The high-stepping gait of horses that wins prizes in the show ring is obtained by torturing horses. It's called "soring"- and it involves whipping, kicking, shocking and using caustic chemicals on the front legs of horses in order to cause pain, resulting in the artificially produced high-stepping gait.
This cruel practice has been illegal for more than 40 years under the federal Horse Protection Act, but it hasn't protected horses from this torture, or prevented owners from winning prizes from it.
Obviously, the USDA cannot regulate the Horse Protection Act properly, so it is time to BAN the Tennessee Walking Horse competition altogether.
Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Phone: (202) 720-4623
Fax: (202) 720-5402
The high-stepping gait of horses that wins prizes in the show ring is obtained by torturing horses. It's called "soring"- and it involves whipping, kicking, shocking and using caustic chemicals on the front legs of horses in order to cause pain, resulting in the artificially produced high-stepping gait.
This cruel practice has been illegal for more than 40 years under the federal Horse Protection Act, but it hasn't protected horses from this torture, or prevented owners from winning prizes from it.
Obviously, the USDA cannot regulate the Horse Protection Act properly, so it is time to BAN the Tennessee Walking Horse competition altogether.
