Where Do We Go From Here? Leadership, Fear, and the Responsibility to Listen

We are facing yet another defining moment in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

Industry leadership has proposed what, on paper, appears to be a bold and necessary step forward: an alliance of the major organizations — one umbrella, one inspection framework, one rulebook, one judges list. A unified front at a time when fragmentation has cost us credibility, participation, and political ground.

And yet, instead of productive dialogue, we’ve seen intense backlash. Much of it has not come from facts — but from fear.

From misinformation.

From social media chatter.

From individuals positioning themselves as leaders while driven by personal vendettas rather than the future of the breed.

This is not new. But the stakes are higher than ever.

The Reality We Cannot Ignore

While we argue amongst ourselves, the industry still faces ongoing legal challenges, escalating political pressure, and legislative threats — including upcoming rulemaking and a renewed version of the PAST Act — legislation that would fundamentally dismantle the show horse as we know it.

Unity is not a luxury right now.It is a requirement.

A divided industry is easy to target.

A fractured message is easy to defeat.

An industry at war with itself loses credibility with regulators, legislators, and the public.

Why the Backlash?

Change creates discomfort.

Transparency threatens those who thrive on chaos.

And unity removes the power of misinformation.

When people are told what to fear instead of what is true, emotion replaces reason. Social media becomes an echo chamber. Nuance disappears. Motives are questioned before facts are even heard.

The loudest voices are not always the most informed — but they are often the most amplified.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

The path forward requires mature leadership at every level — boards, trainers, owners, and exhibitors alike.

Open-mindedness does not require blind trust.But it does require the humility to listen.

This moment will define us — not by whether we all agree, but by whether we were willing to listen, learn, and lead with the future in mind rather than the past.

Call to Action!

This is the moment where every stakeholder in this industry must make a choice.

Be open-minded.

Seek out primary sources.

Read the proposals.

Learn the history.

Ask questions of those actually involved in leadership — not just the loudest voices online.

The facts are available — but they only matter if we are willing to look at them.

Change is inevitable.The only real decision is whether we help shape it — or allow it to be dictated to us.

An industry that refuses to evolve will be regulated, restricted, and ultimately defined by outside entities who do not understand our horses, our traditions, or our progress.

We deserve a seat at the table.But seats are earned through unity, credibility, and leadership — not chaos and distraction.

If you care about this breed, your trainers, your owners, and your future in this industry, now is the time to engage with facts — not fear — and to be part of the solution, not the noise.