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Soring involves use of chemicals or pressure to cause pain to a horse's feet when they touch the ground, resulting in the horse picking its feet up quickly. It is an abusive and prohibited practice illegal under the U.S. 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. "Big lick" action is normally created by horseshoes that have added pads and weight, usually combined with additional weighted chains or rollers placed around the pasterns to create dramatic, flashy action of the horse's front legs, desired in the horse show ring. Practitioners of soring 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. ==Methods and clinical signs== Soring involves using chemical agents such as mustard oil, diesel fuel, kerosene, salicylic acid, and other caustic substances on the pasterns, bulbs of the heel, or coronary bands of the horses, causing burning or blistering of the horses' legs in order to accentuate their gaits. These chemicals are harmful, usually quite toxic and sometimes carcinogenic, such that trainers must use a brush and wear gloves when applying them. The treated area is then often wrapped in plastic while the chemicals are absorbed. The chemical agents cause extreme pain, and usually lead to scarring. A distinctive scarring pattern is a tell-tale sign of soring, and therefore attempts may be made to cover the scarring with a dye, or the horse's legs may be treated with salicylic acid before the animal is stalled (as many cannot stand up after the treatment) while the skin of the scars sloughs off. Other methods of soring include pressure shoes, where the hoof is trimmed to the quick so that the sole is in direct contact with the pad or shoe. The horse may then be "road foundered," ridden up and down hard surfaces on the over-trimmed hooves, until they are very sore. Trainers sometimes place objects, such as metal beads, nails, or screws, under the pad causing intense pressure, although this practice has begun to decrease with the use of fluoroscopy to detect such methods. Abusive use of chains (such as using them with chemical soring agents) is also a common practice by sorers. The legal definition of soring in the HPA is as follows: (A) an irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse, Clinical signs of a sored horse include the following: * The horse stands with its feet close together, shifting its weight to its hind legs. * Granulation tissue or scars are visible on the pasterns or coronet band. * Wavy hair growth or hair loss is visible in the pastern area. * The horse's pasterns have darker hair than the rest of the horse's coat. * The horse carries its hocks low and may twist them outward when moving. * The horse lies down for extended periods of time, and is resistant to standing up. * The horse resists handling of its hooves. * The horse has difficulty walking, and may fall. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「soring」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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