SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100
Categories: Horse News

Analysis Finds Soring is Rampant

Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH), which advocates ending the illegal and cruel practice of soring, announced it has compiled an analysis of recent Tennessee Walking Horse show-ring winners, providing new insight to the question of whether soring is required to win competitions.



The first-place winners for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Show were reviewed and analyzed. In 2007, 73 percent of the winning individuals had a history of Horse Protection Act (HPA) violations, averaging 5.1 violations each. In 2006, 85 percent of the winners had violations, averaging 5.2 violations each.



According to FOSH, several judges for the 2008 Celebration also had HPA violations. An analysis of the violation records reveals that of the five individuals selected to judge the 2008 Celebration, there are 14 HPA violations shared among them. The Celebration is considered the most prestigious Tennessee Walking Horse show in the World.
Soring is the deliberate infliction of pain on a horse’s front legs, via chemical or mechanical means, to make it painful to bear weight. Critics have long complained that soring is used to increase the high-stepping action of some show-ring gaited horses, particularly “big lick” Tennessee Walking Horses. The Horse Protection Act prohibits and makes it illegal to show, sell, auction, exhibit or transport sored horses.

For more information, visit www.fosh.info.

View Comments

  • People who advocate or practice soring should be ashamed of themselves. It is a very cruel practice and no one who cares for horses would consider using it.

  • You are all SO uneducated. You have no clue what you're talking about. These horses are all sound and unharmed. you have to look beyond your 73%. Why is the number so high? Wouldn't that ring a bell in the head of horse welfare advocates. I don't doubt that 73% of them have penalties. A perfect example of this is when the owners of my horses and the current trainer obtained a suspension from the USDA. They were taking a 2 year old stud horse through the DQP when a USDA official quickly approached the horse from the side and it spooked. The assumption was that since the horse spooked, it was sored. This only reinforced how little horse sense the USDA has. Any good horseman would know to not approach any horse in such a manner. This earned the 2 owners a year long suspension and the trainer a six month suspension. Its things like this that only emphasize the ignorance of the USDA.
    It's cases like that which add to your statistic. This is only a look at the tippy top layer. You aren't looking deep into the issue to see that there really isn't an issue with the horses, but rather the USDA and the inspection process. Look up your facts thoroughly before posting articles like this than end up tarnishing the image of the TWH trainers, owners, exhibitors, and horses themselves.

Recent Posts

Emergency and Natural Disaster Preparedness with Horses

Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a…

1 day ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Xanthus

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

2 days ago

Equine Affaire Massachusetts 2024: Four Days Just Isn’t Enough!

The crisp New England autumn air was filled with excitement as Equine Affaire returned to the Eastern States Exposition in…

3 days ago

A Royal Wrap: 2024 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Synopsis

Things have gone quiet now in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds on the waterfront of Lake Ontario after…

3 days ago

Vet Adventures: Lady Catherine de Bourgh

It was late on a Saturday when the photo popped up on my phone. It was a laceration at the…

4 days ago

Ultimate Guide to Ulcers

Equine ulcers are a significant concern for many horse owners. Ulcers can affect all types of horses and have a…

1 week ago