Quarter Horse Competitor, Tommy Manion, Cleared of SPCA Charges Related to BB Gun Incident

By: Brittany Bevis

We have received breaking news this morning regarding a case that came to light on July 15th of this year, when it was reported that former, renown Quarter Horse and National Cutting Horse Association trainer (now non-pro competitor) Tommy Manion, used a BB gun on an unruly and dangerous stallion at an NCHA event in Whitesboro, Texas.

According to Manion’s attorney, Rick Hagen, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has concluded their investigation into the case, and Grayson County SPCA Investigator Robert Williams and the Grayson County District Attorney declined to pursue charges.

The initial complaint alleged that a stallion, owned by Manion, was being very disruptive at the event, “kicking at people and other horses, attempting to bite people, and trying to climb over a wall where the stallion was tied.” Professional Horseman, Joe Howard Williamson, Corey Courville, and Jacob Taurel, provided statements that the stallion was “a danger to himself, other horses, and human life.”

In addition, the official show photographer, Sarah Sanderson, had this to say about the incident: “I saw a girl trying to approach the horse; however, he was kicking at her. Every time she tried to circle around, he would just keep moving around to try and kick her. A man decided to try and help her out by going to the horse’s head from across the wall and try to calm him down. However, then the horse turned into a super aggressive maniac and started trying to attack him by diving over the top of the wall, pawing at it, and trying to bite him. The gentleman then moved away, as I don’t think he had any other option and was trying to maybe at least distract him, so he could hopefully get around to his head. This was not the case as the horse continued to kick out in any direction he could. At this point, I said to the person sitting next to me that I couldn’t watch any longer as I didn’t want to see this poor girl get her head bashed in.”

Once Manion discovered how the stallion’s behavior had taken a turn for the worse, he retrieved a BB gun from his truck and hid in a position where the stallion couldn’t see him. When the stallion exhibited the aggressive behavior, Manion shot him in the hip with a BB. Over the course of five minutes, Manion shot three to four BBs from the bb gun. After the horse calmed sufficiently, Manion was able to approach the stallion and untie him.

According to the release, issued by Mr. Hagen this morning, a SPCA veterinarian examined the stallion and found no injuries. Upon his return home, Manion promptly had the stallion gelded.

Mr. Hagen had this to say about the incident: “Tommy Manion potentially saved a human life. The stallion had turned into a vicious animal. Tommy had a legal duty to stop it. He did not have a choice. Had the stallion gotten loose and killed or injured someone, Tommy Manion would have been liable under Texas law.”

“The SPCA investigated this case and found no violation. Tommy only used a BB when the stallion would exhibit aggressive behavior. Tommy wanted the stallion to believe that the discomfort caused by the BB was due to the stallion’s aggression and did not come from a human. The simple fact is that what Tommy did, worked, probably saved someone’s life, and did not cause pain or injury to the stallion whatsoever.”

We also reached out to attorney John Cayce, who is handling Manion’s case as it relates to his status within NCHA and any related fines and suspensions. Cayce confirmed that the NCHA Appeal Hearing Grievance Committee met on September 6th to review evidence against Manion regarding a complaint that was issued during the horse show. “The NCHA suspended Manion for two years and fined him $15,000 under its so-called ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ for allegedly abusing the horse,” Cayce says. “Manion has retained me to challenge that ruling, and we’re contemplating suing the NCHA for violating its own rules, as well as Texas and federal law, in improperly disciplining him. We’re, however, hopeful that the NCHA leadership will reconsider its ruling before that action becomes necessary.”

In addition, Cayce provided EquineChronicle.com with the following statement:

“From my perspective as the former Chief Justice of the Texas Court of Appeals, this is one of the worst cases of injustice committed by a private association against one of its own members that I have ever seen. The Appeal Committee hearing was a sham proceeding. There was no evidence presented at the hearing that the horse was harmed, traumatized, or otherwise abused. In fact, the evidence proved that Tommy’s life-saving efforts did not hurt his horse. If anything, it stopped the horse from further harming itself.”

“Unfortunately, the message the Appeal Committee report sends is that the NCHA places more importance on protecting a horse demonstrating vicious and dangerous behavior from the sting of a BB than it does on protecting the lives of human spectators at NCHA-sanctioned events. We trust that is not the message the NCHA leadership wants to send to the public or its members. But, if the NCHA leadership does not act to reverse the Appeal Committee report, we’re confident that a Texas court will act to ensure that the damage caused to Tommy by the NCHA’s unreasonable and unlawful conduct is remedied to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

We will continue to keep our readers informed as to the progress of this case.