A friend of mine returned this week from a trip to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee. This friend, from the equine protection unit of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), attends every year to monitor first-hand the abuses inherent in the Walking Horse world known as “soring.” What he saw once again this year, he wrote, re-confirmed that this so-called Tennessee tradition is “nothing more than a celebration of cruelty.”
Thanks to him, I’ve become pretty well versed in (and repulsed by) soring and the controversy that surrounds it—and worked with him in what some might view as a bit of a strange bedfellow relationship to help put a permanent end to it. A few of us put a coalition together in fact called Conservatives Against Animal Abuse, to help give conservatives who care about animal welfare a voice in the soring fight. (Let me tell you, anyone who thinks equine welfare—and animal welfare in general—is not a “conservative issue” is quite mistaken).
What is soring, anyway? The American Veterinary Association describes it as: “The unethical and illegal practice of deliberately inflicting pain to exaggerate the leg motion of gaited horses (such as Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses and Racking Horses) to gain an unfair advantage in the show ring.” Essentially, (my words) torturing them ‘til they dance pretty. It is positively medieval, and competing with a sored horse is indeed illegal, but the industry has been allowed to “police” itself. Of course, the practice remains rampant.
Still, folks in the horse industry and animal protection space who overwhelmingly oppose soring believe that finally, last week’s “Celebration” might be the last one with abused walking horses on display.
The reason for this optimism? A USDA final rule under the Horse Protection Act set to take effect in February 2025, that will upgrade USDA regulations to prohibit the use on Tennessee walking and racking horses at horse shows of action devices and stacks (heavy high-heeled horseshoes), both used in the process of soring. These devices cause the animals pain and force them to perform the high-stepping Big Lick gait. The rule will also end the failed system of industry self-policing.
It's been a long and surprisingly difficult road in spite of the fact that an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in Congress support the USDA rule and the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3090/S. 4004), which has 245 House and 53 Senate cosponsors at the moment, and goes even further than the rule in advancing protections for horses. Every major horse industry and veterinary organization in America stands with them.
So, why are we still having this conversation? The industry has some powerful friends and plenty of cash to throw at keeping the status quo. This small but powerful cabal has thrown an awful lot of wrenches into the mix but over time and with increased attention being paid, they are losing their grip. Still, a small minority of GOPers persist in doing their bidding, contrary to the will of what seems like just about everyone.
These obstructionist members, mostly from Tennessee and Kentucky of course, need to be called out, shamed and shut down. Mitch McConnell won’t lift a finger to help, and it would be nice and meaningful if he did. The Speaker of the House has been silent, possibly out of deference to the two main villains in the mix--the leaders of the tiny but strong horse-hating caucus, as I will call them--Reps. John Rose of Tennessee and James Comer of Kentucky. Let’s just say if Gov. Kristi Noem’s career is dead in the water over a book brag about shooting one unruly dog and one goat who apparently looked at her funny, how on earth is it that these two who are responsible for abetting those who intentionally harm thousands of horses aren’t being held accountable by their constituents?
It's a mystery, but we are on the cusp of a reckoning and a win in the effort to end soring despite them once and for all. You can help ensure that by clicking here and urging your legislators to do the right thing--or to thank them if they already are. And if you happen to be represented by Mr. Rose or Mr. Comer, perhaps use it to ask them how it is they sleep at night.
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