On Monday, June 18, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) again called for a ban on the use of "action devices," which include chains often used in conjunction with caustic chemicals on the horse's ankle, and thick, heavy pads that are attached to the horse's hoof that cause the horses to walk in a high stepping fashion.
Working to save horse's limbs
While soring was made illegal in 1970 with the passing of the Horse Protection Act, it has continued to go on behind closed barn doors.
Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners maintain that the devices are implicated in the soring of horses competing in Tennessee Walking Horse championships.
While soring was made illegal in 1970 with the passing of the Horse Protection Act, some maintain it has continued to go on behind closed barn doors.
After a Nightline investigation aired last month, the sport came under intense scrutiny, with the Chattanoogan newspaper reporting that the top 20 trainers in the Riders Cup have amassed 161 violations of the Horse Protection Act in the last two years alone.
The Tennessean newspaper reported that eight of the last 10 "Trainers of the Year," as awarded by the Walking Horse Trainers' Association, have been suspended for soring at least once in their careers.
According to reports, many amateur owners of competition horses have not been aware of the practices of some trainers that violate the Horse Protection Act.