Brian Ross Investigates: Tennessee Walking Horses - Practice of Soring Remains Rampant

TL;DR

Tennessee walking horses are subjected to pain and torture in order to achieve an exaggerated high-stepping gait, while the Pandora Papers reveal how the world's wealthiest individuals hide their billions through offshore accounts.

Transcript

this week on brian ross investigates the elegant tennessee walking horses with their high stepping gate called the big lick drawing big crowds and millions of dollars in prizes and stud feeds a proud tradition but behind the scenes the ongoing ugly secret of how those horses are scarred and soared their legs soaked in acid and diesel fuel so by inf... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 The abuse and torture inflicted on Tennessee walking horses for the sake of the "big lick" gait are ongoing despite calls for reform.
• ⁉️ Loopholes and lack of enforcement allow trainers guilty of horse abuse to participate in major competitions, raising questions about the commitment of the industry to ban cruelty.
• 🌍 The Pandora Papers reveal the extensive use of offshore accounts by the world's wealthiest individuals, including politicians and government officials, highlighting the flaws in the international financial system.
• 💵 Offshore entities provide a platform for tax evasion, money laundering, and the protection of ill-gotten wealth, with the involvement of major banks, law firms, and accounting firms.
• 🪡 The revelations from the Pandora Papers underscore the need for tighter regulations and transparency in the financial industry to combat corruption.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of inflicting pain on Tennessee walking horses?

The pain is inflicted to make the horses step higher and achieve the exaggerated gait known as the "big lick." Trainers use methods such as acid or diesel fuel soaking, chains, and chemical irritants to force the horses to lift their feet higher.

Q: Has there been any punishment for trainers caught abusing horses?

While some trainers have faced criminal charges and bans from the sport, loopholes and lack of enforcement allow them to continue participating in major competitions, undermining the supposed bans and reforms.

Q: How do the Pandora Papers shed light on offshore wealth?

The Pandora Papers consist of millions of documents exposing the role of shady financial firms in helping the wealthy hide their billions. The leaked documents reveal the involvement of presidents, prime ministers, and government ministers in buying real estate, trading shares, and using offshore companies to hide their wealth.

Q: Why do individuals hide their money offshore?

People hide their wealth offshore for various reasons, such as tax evasion, concealing the origins of illicit funds, or protecting their assets from scrutiny. Offshore entities provide secrecy and protection, allowing individuals to avoid taxes, launder money, and maintain anonymity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tennessee walking horses are exploited for their high-stepping gait called the "big lick," but behind the scenes, they are tortured and scarred to achieve this unnatural movement.

• Despite promises of reform and bans on trainers caught abusing horses, the practice of inflicting pain on horses for higher stepping continues.

• The Pandora Papers expose the extent to which the rich and famous hide their wealth through offshore accounts, with 12 million documents revealing the involvement of politicians, presidents, and government ministers.