Soring in Horses

Soring in Horses: Why It Must End

By Dr Duncan Houston

Soring is one of the most well-known welfare issues in the horse world, and one of the most frustrating. It is not controversial because people do not understand it. It is controversial because, despite being illegal for decades, it still occurs in parts of the industry where exaggerated movement is rewarded.

At its core, this is not a grey area. Soring is the deliberate infliction of pain to alter the way a horse moves. That is not training. That is abuse. The bigger issue is not just that it happens. It is why it continues, and what actually needs to change to stop it.

Quick Answer

Soring is the intentional use of pain to exaggerate a horse’s gait, most commonly in Tennessee Walking Horses. It is illegal under federal law, causes significant physical and psychological harm, and persists due to gaps in enforcement and show ring incentives. Ending soring requires stronger enforcement, consistent judging standards, and industry-wide cultural change.

What Is Soring?

Soring refers to methods used to deliberately make a horse’s legs or hooves painful so that it lifts its limbs higher and moves in an exaggerated way.

This is most commonly associated with the “Big Lick” gait in certain show disciplines.

Methods used in soring include:

• applying chemical irritants to the skin

• creating or aggravating wounds

• mechanical pressure or trauma to the hoof or limb

• using devices that repeatedly strike or irritate sensitive areas

The result is a horse that moves in a way that appears dramatic, but is actually a response to discomfort.

Why Soring Happens

The reason soring persists is not because it works well for horses. It is because it can influence judging outcomes in certain competitive environments.

Drivers include:

• judging standards that reward exaggerated movement

• financial incentives and prize money

• long-standing cultural practices in parts of the industry

• inconsistent enforcement of regulations

• attempts to conceal evidence during inspection

This is the uncomfortable reality. As long as pain-driven movement is rewarded, there will be pressure to produce it.

How Soring Affects Horses

The impact of soring goes well beyond the moment of performance.

Physical consequences may include:

• pain and inflammation

• skin damage and scarring

• hoof damage

• lameness

• infection

• long-term structural changes

Behavioral and psychological effects may include:

• fear of handling

• avoidance behavior

• tension and anxiety

• altered movement patterns even outside the show ring

In practice, these horses are not just performing differently. They are coping with discomfort.

Severity Framework: How Serious Is This?

Mild misconception

• belief that devices or techniques are harmless

• assumption that exaggerated movement is natural

Reality: exaggerated gait driven by discomfort is not normal.

Moderate concern

• acceptance of questionable practices as “industry standard”

• reliance on poorly enforced rules

Reality: this allows harmful practices to continue under the surface.

High concern

• use of devices or methods that directly or indirectly create pain

• attempts to mask or hide evidence

Reality: this is a welfare issue, not a training method.

Critical concern

• repeated or severe soring practices

• ongoing injury, infection, or lameness

• systemic failure of enforcement

Reality: this is clear animal abuse and requires intervention.

The Legal Position

Soring has been illegal in the United States since the Horse Protection Act was introduced in 1970.

The law prohibits:

• intentional infliction of pain to alter gait

• showing, transporting, or selling horses that have been sored

Despite this, enforcement challenges have allowed the practice to persist in certain sectors.

Common enforcement issues include:

• limited inspection coverage

• inconsistent penalties

• reliance on industry-linked inspectors in some cases

• evolving methods to avoid detection

This is why legislation has continued to evolve in an attempt to close these gaps.

Why Enforcement Alone Has Not Solved the Problem

Law on paper does not always translate to change in practice.

Key limitations include:

• insufficient inspection resources

• variability in how inspections are conducted

• economic incentives outweighing penalties in some cases

• cultural resistance within parts of the industry

This creates a situation where the risk of being caught may not outweigh the perceived benefit of winning.

The Role of Equipment and Devices

Certain devices have been used historically to amplify or maintain exaggerated movement.

These may include:

• chains or bands placed around the pastern

• weighted or stacked shoeing systems

• modifications that increase mechanical stress or conceal injury

The key issue is not just the device itself. It is how and why it is used.

Decision checkpoint

If a device or method relies on discomfort or repeated irritation to influence movement, it has no place in ethical horsemanship.

What Actually Needs to Change

Real change requires more than awareness.

1. Judging standards

If exaggerated movement continues to be rewarded, the incentive remains.

2. Enforcement consistency

Rules must be applied uniformly and visibly.

3. Independent inspection systems

Inspection processes need to be credible and free from conflicts of interest.

4. Meaningful penalties

Penalties must be strong enough to outweigh financial incentives.

5. Industry culture

Long-term change depends on what is considered acceptable by trainers, owners, and organizations.

The Role of Veterinarians

Veterinarians have a responsibility to:

• identify signs of soring or related injury

• advocate for horse welfare

• avoid involvement in unethical practices

• support evidence-based standards of care

In many cases, vets are in a position to recognize problems early and speak up when welfare is compromised.

Common Misconceptions

“It is just how the breed moves”

It is not. Pain-driven movement is not natural gait.

“Some methods are harmless”

If the method depends on irritation or discomfort, it is not harmless.

“It is rare now”

While reduced, it has not been eliminated.

“It is part of tradition”

Tradition does not justify harm.

When Is This a Welfare Concern That Requires Action?

Intervention should be considered if:

• there are signs of pain or injury linked to training methods

• movement appears exaggerated in a way inconsistent with normal biomechanics

• there is evidence of chemical or mechanical irritation

• horses show fear or avoidance during handling of limbs

• repeated violations or suspicious practices are observed

At that point, this is no longer a debate. It is a welfare issue.

What Should Owners and Observers Do?

1. Understand what normal movement looks like
   This makes abnormal patterns easier to recognize.

2. Support ethical trainers and programs
   Where demand shifts, practices follow.

3. Report concerns where appropriate
   Regulatory systems rely on reporting.

4. Avoid events or organizations that tolerate questionable practices
   Economic pressure influences change.

5. Stay informed
   Welfare standards evolve, and awareness matters.

FAQs

Is soring still happening today?

Yes, although awareness and regulation have reduced it, it has not been fully eliminated.

Why is soring illegal?

Because it intentionally causes pain to alter movement, which is considered animal cruelty.

Can exaggerated gaits occur naturally?

Some breeds have distinctive movement, but pain-driven exaggeration is not natural.

Do all devices used in these disciplines cause harm?

Not all devices are harmful on their own, but their use must be judged by whether they contribute to discomfort or abuse.

What is the most effective way to stop soring?

Aligning judging standards, enforcement, and industry expectations so that pain-driven performance is no longer rewarded.

Final Thoughts

Soring is not a technical issue. It is an ethical one. The knowledge of what it does to horses is clear, and the legal position has been clear for decades. The remaining question is whether the industry consistently acts on that knowledge.

The path forward is straightforward in principle: remove the incentive, enforce the rules properly, and shift expectations toward welfare-first horsemanship. When those three align, practices like soring stop being viable.

If you are unsure whether a training method, device, or performance standard is compromising horse welfare, ASK A VET™ can help you assess the situation with a clear, welfare-focused perspective.