longear_lover
12-21-2005, 12:17 PM
I hope that everyone will bear with me for just a bit while I get up on my soap box and talk
about one of my pet peeves. I know that just about everyone has Oooo'd and Ahhhh'd at those
fantastic looking Walking Horses in the show ring at some point. Just the name of these horses
evokes images of high stepping, head bobbing grace. Unfortunately for many of these animals
they're put through what can only be described as pure torture to get to that point.
First I'd like to add a bit to what Circle has already posted about Tn. Walking Horses.
These animals are by nature a very tolerant, forgiving, gentle breed. There is usually little or no spook
in them. They were originally bred for plantation and large farm owners and overseers who
spent many hours in the saddle every day. They needed to cover a lot of ground quickly without
being beaten to death in the saddle at a trot or gallop. The Walking Horse has a beautiful smooth flat footed walk
that can cover 4-8 mph, a running walk that can cover 10-20 mph, and a rocking chair canter that
is tough to beat. These horses have the endurance to keep up these paces for long distances without
tiring. They are one of the ultimate "glide rides".
With that said I'd like to ask why anyone would feel the need to mess with perfection? I suppose the
answer is fairly simple to some... to WIN in the show ring! Chemical and Mechanical soring has become
such a problem that the USDA has had to step in to attempt to control it. Not only does it do
permanent damage to the horse (if they survive it at all) but also to those owners and trainers who
still do things the old fashioned way with many hours of patience, training, and a lot of sweat and tears.
These owners and trainers of sound horses are also hard pressed to compete against those that are
sored since a sored horse has much higher knee action and is much more animated (from pain).
In December 1999, USDA Deputy Administrator Dr. Ron DeHaven pointed out that nine of the last ten
presidents of the Walking Horse Trainers Association and nine of the last 16 Trainers of the Year had
federal cases pending or convictions for soring. A former official of the largest provider of Walking Horse
show judges and inspectors estimated that "80 to 90 percent of the horses shown in some areas of the
Southeast are sored." This is just the tip of the iceberg, it goes on and on.
Here are a few excerts about the different methods of soring and the definition of it, the full articles can
be found in the links below:
THE CONCEPT OF SORING - or fixing, or burning - is enough to make any decent horseman cringe. According
to the USDA, "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 U.S.C. SS 1821 - 1831)."
Probably the most popular soring agent is mustard oil, or allyl isothicocyanate. Unlike the mild spice you ooze over
hotdogs, this yellow liquid is nasty stuff. It is a highly toxic carcinogenic (cancer causing) mutagen
(agent that causes inheritable genetic alterations). It absorbs through the skin and into the tissue beneath almost
instantly, causing blistering and severe burning. Clever "trainers" combine it with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO,
an absorption enhancer) to help it absorb through the skin even more quickly, and then wrap the area with plastic
wrap covered with leg wraps to let it "cook", usually overnight. Exposure can cause convulsion, muscle contractions,
gastrointestinal changes, rapid heartbeat to heart attack, fertility problems and fetal death. In people, a good
whiff can cause coughing, pulmonary edema, headache, nausea, vomiting and worsen asthma. When a package of
mustard oil was accidentally dropped in a post office, after having been illegally mailed by a trainer to farm, the
building had to be evacuated and postal employees hospitalized.
Another soring agent is crotonal or croton oil, properly known as crotonaldehyde. Like mustard oil it is corrosive,
toxic and mutagenic. Inhaling the vapor can cause severe mucous membrane irritation, sore throat, coughing,
chest pain, nausea, vomiting, collapse or unconsciousness. Contact with the liquid can cause severe irritation with
redness, pain and possible 2nd degree burns. Toxic if ingested, it can cause systemic poisoning, damage to the
central nervous system and internal tumors and scarring when absorbed through the skin. A clear liquid, with a
"tarry" odor, it turns yellow when exposed to air and water.
Salicylic Acid or 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid causes skin irritation and may permeate skin in sufficient amounts to
cause systemic toxicity. Ingestion in people causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, black, tarry diarrhea and
kidney damage. White or beige in color, the substance is odorless and soluble in turpentine.
Diesel Oil is a mixture of many chemical compounds. Overexposure can lead to weakness, headache, nausea,
confusion, blurred vision and various effects on the nervous system. Inhalation may cause those symptoms plus
rapid breathing, impaired judgment, personality change, memory impairment, convulsions, unconsciousness and death.
An aromatic liquid that is clear or light yellow in color, this is the oil of choice when soring with chains.
Mechanical Soring can be just as hideous and just as painful for the horses.
Stacks (up to 5" high and sometimes filled with wet sand for weight) and chains are affixed to the front hooves
(mostly after the horse has been Chemically sored) causing the horse to snatch his painful front hooves up off the
ground and throw his weight onto the back of the spine, hips and rear legs causing the "knee up the nose, butt
dragging" image of the Big Lick Show Horse.
Pressure Shoeing causes appalling pain and even some of the Sored-Horse Trainers stop short of this despicable
practice, though too many do not!
Road Foundering is a common practice before showing causing exactly the amount of pain you would expect with
"acute founder".
Heavy Plantation Shoes ("manhole covers" up to 60 oz. in weight) accompanied by a Chemical "touch-up" and
chains on already painful areas, also produce the sought after but bastardized "gait".
Mechanical Soring, aside from the instantly produced pain, causes irreparable damage in young horses to the
tendons, knees, cerebral spine, hips, tendons and hocks of the rear legs. Show horses are subjected to this
torture from as young as 14 mos. of age!!
The above are just a few of the hidious methods used, please read the full articles (if you have the stomach
for it) linked below. There are a few graphic photos so beware. The only way to stop these inhumane practices
is through knowledge, please help spread the word. These practices are also spreading to many other gaited
horse breeds as well.
http://www.ahdf.org/soring.html (http://www.ahdf.org/soring.html)
http://iceryder.net/sore.html (http://iceryder.net/sore.html)
http://www.charitywire.com/charity17/02540.html (http://www.charitywire.com/charity17/02540.html)
*hops down off her soapbox now*
about one of my pet peeves. I know that just about everyone has Oooo'd and Ahhhh'd at those
fantastic looking Walking Horses in the show ring at some point. Just the name of these horses
evokes images of high stepping, head bobbing grace. Unfortunately for many of these animals
they're put through what can only be described as pure torture to get to that point.
First I'd like to add a bit to what Circle has already posted about Tn. Walking Horses.
These animals are by nature a very tolerant, forgiving, gentle breed. There is usually little or no spook
in them. They were originally bred for plantation and large farm owners and overseers who
spent many hours in the saddle every day. They needed to cover a lot of ground quickly without
being beaten to death in the saddle at a trot or gallop. The Walking Horse has a beautiful smooth flat footed walk
that can cover 4-8 mph, a running walk that can cover 10-20 mph, and a rocking chair canter that
is tough to beat. These horses have the endurance to keep up these paces for long distances without
tiring. They are one of the ultimate "glide rides".
With that said I'd like to ask why anyone would feel the need to mess with perfection? I suppose the
answer is fairly simple to some... to WIN in the show ring! Chemical and Mechanical soring has become
such a problem that the USDA has had to step in to attempt to control it. Not only does it do
permanent damage to the horse (if they survive it at all) but also to those owners and trainers who
still do things the old fashioned way with many hours of patience, training, and a lot of sweat and tears.
These owners and trainers of sound horses are also hard pressed to compete against those that are
sored since a sored horse has much higher knee action and is much more animated (from pain).
In December 1999, USDA Deputy Administrator Dr. Ron DeHaven pointed out that nine of the last ten
presidents of the Walking Horse Trainers Association and nine of the last 16 Trainers of the Year had
federal cases pending or convictions for soring. A former official of the largest provider of Walking Horse
show judges and inspectors estimated that "80 to 90 percent of the horses shown in some areas of the
Southeast are sored." This is just the tip of the iceberg, it goes on and on.
Here are a few excerts about the different methods of soring and the definition of it, the full articles can
be found in the links below:
THE CONCEPT OF SORING - or fixing, or burning - is enough to make any decent horseman cringe. According
to the USDA, "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 U.S.C. SS 1821 - 1831)."
Probably the most popular soring agent is mustard oil, or allyl isothicocyanate. Unlike the mild spice you ooze over
hotdogs, this yellow liquid is nasty stuff. It is a highly toxic carcinogenic (cancer causing) mutagen
(agent that causes inheritable genetic alterations). It absorbs through the skin and into the tissue beneath almost
instantly, causing blistering and severe burning. Clever "trainers" combine it with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO,
an absorption enhancer) to help it absorb through the skin even more quickly, and then wrap the area with plastic
wrap covered with leg wraps to let it "cook", usually overnight. Exposure can cause convulsion, muscle contractions,
gastrointestinal changes, rapid heartbeat to heart attack, fertility problems and fetal death. In people, a good
whiff can cause coughing, pulmonary edema, headache, nausea, vomiting and worsen asthma. When a package of
mustard oil was accidentally dropped in a post office, after having been illegally mailed by a trainer to farm, the
building had to be evacuated and postal employees hospitalized.
Another soring agent is crotonal or croton oil, properly known as crotonaldehyde. Like mustard oil it is corrosive,
toxic and mutagenic. Inhaling the vapor can cause severe mucous membrane irritation, sore throat, coughing,
chest pain, nausea, vomiting, collapse or unconsciousness. Contact with the liquid can cause severe irritation with
redness, pain and possible 2nd degree burns. Toxic if ingested, it can cause systemic poisoning, damage to the
central nervous system and internal tumors and scarring when absorbed through the skin. A clear liquid, with a
"tarry" odor, it turns yellow when exposed to air and water.
Salicylic Acid or 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid causes skin irritation and may permeate skin in sufficient amounts to
cause systemic toxicity. Ingestion in people causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, black, tarry diarrhea and
kidney damage. White or beige in color, the substance is odorless and soluble in turpentine.
Diesel Oil is a mixture of many chemical compounds. Overexposure can lead to weakness, headache, nausea,
confusion, blurred vision and various effects on the nervous system. Inhalation may cause those symptoms plus
rapid breathing, impaired judgment, personality change, memory impairment, convulsions, unconsciousness and death.
An aromatic liquid that is clear or light yellow in color, this is the oil of choice when soring with chains.
Mechanical Soring can be just as hideous and just as painful for the horses.
Stacks (up to 5" high and sometimes filled with wet sand for weight) and chains are affixed to the front hooves
(mostly after the horse has been Chemically sored) causing the horse to snatch his painful front hooves up off the
ground and throw his weight onto the back of the spine, hips and rear legs causing the "knee up the nose, butt
dragging" image of the Big Lick Show Horse.
Pressure Shoeing causes appalling pain and even some of the Sored-Horse Trainers stop short of this despicable
practice, though too many do not!
Road Foundering is a common practice before showing causing exactly the amount of pain you would expect with
"acute founder".
Heavy Plantation Shoes ("manhole covers" up to 60 oz. in weight) accompanied by a Chemical "touch-up" and
chains on already painful areas, also produce the sought after but bastardized "gait".
Mechanical Soring, aside from the instantly produced pain, causes irreparable damage in young horses to the
tendons, knees, cerebral spine, hips, tendons and hocks of the rear legs. Show horses are subjected to this
torture from as young as 14 mos. of age!!
The above are just a few of the hidious methods used, please read the full articles (if you have the stomach
for it) linked below. There are a few graphic photos so beware. The only way to stop these inhumane practices
is through knowledge, please help spread the word. These practices are also spreading to many other gaited
horse breeds as well.
http://www.ahdf.org/soring.html (http://www.ahdf.org/soring.html)
http://iceryder.net/sore.html (http://iceryder.net/sore.html)
http://www.charitywire.com/charity17/02540.html (http://www.charitywire.com/charity17/02540.html)
*hops down off her soapbox now*