Animal protection organizations are reacting to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report that evaluated methods of detecting horse soring and that underscores the urgent need to eliminate the current system of self-policing in the Tennessee walking horse industry.

Close-up of horse's misshapen legs and hooves showing signs of soring
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report evaluating methods of detecting horse soring underscores urgent need to eliminate self-policing in walking horse industry.
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Soring is the cruel practice of intentionally inflicting pain on the legs and hooves of Tennessee walking horses and related breeds to force the exaggerated show ring gait known as the “big lick.” The report is the culmination of a thorough study lasting over a year conducted by veterinarians and other experts in animal health and behavior brought together by the National Academies.
Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, reacted to the report with the following statement:
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About Humane Society Legislative Fund
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Press release provided by Keith Dane - Humane Society