BREEDING & HEALTH
AQHA Releases Official Statement Regarding Meeting Between Professional Horsemen's Council and Cleve Wells
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Cleve Wells appeared in front of the Professional Horsemen's Council on February 17 in Amarillo, Texas with regard to the recent allegations against Wells involving the abuse of Slow Lopin Scotch.

According to Kelly Proffitt, the Senior Manager of Professional Horsemen, AQHA's official statement regarding the matter is as follows:

"On February 17, the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Council met regarding whether Cleve Wells’ conduct, as the trainer of SLOW LOPIN SCOTCH and owner of Cleve Wells Quarter Horses where SLOW LOPIN SCOTCH was being trained, met the high standards of conduct required and expected of Professional Horsemen set forth in Rule 478 of 2008 AQHA's Official Handbook and the AQHA Professional Horsemen Code of Ethics.

As a result of such meeting, the Professional Horsemen Council determined that Mr. Wells’ conduct did not meet such standards and recommended to the AQHA Executive Committee that Mr. Wells' membership in the AQHA Professional Horsemen Association should be revoked. The Professional Horsemen’s Council’s recommendation will be reviewed by the Executive Committee for their decision in the near future."

Ms. Proffit also disputed previous reports regarding recommendations of further disciplinary action stating, "The only recommendation made was to revoke his Professional Horsemen’s card."  The Executive Committee can choose to accept, deny or change the recommendation made by the Professional Horsemen's Council at the time of its review.  According to Proffit, "They (AQHA Executive Committee) could choose to accept the Council’s recommendation only or they could opt to take further action on their own."

4 comments for this article Reverse Comment Order
Added: February 24, 2009. 04:04 PM CDT
Make an Example
I hope that they do more that take his "Professional Horsemans Card" Big Whopee. A few years ago I was very new at the world show and guys like Cleve Wells were Gods or Rock Stars to me. I had read about them and seem them in the magazines. Boy was my bubble burst. I saw some abuse behind the scenes that would shock most people and it was by an AQHA Professional Horsemann/Judge/someone who wrote an article about abuse to horses. What a joke. Yes I should have turned him in but when you are trying to come upin the world of horse showing and you are with folks that could have that peticular judge ruin your showing ability you turn your head. But next time I will not go to AQHA I will go to the local Humane Society and let them know, and take pictures. You would think in todays world with camera phones they would be more careful. I understand why you have to give your name to AQHA to turn them in but I really like to show and you know it is a good ole boys club. Next time I will do something as I have never forgiven myself but I was so shocked at the treatment of the animal just to win a prize. But when you have money attached to things this is what happenes. Don't get me wrong I love showing horses and I am with a trainer but I closely monitor and if my trainer ever did anything incorrect I would jerk my horse and let the whole world know. Please AQHA do the right thing and make an example of this trainer if it is truly deserved and pull his membership also. Maybe if they know it will hurt their income they will think twice and let people know that their horse may or maynot be able to do the job they are taking the money for.
winner01
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Added: February 24, 2009. 02:45 PM CDT
Disciplinary action
Removing Cleve Wells from the Professional Horseman's list is just a slap on the wrist. The only thing these animal abusers understand is when they get 'hit' in their pocketbook.
IF the AQHA is really serious about trying to enforce their rules against future and current animal abuse then they need to bar Mr. Wells from every owning or showing Quarter Horses in the future.

Humane training methods are very effective and make the learning curve enjoyable to the horse and rider. There are many good trainers out there and Mr. Wells gives a bad name to all of the good ones that take the time to train a horse correctly.

A message needs to be sent to all those cruel trainers and exhibitors out there that this abuse will not be tolerated at any level in the AQHA (or any other association). So many people claim to love their horses but turn their heads the other way when a trainer crosses the line from training to abusing with their horse JUST so they have the glory of a 'winner' in their ownership. Sad but true.

Sorry for the animals, they have no say in this abuse.
queenbee
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Added: February 20, 2009. 04:14 PM CDT
Disciplinary Action, Continued
I, too, hope AQHA will follow through on this and take the corrective action needed on this incident. There is far too much horse abuse out there, so much that goes on "behind the scenes, and sometimes we, the people, the only ones who have the voice to save the horse, we may feel a little overwhelmed and think "we stopped this one, but there's a thousand others out there." This does happen far too often, and all horse abuse can't be stopped, but I want to put a statement out there that a detective who worked on child abuse cases once told me, and when you think about this, and think about ALL THE HORSES out there that go through abuse, just like little children do, then you'll understand why he never quit, not even after 43 years, and why I will never quit trying to help the horses, either...."No, I can't save them all, but I can save one, and to that one I save, it matters a great deal."
Candy Wilcox
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Added: February 20, 2009. 12:18 PM CDT
Disciplinary Action
I hope AQHA will do the right thing and let the members of AQHA know that they will not tolerate this kind of abuse. Unfortunately, I know that this is not an isolated case and that it happens more than we want to admit. This should be a message to all owners to take a more active part in their horses training and keep your eyes open. Everyone wants to win, but the owners also have to realize that sometimes horses just aren't capable of being that superstar we all want. Make sure you set realistic goals for you and your horse and discuss them with your trainer.
horseshowtime
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