Since the industry has not been doing it's job, since the HIOs cannot seem to control their exhibitors and trainers, and since soring has been going on for far to long, then the time to start pushing the USDA to ban the tools used to sore horses has come.
From the below press release by FOSH:
Of the total violations reported [during the years 2008, 2009 and 2010], 90% of the violations were for padded horses and 10% were for flat shod horses.
Clearly, soring is still being achieved through using pads and chains to hide or enhance the pain. The industry has lost its privilege to show the padded and chained show horse. Nearly 40 years of abuse that still continues to this day, and the industry has not stopped it. Plus, we all know that when the USDA is not around the horses are more sore than ever. "Wildcat" shows are cropping up everywhere, over 400 last year. Reports of illegal shoe weights, illegal items such as plastic and wraps, and illegal lubricants are running rampant on the show grounds of these shows.
A follower of our blog was kind enough to go through the entire HPA database and found that 112 violations have been committed in 2011 alone. The majority of these violations were for unilateral sore, bilateral sore and the scar rule. Some people say this is a low number...I say anything above zero violations is too high. One or two, or perhaps 10, I know would be somewhat expected--cheaters will always cheat. But anything over that is unacceptable.
Soring has not ended, and it will continue as long as we allow it. Write your letters to the USDA supporting FOSH's decision, make your calls to your Congressmen. There is absolutely no reason that soring should still exist, and since the industry can't and won't stop it, then we need to see the tools used for soring be taken away.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person: Teresa Bippen
Tbippen1957@yahoo.com
FOSH Supports Ban on Action Devices and Pads
July 15, 2011
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) announces that it will request that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ban the use of action devices and pads in the exhibition of Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds.
Statistics were analyzed from the past three years' data from shows that USDA Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) attended. Over those three years (2008, 2009 and 2010) the entries inspected averaged about 50% padded and 50% flat-shod horses. Thirty six percent of the padded horses inspected by the USDA had Horse Protection Act (HPA) violations, which was five times higher than that of flat-shod horses. Of the flat-shod horses the USDA inspected, 7% were in violation. Of the total violations reported, 90% of the violations were for padded horses while 10% of the violations were from flat-shod horses.
Soring is illegal under the Horse Protection Act (HPA) which was enacted in 1970 to eliminate soring in the horse show ring. Soring is the abusive practice of creating pain as a means of achieving a flashy gait in the Tennessee Walking Horse and other gaited horse breeds. Soring continues to be a common practice in some barns and showing venues and as the statistics bear out, especially in the padded horse show ring.
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. For more information about FOSH or to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info or e-mail data@fosh.info
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