Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) announced that its President, Lori Northrup, made an anti-soring presentation to a gathering of veterinarians at the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA earlier this month.
Soring of horses is the cruel and deliberate infliction of chemical or mechanical pain upon a horse’s hooves and limbs to create an unnatural, exaggerated, high stepping gait for the show ring. Soring is a major animal welfare issue that has been illegal for over forty years under the federal Horse Protection Act (HPA) yet the practice is still widespread in show rings of Tennessee Walking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses.
Educating Vets about soring
Soring is a major animal welfare issue that has been illegal for over forty years under the federal Horse Protection Act.
The presentation provides graphic photos of sored horses, horses’ scarred pasterns, harmful shoeing practices, deformed hooves, and more. Valuable information regarding the enormity of this animal welfare issue is made available with statistics on soring violations, trainer compliance histories, judging standards, and the alarming increase in the use of illegal chemical substances.
The veterinarian audience expressed its appreciation for bringing to their attention this equine welfare issue that continues despite governmental enforcement efforts.
FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses.