The recent news stories declaring that for the first time in 62 years a World Grand Champion was not crowned at this year’s walking horse Celebration in
For those who may not know the meaning of the term ‘soring’, it is defined by the USDA as follows:
The application of any chemical or mechanical agent applied to the lower leg or hoof of any horse that causes pain, or, can be expected to cause pain, for the purpose of “enhancing” the horse’s gait for show purposes is strictly prohibited under The Horse Protection Act, as amended (15 USC SS 1821- 1831).
As a disclaimer, I am not implying that every single competitor/owner/trainer in the Tennessee Walking Horse show world is guilty of utilizing such heinous and inhumane actions to give them an “edge” over those who naturally train their horses. There are many trainers (if not the majority thereof) who have built and maintained their training regimen matching their training abilities to the natural talent of the horse, with a good mix of repetitive conditioning and time.
In my opinion, the time required to train a top level competitive horse is what induces some trainers to use abhorrent soring measures. These trainers decide to take the easy way out and have a horse ready to compete in the fraction of time it takes to train naturally.
There are many ways to sore a horse, but the outcome of each method is the same – torturous pain. Horses that are sored do not have a natural gait, because their gait is altered and exaggerated due to pain. A forcibly sored horse cannot bear the pain in his feet and lower legs and will dramatically raise his front legs higher and reach in deeper with his hind legs to redistribute as much possible weight onto his hindquarters, which is the result the trainers are looking for.
Generally speaking, the majority of sored horses compete in the padded or “Big Lick” competitions; however, other classes (plantation, flat shod, etc.) have their share of sored horses, as well. Soring occurs in many competitions, not just the high-dollar shows like the Celebration; it is a factor in the small county events as well.
The “Big Lick” horses’ training starts at a young age when long yearlings (18 months old) are first placed on “baby stacks”, which consist of a pad, a wedge pad, and a keg shoe. These “babies” are also ridden at this age with no consideration given to their underdeveloped legs and back. I have heard many walking horse trainers ascribe that Tennessee Walking Horses mature quicker than other horses. Rubbish, says I.
From my personal viewpoint, it is not hard for a spectator in the stands to tell that a competing horse has been sored. The agony and pain is written all over its face, with ears pinned to its neck, eyes racked with anguish, and nostrils flared and quivering. Yet an easier way to discern the evil doing is to pay a visit to the show barn, if you can gain access. Let your senses (eyes, ears, and nose) tell you the truth. The smell of chemicals will be the first thing that assaults you. Next you will hear the moaning and groaning of horses in pain. Take a look around the immediate area; is that a roll of plastic wrap there on that bench? Hmmm, what could that be for? If you are able to look into the stalls, you will see horses that are lying down. Some may be standing up (or are they sitting down?) with their hind legs so far under them to take the pressure off of their front legs. Look into their faces; you will see the pain.
While I am sure there are more, I personally know of three products that are used to chemically induce the desired soring effect. Diesel oil is the soring agent most generally used by the new small-time illicit trainer, as it is by far easier to get than the other chemicals. It is most effectively used in combination with chains. The other agents are what I define as “graduate level” agents; unscrupulous trainers will move to the more intense oils once they discover how the chemicals make their training jobs easier.
The first graduate level agent is mustard oil, which is a very dangerous product. Along with its soring properties, mustard oil is also highly carcinogenic and can cause genetic mutations. It is easily absorbed through the skin and will sometimes be paired with DMSO to speed up the absorption process. The mustard oil/DMSO concoction is applied to the coronet band and on up the front leg halfway to the knee. The leg is then wrapped with plastic wrap, with regular leg wraps placed on top to hide the plastic wrap. The wraps are left in place for several hours to allow the chemical to ‘cook’ into the horse’s legs. This chemical agent can cause a myriad of medical conditions such as colic, convulsions, and/or heart attack. Pregnant mares have aborted foals or had stillbirths when this chemical agent was used on them. Interestingly, this chemical also has possible health implications to the person applying it. Headache, coughing, nausea and vomiting may be triggered if the person inhales the chemical fumes.
Croton oil is the second, which is also carcinogenic and can cause genetic mutations. It is applied similarly to the mustard oil, but it must be diluted with kerosene before application since is a much stronger agent and works somewhat differently in that it affects deep tissue. Horses sored with this agent may be able to pass DQP or USDA inspection since deeper tissue is involved and not the first layer of skin. Regardless, the horse will still suffer the soring effects and will respond with the desired gait. When Croton Oil is used with DMSO it can eat away flesh to the bone. Similar exposure symptoms of headache, coughing, nausea and vomiting may be experienced if exposed to the vapors.
There are other methods of soring aside or in conjunction with chemicals. Chains (of varying weights) are placed around the horse’s pasterns (generally in combination with a chemical) to induce the horse to pick up his feet. Bloodied pasterns are a common sight on horses that return to the barn after a training sequence.
Foreign objects will be placed under the pads against the frog of the foot to inflict pain with each step. The object that is most often used is a sawn-in-half golf ball.
Pressure shoeing is utilized by trimming the hoof wall down to the quick and then placing the shoe over it. Each time the horse takes a step, his nerve-sensitive hoof wall comes into contact with the shoe and causes severe pain.
Road foundering is basically the same process as pressure shoeing with the added torture of riding the horse up and down a paved road, which adds to the pain. You will see a lot of this road riding before competitions begin. I am sure some of the riders who are riding are legitimately warming up their horses; however, I’d bet the farm that some are road foundering their horses.
Hot nailing is a method employed by installing the horseshoe nail very close to the sensitive ‘white line’ of the hoof. The nails are then covered up with the pads to make them undetectable. Sometimes screws are used in place of the nails, in the event the inspectors use a fluoroscope to detect the presence of ill-placed nails. The screw can be ‘backed out’ before the scope, to avoid detection, and then screwed back in before the competition.
I have often wondered how any reputable farrier would purposely pressure shoe or hot nail a horse. It seems to me it would go against the grain of the “no hoof, no horse” saying of the farrier world.
The above-mentioned techniques (and who knows what others) are employed as heinous acts by individuals with one thing in mind – winning, regardless of the painful price the horse has to pay through its suffering. The most heart-breaking affirmation that hits home with me is that even though such cruel, inhumane, torturous, and painful tactics are undeservedly inflicted, that horse will perform with such a great heart and desire to please. And folks, if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye . . . well, I just don’t know what to say.
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