Sign Petition to Finalize Legislation That Would Outlaw Painful Practice of Horse ‘Soring’!

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finally made major changes to the Horse Protection Act by outlawing the practice of “soring.”  Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the organization which played a large role in passing this legislation, describes soring as “the intentional infliction of pain on the legs and hooves of show Tennessee walking horses and related breeds, to force them to perform the artificial, pain-based ‘Big Lick’ gait.” Stacks, pads, chains, chemicals, and other devices and practices are used on horses at shows, auctions, and sales in order to force the horse to walk in a way that is visually appealing for competition – to the great pain of the animals.  Thankfully, this cruelty will finally come to an end.

For decades, walking horses have been subjected to the practices of soring, which often starts with applying caustic chemicals such as concoctions containing mustard oil, along with camphor, methyl paraben, methyl salicylate, and hydrocarbons (all prohibited by the USDA) above the horse’s hooves, then covering it with plastic wrap. The burns cause the horse pain, which is commonly amplified by wrapping metal chains around their foot. Though these substances are prohibited, investigations by HSUS have revealed that the use of chemicals is alive and well. The pain from soring causes the horse to adopt an abnormal gait that is considered desirable for auctions and shows. Other practices of soring include trimming hooves too short and the use of stacks (platform shoes that force horses to stand at an abnormal angle).

This victory was a long time coming. According to HSUS, Congress passed the Horse Protection Act in the 1970s, “with the intent of banning this cruel practice.” However, due to underfunding and lack of organization, the USDA has allowed the horse industry to appoint “insiders” as inspectors for signs of soring. Over the years, the HSUS has carried out many undercover investigations that revealed the cruel practices behind the show horse industry.

While this organization was performing undercover investigations, Tawnee Preisner, founder of Horse Plus Humane Society in Tennessee, worked hard to rescued horses scarred by soring and sharing their stories, particularly the story of Skywalks Magical Dream. The story of this horse caught the attention of numerous local TV stations and The Tennessean, the largest newspaper in the state.

We are so glad the hard work of all these parties has paid off and finally, this abhorrent practice can be put to rest. Not only is this moment a major victory for the activists who have long fought for the lives of these animals, it is an inspiration for activists everywhere. Never give up fighting for what is right.

Preisner has stated that she will “take any of these horses [whose] owners will not keep them” now that soring is illegal. To Donate to Horse Plus Humane Society and help the many horses who will be sent to slaughter because they are no longer considered profitable, click here.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the public of their intent to publish this legislation on January 13th, but unfortunately, it was set to be published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2017, but it was withdrawn as a result of an Executive Order signed by President Trump. If you want to tell President Trump and the new Secretary of Agriculture ti expeditiously review and approve this rule for publication in the Federal Register, add your name to the petition below!

To learn more about the Humane Society of the United States, visit their official website.

Lead image source: Grigorita Ko/Shutterstock