Is "soring" used on Saddlebreds?

anywhere there is that much money involved there will be people who do things unethically and inhumanely in order to win. Unfortunately, that's just a fact of life.

^ Not the point, but you are right. People are idiots.

Wow, I am sorry I did not see this sooner. I am a Saddlebred Show Horse person. Saddlebreds are my life, and promotion and education of my one and only favorite breed are my favorite subjects.

No, Saddlebreds are not sored. Saddlebreds are a trotting breed and by the mechanics of the gait, having sore feet would have the opposite effect on the horse's motion. Most Saddlebreds I have been around(and I have been around A LOT of Saddlebreds. There are currently 30 in my barn.) do not have a high tolerance for pain.

The harnesses you saw the horses wearing are called tail sets. Mainly their job is to keep the tail loose so that it is easier to put in a brace for the show ring. Many horses only wear these a week or so before the show and throughout the off season, they are taken off. They help keep the tail straight. They are fit very loosely. I was taught to fit for the horse laying down. They are like a bra. They are fit specifically to the horse and made to be as comfortable as possible.

Here is a horse we sold wearing his 'set.


Here is that horse's show package. Light plate, with a small leather pad for shock absorption.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...l/Shane3-1.jpg

And him at his first show. Recognize the arena?
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/PIC-0151.jpg

The use of ginger is not to sting or hurt the horse to get him to lift his tail higher, it causes a warming slight discomfort that makes him lift his tail higher. This is especially useful for a horse who wants to fight his tail brace. It just takes the worry out of that. When a horse starts fighting his brace, it can cause major problems.

There are two main ways to "set" the horse's tail which is done before the horse ever gets to the show ring, and only to those who show promise in the saddleseat ring. The first method is the long process of hand stretching the tendons. The horse is put in a bustle(really big, padded crupper) and the tail is slowly stretched until it can remain comfortably in a high tail crupper. The other is a surgical procedure performed by a vet. The vet nicks the tendons and then the horse is put in a tail set to heal. The choice of an experience, reccommended vet, and the aftercare of the tail is the most important part if you are to chose this method.

It all depends on your horse which method you use. Of my two yearlings, one filly is really clampy with her tail and will need her tail cut, and the other colt is very free and quick to put his tail up over his back. His could very easily be set without cutting. I would be more than happy to post some pictures for a game of "Tail cut or not" for you. My lower quality Saddlebred colt's bloodlines promote really loose tails.


Bits differ per horse. Go into ANY Saddlebred trainer's barn and you will likely see MANY curb bits, but nothing overly severe. If you would have been on the rail, you will have seen a lot of VERY loose curb reins. I have had horses rear straight up and seen others go over backwards because of too much curb. The curb is only there to collect the horse and set his head and is hardly used much at all. Most of the control is coming from the snaffle.

There are many ways to encourage the high stepping motion of the American Saddlebred, and each horse and each division calls for different methods. No horse will ever step higher than he is capable of doing. The TWHs are given the semblance of doing so by being put on platforms. With Saddlebreds, it is MUCH easier to breed for that motion.

Here is a weanling just a week or two off the mare.


The use of chains, stretchies, and weight are not soring. Soring is the intentional causing of pain to the horse to enhance performance. The chains are there to have the horse try and step out of them. Leather bands are also used for this, but the chink sound also helps the horse develop his timing and rhythm. The stretchies help shorten the horse's stride, and strengthen the shoulders. The application of weights will cause the horse to pull against it, thus lifting his feet higher. The placement of weight(to the front, back, sides, etc) can help change the direction of the horse's movement.

I was ringside at the World Championships every session. I did not miss a single class. If you are still in the area, I would love to set you up with a tour of a barn or two or twelve so that you may experience and learn about this breed that you admittedly do not know much about. My barn, nearer to Lexington is always open to visitors. I would be more than happy to take you around to some of the barns, or you may show up to my farm anytime and watch my family work.

If you would like more information on the American Saddlebred, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I can direct you to someone who can, or bring someone here who can.

I have to agree with everyone except ladydreamer. Any time the conformation of a horse is altered by even the slightest degree; an incision is made under the tail, no matter how small the cut; or a foreign substance, whether foodstuff or chemical, is applied to any part of the horse's body to alter its gait or affect the appearance of its tail, it is SORING. Not only is it unnatural, it is cruel, inhumane, and physically and emotionally painful for the horse. If someone were to put ginger on your sensitive body parts, it would burn like mad. If someone were to slice into your arm to make you hold it up, it would be painful. If someone were to force you to wear a high heel on one foot and go barefoot on the other, eventually your body would break down from the physical stress on the rest of your body. If your parents or your husband did to your body what you are doing to your horse's body, simply to show how pretty you were and how animated you could act, or to win a few dollars, you would be in severe physical and emotional pain for the rest of your life. By owning a horse, you take on the responsibility of caring for it, keeping it healthy, safe, and secure. Horses cannot speak for themselves, so we must. They're counting on us to protect them from harm, and that includes you.
Ladydreamer, take the first step in providing the quality of life your horses deserve.

Not always. Some people still illegally sore Saddlebreds.

It's true.

First of all I would like to say welcome to the Horse Forum, since this is your first post. This forum is a great resource for horse owners to learn, share and make friends. Please introduce yourself and share to your hearts content.

I do find it suspicious that this would be your first and only post, and on a thread that was at least five pages back in the Shows Section. Please do not tell me that this was the only reason you joined. Unless you are a mule for another member who didn't want her screen name marred in this discussion. I sincerely hope not.

Anyway, to business....

Soring, by definition is causing pain to legs and feet of the horse to enhance performance. Setting a horse's tail is done for cosmetic purposes and have no bearing on the performance, ergo does not constitute as Soring.

It is similar(and vastly different) to the issue of cropping a Doberman's ears. I have had several Dobies and they have all had their ears done. It is a much more painful procedure than what is done to our horses, and for the same goal. Cosmetic. If done wrong, or cared for improperly, the dogs ears are then irreparably damaged and he does not look as good as he could.

With our horses, it is but a very small alteration, that is allowed to fully heal. It is painstakingly cared for during this healing time, because we have just spent a fairly large amount to have it done, and don't want our investment to be ruined. Our horses are treated like gold in this period, because an unhappy or uncomfortable horse is more likely to ruin his tail during this fragile period. The tail is fully healed, and the horse does not lose any function of his tail. If you don't believe me, I invite you to stand at my horses flank during the summer when the flies are biting.

Yeah it would, but we don't do that to horse's legs(THAT would constitute as soring). And when we do have the procedure done, the horses' tails are nestled and packed in cotton and the incision is treated every day, if not multiple times a day to keep the horse comfortable while it heals.

Where is it stated that the horses are shod in comparison to this? What you are implying is that horses are shod uneven, causing one foot to be higher than the other. While I have seen this in a horse that came to us to be "fixed", it doesn't even make sense what you are saying here.

Jeeze, my first horse had his tail cut. He was a five gaited show horse. Right now he is 27 and chilling out in the field enjoying retirement. He never runs from me when I go to him. His eyes have always been bright and cheerful. Ears always up. He has full use of his tail even. My poor gelding.

Very true. And if I want a simple procedure that causes less stress and pain, and takes less time to heal than your average gelding procedure, to alter my horse's appearance in the slightest bit, then it is my position to do so. Just as if I wanted to buy a Doberman pup, and have his ears cropped.

Sweetie, as a new member, how is it that you cam make a claim that my horses are not receiving the care that they deserve. If you must know my horses are given the very basic necesities and more. From what I have seen, they get way more than a lot of horses these days. I have friends with more money than we do whose horses get even more than ours.

They are fed quality food, multiple times a day.
They never go without water.
They are given adequate shelter.
They get top vet care whenever they need it.
They are vaccinated and wormed regularly.
They are all on strict farrier schedules(all 30 of them) to maintain structural stability, soundness and comfort.
They are allowed contact and interaction with other horses.
They are given regular turn out and exercise.
They are checked and taken care of by a highly qualified and reccommended equine dentist.
They are not worked or ridden into the ground.
They are nearly spoiled with peppermints and apple treats.
They are given extra grooming time and scratches when an itchy spot is discovered.
They are observed and examined every day individually so that problems that may occur can be caught early.

Our horses' physical and mental well-being is paramount.

We do more for our horses than many people we know. Those "first steps" were taken over 40 years ago when my father first got into horses. I thank you for your encouragement, but honey, we were already there.

Sorry, Sunny, it is not true. As I have said multiple times, it is not a problem with the breed, even illegally. It is not possible to sore a Saddlebred. For reasons posted multiple times. And by all means, if you know who has done it and what horse(s) have had this done to them, I would REALLY like to know. Please. I know more than a handful of people in this biz. I know more than a handful of people that show at the top shows. I have been in more than a handful of training facilities. I have seen more top Saddlebreds work than I can count. I have never seen one sored Saddlebred.

PLEASE enlighten me on who these Saddlebreds are and who is doing it to them. Where can I find them?

I would LOVE to expose them to the Saddlebred community and have them shunned and/or persecuted. I just have to know who they are before I can do that.

"TWHs are sored and have high leg action, and Saddlebreds have high leg action, so they MUST be sored too!"

Tell me, people who are insisting that Saddlebreds are sored - Have you ever actually SEEN a sore Saddlebred with your own eyes? Have you even seen a picture of one? Or are you just assuming that they're sored because of their similarities to Walkers? Show me ONE case... ONE picture or news article about a Saddlebred trainer getting busted for soring. You guys really seem to believe what you're saying about Saddlebreds, but you're giving no evidence whatsoever to back up your argument.


Saddlebreds ARE NOT SORED. You cannot sore a trotting horse. End of story.

I apologize for the misuse of the word "soring". You are correct, that is a term used to describe various methods used to artifically enhance gait in the TWH performance horse industry.

The words I should have used to describe any method, however slight, to enhance gait, alter conformation, or change the appearance of a tail on ANY horse is "inflict pain".

For the record, I also believe in a natural appearance for dogs, as well, including ears and tails.

Let's end this by agreeing to disagree, okay? We are all entitled to our opinion. Truce?

LadyDreamer, I too grew up around Saddlebreds and agree with everything you said.

Everyone who thinks ASBS are abused, treated inhumanely, they really aren't. Many of these horses have been brought up a certain way, often not turned out so they don't ruin their long feet, are tail-setted. BUT! This is the life they know. They know no other, therefore it is not right to say it is inhumane and unnatural. That is what is natural to them.

Here's a story. There was a 15 year old ASB at our barn. He had been a show horse all his life. He was sold to a lady who didn't show him as extensively as he used to be shown, so he started getting turned out. This horse was MORTIFIED! He stood in the middle of the paddock, ears pinned back, not knowing what to do. He was bothered by the bugs and would stand shaking his head, swishing his tail, and kicking. Now, do you want to do that to the show saddlebreds? Turn them out so they can be "real horses"? Because they hate it. So isn't that cruel, inhumane?

Sorry for the rant. It just makes me very angry when people think they know everything about a breed of horse that they have never laid a finger on.

Ah, just because you haven't seen them dosen't mean they are not out there ;)

I find it hard to believe myself, that one would sore a trotting horse, however, they can be taught to gait, so illegals may sore the horse in hoping they will act like a Walker.

Sounds plausible. Perhaps a newbie to Saddlebreds who is used to TWHs would do that.

I'm not going to argue with you anyhow :) Will get you nowhere. I've owned 'gaiteds' all my horse life. I know a thing or two ;) Maybe not as much about Saddlebreds, but I get around.