Tennessee Walking Horse

When Does Soring Start? The Hidden Timeline Behind the Horse Industry’s Darkest Secret

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When Does Soring Start? The Hidden Timeline Behind the Horse Industry’s Darkest Secret

The first time a Tennessee Walking Horse trots into a show ring with its front legs stiffly extended, its tail held high, and its head arched back in an unnatural “big lick,” the question lingers: *when does soring start?* It’s not just about the visible gait. It’s about the hidden moments—before the show, before the … Read more

When Is Soring? The Hidden Timing Behind This Ancient Equestrian Practice

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When Is Soring? The Hidden Timing Behind This Ancient Equestrian Practice

The first time a spectator witnesses a Tennessee Walking Horse perform its signature “running walk,” they might assume the animal’s fluid, exaggerated motion is a natural gait—evolved over centuries of selective breeding. But beneath the polished show ring lies a practice so contentious it has sparked legislative battles, undercover investigations, and a decades-long debate over … Read more