Elvis and Priscilla.
“We were offered a beautiful champion palomino as a gift, but I feel
that that horse has a home already,” Priscilla said. She wants to
save space for horses in need of rescuing.
“Horses were a big part of Elvis’s life,” Priscilla said. “Having
horses roam the property of Graceland and living a good life was a
sight he enjoyed. We are keeping his legacy alive for others to enjoy
as well when they come to visit his home, Graceland.”
About the writer: Doris Degner-Foster rides with Harvard Fox Hounds when she is
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and is working on a murder mystery where a horse appears in different people’s
lives to help them through a crisis. Look for Doris’s blog, Notes From the Field on
the Sidelines Magazine website.
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lawmakers for the horse protections bill PAST Act, aka Prevent All Soring Tactics Act.
Photo by Pete Marovich
