Soring is a vicious training tactic inflicted on horses for money and a blue ribbon. It is cruel and deliberate. While being “sored”, a horse can be left in their stall for days, his legs slathered in caustic chemicals and then wrapped in plastic to better “cook” chemicals deeply into the flesh. This causes extreme pain and suffering, and forces the horses to lift their front legs unnaturally high in the show ring, performing an unnatural gait called the “Big Lick”. If you walk through the barn, you can see the sored horses lying down in their stalls moaning in pain.
The Horse Protection Act (HPA) was enacted in 1970 to put an end to this horrific act. However, political meddling (money under the table) has allowed the industry to continue abusing horses due to "self-policing” arrangement.
The United States Department of Agriculture has proposed a new rule that would put an end to this cruelty. Stacked horse shoes, ankle chains and other action devices would be banned from the show ring. Inspectors would be trained and licensed by the USDA. Time for change.
Maryann Davis
Hixson
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On Aug. 9th, I drove to Murfreesboro to speak at the USDA's public forum on new proposals for rules against horse soring. Some of the comments made by the horse trainers were so shocking, I couldn't believe grown ups were making them. They deny soring exists, and/or claim it is not abuse. Horse soring is alive and well and happening this week in Murfreesboro at the Celebration.
Tennessee is currently a haven for abusers who hide their training practices and pretend it is all in the name of benign entertainment. Horse soring, both chemically and with chains and pads, should be banned, as should the "Big Lick" style of competition. Doing so would not end anything but the torture of wonderful horses.
We have a chance to create a new, less tortured future for our namesake horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse. Their natural gait is beautiful and should not be altered. Claims that banning the Big Lick would mean an end to horse shows, or to gaited horse breeding, are not true. People already walk out of Big Lick competitions because they can't stand the tortured look on the horse's face. Let's move into a more humane future for these gentle and sensitive horses.
Thank you for covering this issue.
Mary Majorie Weber Marr
Chattanooga
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I own two TWH and both are completely barefoot and they high step beautifully and it's natural. Horses of any breed should not be altered from what their body naturally does.
With that being said, horse soring still exists and there is a local person trying to sale their horse with photos that show bald and scabbed over ankles with chains around them in the front. The horse's face is screaming for help. With that said, I have contacted HES but he's still there.
I have requested people to sponsor this horse in helping me buy him and once he is rehomed I will split the rehoming fee with anyone who donates (I can't guarantee he will sale for what I have to purchase him at). Please email me at TWHRescue@gmail.com for more information.
Jessica Russell
Chattanooga
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After Mr. Exum’s first report of soring and the support our Tennessee state Republicans were giving to it, I send Chuck Fleishmann an email and asked why he was openly supporting the abuse of any animal. He never answered. I went on to say it must because “The Big Lick” was supporting him with funds.
I also told him in his next campaign commercial instead of showing what a family man he was it would be nice to show him walking through fields, not with his family, but perhaps a field of tortured horses. I still haven’t received an answer.
Gary M Kerr
Chattanooga