At the recent Sound Horse Conference, leading animal welfare organizations joined with Tennessee Walking Horse industry groups to announce the formation of the new Alliance to End Soring. The conference took place April 11 and 12 in Columbus, Ohio.

Generally used in the Tennessee Walking Horse and other gaited breeds, soring is the use of pain-causing caustic chemicals, chains, trauma, and other techniques to achieve a high-stepping gait.

Founding alliance members include: the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Horse Defense Fund, Friends of Sound Horses, and the Horse Protection Commission.

The Alliance to End Soring will work with the USDA, Congress and Tennessee Walking Horse industry stakeholders to advocate for increased enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and raise public awareness of soring.

To read more about the conference see Industry Members Discuss Imaging Technology at Soring Conference