Official
Site of
Sound Horse Organization®
This site was created to support and promote the
naturally gaited, sound, Tennessee Walking Horse
Soring To Win!
The following was posted anonymously on the runningwalk (RW) list 5 1/2 years ago. The person reporting it is a real, live trainer. He is not fictitious. He writes this with not the best spelling, etc., which may have been done for "special effect" --i.e., to throw people off from his true identity. He is training pleasure horses in middle TN.
Soring To Win!
This is a list of techniques, that's all. Enjoy!
Krotin oil - this is a chemical that is a burning agent. It is so strong >that
it has to be diluted with kerosine. This agent burns deeply to the bone,
especially when mixed with DMSO. It was used as an enema in the passed because
it helped pass along waste. It does this by scarring the intestines which is
why horses die from it so often. A world champion recently passed along this
year in the plantation ranks from colic? Wrong! Scarred intestines.
Mustered oil - this is the most commonly used substance which can be used
straight or mixed down with kerosene. Used straight it produces small scares
where it has been applied; mixed, it thickens the hair and skin all around the
pasturn. It burns through the first three layers of skin like a sever sunburn.
It was used as a heart stimulant in the passed - for those with no heart, I
mean heart problems. Horses that lay down and die are usually over burdened
with this chemical. It is used in the pockets for reach, the front for lift
and the sides for neutral animation. It can also be used on the cornet bands
after a person has sanded them to blood, which gets below the point of
inspection. Or it is used in the frog or heel groove. Sometimes it is used
behind the knee or armpit; or in the mouth for a hard mouthed horse, which
will scar the bars eventually. By 4 to 5 yrs. old horses usually burn out.
Salicitic acid - used to remove scars from soring. This removes skin from the
horse and is the most painful of practises, this is where they lay down and
die. Most trainers will admit to the pain this produces because they have seen
the horses stay down for three days moaning. This is a necessary evil because
of the scar rule, we can't have horses being turned down, can we?
Wire - if a person takes a piece of wire or heavy grade fishing line and tightens it to the point of pain around the pasturn, it will produce a world champion that can't be turned down. Inspection can not go below the cornet band. This was proven by a New Mexico horse 2 years ago. This will alter the shape of the hoof eventually, so it is a temporary application.
Chain soring - is where a person leaves a pair of chains on a horse for a long period of time, many days or weeks, and pain is produced deep in the leg. Bad scarring is produced from this in the pasturn area. Sidebone or ringbone are the result of this practice.
Pressure shoeing - is where a person files away the wall so as to place the sole of the hoof on the shoe. Also a person can put a small shoe on a big hoof, filing away the extra hoof. This gives the impression that the hoof starts at a normal size, grows larger - as it should - and then shrinks for no reason.
Nailing - this is where a person puts a screw or nail up the white line, or the area between the wall and sole. The object is to have the point of this device right at the blood. A good job should be adjustable because the hoof constantly grows. New Mexico and Georgia got busted for this, this year by the flora scope, at the Celebration.
A person in practice must also remember to steward the horse so he won't flinch at inspection. A baseball bat or cigarette is advisable. Burning the nostrils or smacking the head is usually enough. Be careful though, an eye is lost to this practice once in a while. An alligator clip on the privates or tung will also get you through. People are very cunning, so as you read this know that new ideas surface every day. Many people say to take away the chemicals! This would have to include any corrosive agent, Ajax, Mojo, Oil of cinnamon, Oil of spearmint - both used on toothpicks for flavor, Kerosene - or most petroleum products. This will never happen. It all comes down to one person saying, "sorry, your busted!" But who wants to put a person out of business, starve his children, send him to the streets? Usually no one!
Sincerely, UAreSheep