Soring causes pain to the feet and legs of horses by use of chemicals or pressure to cause pain when they touch the ground, resulting in the horse picking its feet up higher and faster than it would do naturally. It is an abusive and prohibited practice, illegal in the U.S. under the Horse Protection Act of 1970. It is most closely associated with the production of a unique high-stepping action of the front legs called "big lick" movement in show ring Tennessee Walking Horses. Under normal circumstances, "big lick" action is normally created by horseshoes that have added pads and weight (sometimes called "stacks"), usually combined with additional weighted chains or rollers placed around the pasterns to create dramatic, high-stepping flashy action of the horse's front legs, desired in the horse show ring. Practitioners of soring do so because they believe that the pain associated with this practice exaggerates the "big lick" to a greater degree and gives them a competitive edge over horses that are not treated in this manner. Other breeds that have a history of soring abuses include the Racking Horse and the Spotted Saddle Horse. Both criminal and civil penalties can be assessed against individuals who engage in soring.
Updates
June 19, 2025
The persistent reports of cruelty against Tennessee Walking Horses remain the primary focus of my research. I am currently preparing a formal dossier that documents these abuses to present to the relevant regulatory bodies. Your continued interest reinforces the necessity of enforcing the Horse Protection Act.
June 19, 2025
The momentum behind this petition highlights the growing public refusal to accept the abuse inherent in the big lick movement. It is encouraging to see this many people align against such cruel training practices.
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2025
50 Comments
Stop this abomination NOW!! It's beyond cruel and whoever practices this should be permanently banned from owning or approaching any animal in future. If you wouldn't do it to your own family members or pets, don't do it to these poor horses!!
Animal abuse is never okay; Big Lick is an evil practice that must be stopped! I plead with you to respect the creation that God Himself has made and outlaw this disturbing abuse.
This is abuse STOP IT NOW!!!!!! IT SHOULD BE A FELONY TO PUT HORSES THOUGH THIS PAIN!!!
Very disgusting the way some people abuse any animals.especially the beautiful Tennessee walkers thanks to horse puls heros, I've learned more about this problem
I believe people should act humanely towards horses. They are in our care and should not be abused for entertainment purposes or for financial gain. The Big Lick involves deliberate animal cruelty and being deliberate it should be stopped. In the long term many of these horses end up with postural and skeletal problems so that they are damaged and unrideable. How is it acceptable to deliberate cripple horses like this? If I was to own a horse and put caustic chemicals on it and deliberately hurt it this would be unacceptable so why is it considered acceptable when a group of abusers make an event of it?
If you could not stand this torture being done to you: having chemical blisters with chains that agrivate them to force you to walk a certain way, have sharp objects shoved into the bottom of your feet and forced to wear weighted platforms you can never take off, then how DARE you do it to an animal who has no choice. These people who practice this are EVIL!
I believe horses ought to be treated with respect. I have also found out that the "big lick" is very bad for a horse's biomechanics because a horse is supposed to support 60-65% (copy-paste this link to learn: https://thehorse.com/14455/leg-conformation/) of its weight on its front legs, not its back legs as happens in the "Big Lick." Additionally, I find causing animals pain and/or health problems to achieve a certain look or movement is wildly unethical. These lovely animals deserve better.
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Soring causes pain to the feet and legs of horses by use of chemicals or pressure to cause pain when they touch the ground, resulting in the horse picking its feet up higher and faster than it would do naturally. It is an abusive and prohibited practice, illegal in the U.S. under the Horse Protection Act of 1970. It is most closely associated with the production of a unique high-stepping action of the front legs called "big lick" movement in show ring Tennessee Walking Horses. Under normal circumstances, "big lick" action is normally created by horseshoes that have added pads and weight (sometimes called "stacks"), usually combined with additional weighted chains or rollers placed around the pasterns to create dramatic, high-stepping flashy action of the horse's front legs, desired in the horse show ring. Practitioners of soring do so because they believe that the pain associated with this practice exaggerates the "big lick" to a greater degree and gives them a competitive edge over horses that are not treated in this manner. Other breeds that have a history of soring abuses include the Racking Horse and the Spotted Saddle Horse. Both criminal and civil penalties can be assessed against individuals who engage in soring.
Updates
June 19, 2025
The persistent reports of cruelty against Tennessee Walking Horses remain the primary focus of my research. I am currently preparing a formal dossier that documents these abuses to present to the relevant regulatory bodies. Your continued interest reinforces the necessity of enforcing the Horse Protection Act.
June 19, 2025
The momentum behind this petition highlights the growing public refusal to accept the abuse inherent in the big lick movement. It is encouraging to see this many people align against such cruel training practices.
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2025
50 Comments
These animals are crippled so the owners and trainers can make a buck. This is horrendous abuse and must be stopped!
Stop this abomination NOW!! It's beyond cruel and whoever practices this should be permanently banned from owning or approaching any animal in future. If you wouldn't do it to your own family members or pets, don't do it to these poor horses!!
Animal abuse is never okay; Big Lick is an evil practice that must be stopped! I plead with you to respect the creation that God Himself has made and outlaw this disturbing abuse.
This is abuse STOP IT NOW!!!!!! IT SHOULD BE A FELONY TO PUT HORSES THOUGH THIS PAIN!!!
Very disgusting the way some people abuse any animals.especially the beautiful Tennessee walkers thanks to horse puls heros, I've learned more about this problem
I believe people should act humanely towards horses. They are in our care and should not be abused for entertainment purposes or for financial gain. The Big Lick involves deliberate animal cruelty and being deliberate it should be stopped. In the long term many of these horses end up with postural and skeletal problems so that they are damaged and unrideable. How is it acceptable to deliberate cripple horses like this? If I was to own a horse and put caustic chemicals on it and deliberately hurt it this would be unacceptable so why is it considered acceptable when a group of abusers make an event of it?
If you could not stand this torture being done to you: having chemical blisters with chains that agrivate them to force you to walk a certain way, have sharp objects shoved into the bottom of your feet and forced to wear weighted platforms you can never take off, then how DARE you do it to an animal who has no choice. These people who practice this are EVIL!
I believe horses ought to be treated with respect. I have also found out that the "big lick" is very bad for a horse's biomechanics because a horse is supposed to support 60-65% (copy-paste this link to learn: https://thehorse.com/14455/leg-conformation/) of its weight on its front legs, not its back legs as happens in the "Big Lick." Additionally, I find causing animals pain and/or health problems to achieve a certain look or movement is wildly unethical. These lovely animals deserve better.
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These animals are crippled so the owners and trainers can make a buck. This is horrendous abuse and must be stopped!