Many years ago (in 1960) gave me a book about different breeds of horses. It is said that the Tennessee Walking horses and similar breeds with the same type of transport queue had exaggerated their basins lined with surgery to improve transportation coda.Era true then and is still doing? If you still do what is the position the American Humane Society about this practice?
Yes, it is true. Tendons on either side of the tail are cut/severed. This is done on the underside of the tail. After cutting, the tail is “set” every night.
The rig looks like a light driving harness. It’s sole purpose is to train the healing tail into the shape you see in the ring. To set the tail (at least when I was doing it) took about 15 minutes per horse.
The horse will wear the tail set any/all time it is not being worked or shown untill it’s show career is over.
Yes, it is true and still done on American Saddlebreds( 3 and 5 gaited). It is not done on Pleasure horses although most ASB’s that no longer show in the performance divisions but in the pleasure still have the tails cut but, they aren’t maintained with tail sets. For a Pleasure horse, it is not necessary to cut the tails. Although illegal on Morgans, it is still done to them not sure about National Show Horses though. Hackney Ponies also have their tails cut. Morgans will wear a bustle (kinda like a giant crupper) to stretch the muscles so they carry their tail with a higher carriage.
They actually nick two muscles which allows a breakover for the tail. Originally it was done to free up the hindquarters. The tail is still used to swat flies and can move it is not *dead* like many think. They are not literally broken in half as some believe. Another misconception is that the horses are in a tailset 24/7–365 but that is untrue.
Perhaps a month before show season the set will go on but the tails are well kept and wrapped and braided to deter any breakage so they are long and flowing. The holders are wrapped with cotton and baby powdered to be as comfortable as possible to the horse. These horses are actually very pampered. They do remain on for show season depending upon the length in between shows.
As far as the Humane Society..I don’t know what they think nor really care as they have their own issues with how they protect animals and what they actually do for them.
—-add— got carried away with ASB’s and Morgans but yes, TWH’s also have their tails cut too.