Soring, illegal for more than 40 years, is the abusive act of intentionally inflicting pain on gaited horses through the use of chemical irritants, broken glass wedged in between a horse's shoe pads and sole, or overly tightened metal hoof bands. The extreme pain caused by these abuses forces the horse to lift its legs faster and higher, perhaps increasing its chance of winning in show rings across the country.
"A zero-tolerance policy being promoted by these shows would set a significant tenor for the entire show season."--AVMA President Rene Carlson
"It's time for this egregious form of animal cruelty to end," says Dr. Rene Carlson, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors are doing everything possible to detect evidence of soring before horses are allowed to compete.
Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, USDA inspectors are only able to attend a small number of the shows being held. It is going to take a team effort to put an end to the inhumane practice of soring horses, so America's veterinarians stand in support of government regulators and the walking horse industry in their horse protection efforts," said Carlson.
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| Thermographic image showing excessive warmth (seen as red and orange colors), which may be caused by inflammation from soring. The pattern seen is consistent with soring using a chemical agent. (AVMA.org image courtesy of USDA) |
The USDA cited participants in the 2011 National Trainers' Show with 49 violations of the Horse Protection Act — the third highest number of violations for a single USDA-inspected show that year.
Prosecution of violators has met strong political opposition, challenging USDA's efforts at enforcement and creating an environment where recidivism is the norm.
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| Lateral radiographic view of the front left foot of a sored horse. Notice the large number of nails, which were added to increase the weight carried by the hoof and accentuate the gait, but can also place pressure on the sole, causing pain. (AVMA.org image courtesy of USDA) |
To assist in the return of the walking horse gait back to its natural beauty, the AVMA has created an educational video, produced in cooperation with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the USDA, to provide an overview of the issue of soring and highlight the tell-tale signs of when a horse has been sored.
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| Sole bruising caused by inserting hard objects between the hoof and shoe to place pressure on the sole is a sign of mechanical soring. (AVMA.org image courtesy of USDA) |
Additional materials, including a factsheet, backgrounder, reporting procedures, and the formal AVMA policy are available for general use.
The AVMA is confident that with appropriate recognition of the inhumane nature of soring; increased reporting of abuse; and stronger legislative and regulatory action, including adequate funding for inspections, the offspring of today's sored horses won't have to suffer tomorrow.
Resources on Soring:
AVMA Official Statement on Soring Practices
AAEP Statement on Soring (2002)
Download the AVMA Backgrounder on Soring Practices in Horses (2012)
Download the AAEP's white paper "Putting the Horse First" Veterinary Recommendations for Ending the Soring of Tennessee Walking Horses (2008)
USDA information on soring and the Horse Protection Act
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