New Efforts Make Soring A Felony
|
|
It baffles me that the issue of soring has lasted so long. What is soring? It is the use of caustic chemicals used to irritate the skin on a horse’s legs, the insertion of sharp objects into sensitive parts of the horse’s hooves, weighted shoes, trimming hooves so that tender tissue is exposed and other barbaric practices thought to make a horse lift up its feet higher to perform something called ‘The Big Lick’, a popular competition in the Tennessee Walking Horse world. These methods, or combination of methods ensure that a horse lives in constant pain.
Back in 1970 the US Congress enacted the Horse Protection Act (HPA), designed to make soring illegal. Forty years later, the HPA has proven to be without teeth. Those who use soring to create unnaturally high-stepping horses have stayed one step ahead of the law. When one soring method becomes detectable, another is created. The www.hpadata.us claims over 13,000 incidences since the enactment of the HPA.
Related: When does the show ring go too far
Related: The Inhumane Practice of Soring Continues
Nevertheless, renewed efforts to bring this despicable practice to an end have begun. The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act has been re-introduced to the the US legislature after failing to make it to the floor last fall. Introduced by two senators, the pending bill would change the practice of soring from a misdemeanor to felony. Any caustic agents, weighted shoes, leg chains or other chemical or article applied to a horse’s legs or hooves to make it step higher would be illegal. It changes how inspectors are qualified, and enforces a new licensing process. All “Big Lick” events would require an inspector. The TWH show industry may be self-policing, but to do so would risk greater liability if soring is discovered. Penalties will be stiffer, and lifetime bans enforced for those charged with a third violation.
There are those who believe that the PAST Act will destroy the TWH show industry, and that self-regulation is working. The PAST Act will actually punish the greater number who do things right. The effort and money that would go into monitoring the TWH industry would be better spent elsewhere and is a poor use of taxpayer’s money. The incidences of soring are few, and that further legislation isn’t necessary. These are just a few of the arguments against the PAST Act.
But many others including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Horse Council, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners endorse the bill. The public too, is aware of the practice and Friends of Sound Horses provides information for those who wish to enjoy and show their gaited horses without the use of cruel artificial means to enhance their gaits. The United States Equestrian Federation passed a rule against the use of any form of soring or device to enhance a horse’s gait. All horses ridden in any USEF sanctioned show must be flat shod only. Many non-gaited breed associations have voiced their condemnation of the practice.
There are still several voting and debating steps before this bill can be made law. Those who oppose soring have been waiting forty years for laws that will bring an end to the practice of soring. For those horses who are living in pain, the wait is far, far too long. |
|
|
Related Horse News
|
|

26th Jan 2010 |
Horse Rescue and Abuse |
mosquito
Going to a horse show or an event is great. Beautiful horses, smartly dressed riders, all ready to perform their best. But sometimes getting horses to look and do their best isn’t as great as it seems. ...
|
|
It baffles me that the issue of soring has lasted so long. What is soring? It is the use of caustic chemicals used to irritate the skin on a horse’s legs, the insertion of sharp objects into sensitive parts of the horse’s hooves, ...
|
|
Despite laws, despite inspections, despite the extreme ire of horse lovers the world over, the practice of soring continues. Soring is the practice of using a chemical or device to make a horse’s hooves and pasterns sensitive in a ...
|
|
The language in this video may offend some, but the topic discussed will probably offend most. So-called big lick shows continue, even throughout the Covid19 shutdown. RaleighLink14 takes on this barbaric practice, with clips of s ...
|
|
Another bill in front of the current congress is commonly known as the PAST Act or Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 693. Although that is how it appeared when first presented, it has now been renamed in honor of Joseph ...
|
|
Members of the Tennessee Walking Horse community are concerned that a passing of a bill before the U.S. congress would be detrimental to their industry. PAST or Prevent All Soring Tactics would amend previous legislation and chang ...
|
|
Even though laws have been enacted to penalize trainers who sore Tennessee Walking Horses for competition, the practice continues. Billy Go Boy’s YouTube channel documents ‘Big Lick’ competitions, often involving horses 2 years ol ...
|
|
More News by Winniefield Park
|
|
In the face of a heatwave how do you keep horses cool? Horses deal with cool weather better than hot and need extra care to prevent heat exhaustion. Sometimes the show must go on however and here is a look at how the Household Cav ...
|
|
The last time the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races were run six horses died in the first race. Now, two years later, new measures have been implemented that organizers say have increased the safety of the races for both horses an ...
|
|
16.3 hand Thoroughbred mare RSS Ovanta R, with a highest jump of 104 inches and a jumpoff record of 683 - 169 has captured the top spot and earned 1,179,600 PB for stable RavenSide Stud TBS as we enter the month of August 2022. ...
|
|
The Calgary Stampede is an annual July event with competitions for professional and amateur rodeo riders. The Wild Pony race was received with enthusiasm by an excited audience who turned out to watch teams of young rodeo athletes ...
|
|
A race at the Cazoo Derby got off to a very bad start for one jockey who parted with his horse. Then a mistake by the starter put the rest of the field in jeopardy as they raced down the turf track with a riderless horse leading t ...
|
|
Trail cams often provide a peek into the activities of the nearby wildlife. Imagine watching your footage and seeing your camera has captured a speedy pursuit that includes a grizzly bear and 6 horses. The ensuing melee happened o ...
|
|
At 13-year-old the 17-hand Thoroughbred stallion MH Shameful Fame captured the #1 spot and held the record for the highest jump over the last weekend in July. He had earned 4,932,500PB for Mountain Hollow Estate and his jumpoff re ...
|
|
Jljflldlllllllllllllllllll BBBB uilyndlll. That’s the email message. Because it was sent by a horse. How do you teach a horse to type? Here’s how a group from Iceland went about training some Icelandic horses to send reply emails ...
|
|
|