Horse Soring--Tradition or Torture?

What happens when tradition, competition, and animal welfare collide?

In this episode of Controversial Animal Topics, Dr. Turnera Croom sits down with Elise, a pre-veterinary student and equine-focused intern in the Future Vets virtual internship program, to discuss one of the most controversial and under-discussed practices in the horse industry: horse soring.

Often associated with exaggerated high-stepping performance in certain show circuits, horse soring remains a difficult topic even within equine communities. Together, Dr. Croom and Elise unpack:

•  What horse soring actually is 
•  Why the practice continues despite federal law 
•  The physical and behavioral impact on horses 
•  The ethical responsibilities of future veterinarians 
•  The challenge of speaking up against normalized industry practices 

The conversation then shifts into Elise’s own journey toward veterinary medicine, including her experience in Dr. Croom’s virtual internship program, her passion for equine medicine, and how exposure to real-world veterinary conversations is shaping her future career.

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and grounded in the belief that veterinary medicine requires both compassion and the courage to ask difficult questions.

🎙 Hosted by Dr. Turnera Croom, Army Veteran and holistic veterinarian.

Follow Dr. Croom Army Vet on YouTube, Substack, and social media for more discussions on holistic veterinary medicine, senior pets, controversial animal issues, and the future of veterinary care.

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✨ “True holistic care brings comfort to pets—and peace to the humans who love them.” — Dr. Turnera Croom, Army Vet

Transcript

Speaker 0:00

Let's get one thing straight about today's episode of Controversial Animal Topics. This won't be your average feel-good horse story. Today, we're tackling something that has quietly existed inside certain corners of the equine show world for decades. Horse soring, a practice tied to prestige, performance, and show ribbons, an exaggerated high-stepping movement, but also tied to pain, ethics, and a question that veterinarians don't always feel comfortable asking out loud. At what point does tradition become cruelty? This isn't an easy conversation, but the conversations we avoid are often the ones we most need to examine. I'm Dr. Turnera Croom, Army veteran, holistic practitioner, and the veterinarian that pet parents call when they're done with the generic script. Welcome to Controversial Animal Topics, where we don't shy away from hard questions and honest truths. And today, I'm not having this conversation alone. I'm joined by Elise, a pre-veterinary student based in Virginia, with a strong interest in equine medicine and animal welfare. She's part of my future veterinarian virtual internship. And what I appreciate about Elise is that she doesn't flinch when it comes to discussing difficult subjects. Elise, welcome to the podcast. Thank you. So let's start at the beginning. For someone who has never heard of horse soring, what is it?

Speaker 1 1:51

Horse soring is going to be the deliberate practice of inflicting pain or discomfort on a horse's lower leg or hoof in order to get this exaggerated high-stepping motion from them. And it's going to occur mostly in gated horse breeds like your Tennessee walking horses or your racking horse because they do naturally have that high-stepping motion where they're going to be lifting that front leg up and soring is going to exaggerate that, and you're going to get that classic look from those gated breeds.

Speaker 2:26

This is actually a documented practice, correct? Yes. Yes, it is. Okay. Now, here's the question most people ask: why would anyone intentionally make a horse sore? I mean, most people love their horses. So what's driving this?

Speaker 1 2:44

So it is driven by the fact that in these showrings for these gated breeds, the judges are rewarding this exaggerated motion. So people have trained themselves to think, oh, if I do this, it's going to give me the result that I want. I might as well keep doing it because it's going to get me from point A to point B. They're going to be winning the ribbons. And with those ribbons comes really big financial incentives. These horses could be winning tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars in these show circuits.

Speaker 3:19

So at least, without getting too graphic, how is soring actually done? And are these methods always obvious or can they be more subtle?

Speaker 1 3:28

So these methods unfortunately can be pretty subtle sometimes. There's a couple of different ways that soring can actually be accomplished. One way is through putting caustic chemicals directly on the horse's skin. And that could be kerosene or diesel that they're going to be putting on the horse's skin, and then using possibly either medical wrap or plastic to kind of hold that in place and cause these burns on the horse's legs, so it's going to cause pain and lead to that high-stepping action when they're walking. There's also mechanical methods done with their shoes. They can have platforms put on the bottom of their shoes to cause them to walk in an unnatural manner. They can have nails or foreign objects embedded in between their hoof and their shoe that'll cause pressure when they're stepping, so that when they release that pressure, they're going to high step.

Speaker 4:22

Oh man. So you told me a little bit about how that can affect them physically. What can it do to the horse behaviorally? And as a future veterinarian, what should we be watching for in cases like this?

Speaker 1 4:33

So obviously it's going to lead to a lot of pain and inflammation. But beyond just that pain and inflammation, the horse is going to be experiencing some fear. They're going to be showing obviously unnatural gait, not only that high stepping, but they're just not going to have a normal walking pattern because they're experiencing this pain. They're going to be showing fear from the person who is inflicting this pain on them. They're going to be reluctant to go into areas where this happens. They're going to be apprehensive around certain people that they're associating these things with. They're going to be sort of withdrawn and like untrustworthy because they know that this pain is going to keep happening to them, unfortunately.

Speaker 5:14

If you're in the equine world, you know you've heard of the Horse Protection Act that's been around since like 1970. So why hasn't this activity disappeared?

Speaker 1 5:24

Yeah, so it is technically illegal under the Horse Protection Act. We have to have these inspections that are done for horses that are competing being sold, but some of the people that are the inspectors for these horses may sort of be in on it. They could have bought into the idea that it's going to make the horse perform better. So they unfortunately believe in it. They're scared to say something because the owners of the trainers could be upset because they want to win the big bucks that come along with it. And some of these trainers and owners will actually numb the location of where they've sored the horse so that when the inspector goes in and is feeling, the horse isn't reacting in a natural way because they've gone in and numbed it and they can no longer tell that something has happened there.

Speaker 6:16

That is so wild, you know. And you were talking about the inspector coming in and being in on it. You know, I've had the opportunity to work for the Department of Agriculture in the past as an inspector, as a veterinary inspector. It wasn't specifically for horses, but it's still looking at things that are going on with animals. In my case, it was pigs and cattle at two different plants. And I could not imagine being a part of something like that. We take an oath when we become veterinarians. You know, we put on the white coat and we put our hand up. Just like when I was in the military, this actually reminds me of being in the veterinary corps. There are a lot of things that we don't really talk about. A lot of people still don't know that there's veterinarians in the in the army, period, which is always a little surprising to me, but they definitely don't know as much about what was happening with the animals back in the day, even before my time. And so it's kind of like keeping it under the radar. It sounds like it's a similar situation. That's where those ethics come in.

Speaker 1 7:12

Yeah, unfortunately. It's just it's something that we need to be talking about, like we're talking about it here and raise awareness because the more that people on the outside are aware of it, there's going to be more pressure for there to be change from within the industry.

Speaker 7:27

Absolutely. So as we're kind of closing down on this, you know, as someone like yourself who is applying for veterinary school, how do you think future veterinarians should handle situations where animal welfare conflicts with industry tradition?

Speaker 1 7:43

At the end of the day, everything needs to be done for the good of the animals. There's no real justifying inflicting pain for human pleasure and enjoyment. Unfortunately, that is the truth of it. So veterinarians need to pay close attention, look for those small signs, and speak up about it. Even if it'll make some people unhappy at the end of the day, you gotta be the voice for those animals that don't have that voice.

Speaker 8:11

You sure do. Well, at least I really appreciate how calmly you approach this. Because it's really easy to get emotional about topics like this. It's tough, you know, because we are also compassionate towards animals. And a lot of us, as veterinarians and future veterinarians, that's our first love. It's like an animal that's vulnerable that we can actually help and do something for. So it's really tough to hear about something like this because I had never personally heard of that, and that's not uncommon. And the veterinary industry is so big and it has so many different specialties within it that you could really be in this industry for many years and not have heard about certain things going on. Um, but we as veterinarians we do have to balance science, ethics, and communication. So thank you. Thank you. Now, Elise, I want to shift gears slightly and talk about you. Part of what we do in this virtual internship and on this platform here is to elevate the next generation of veterinarians. So, Elise, where are you from and what originally drew you to veterinary medicine?

Speaker 1 9:21

So I am from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and my vet origin story is probably pretty much just like everyone else's. I grew up always loving animals, knowing that I was gonna do something with them. And I was very fortunate to grow up with pets who had wonderful vets that I was able to go to appointments with, shadow, ask all the questions, and I I was hooked immediately. I knew that that's what I wanted to do.

Speaker 9:49

So, what is it specifically about equine medicine that resonates with you?

Speaker 1 9:55

I love horses so much, just like every horse girl. I grew up going out to rural Indiana where my mom is from every summer, and I'd see all the horses in the fields, and she had a family friend who had some horses, so I'd get to have my horse time in the summers, and I started volunteering at the barns at Virginia Tech at school, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I love the daily care of them. I love how complex they are and all of the little subtle signs that you can tell exactly how they're feeling if you know what to look for. They're just amazing creatures. I know.

Speaker 10:38

Yeah, we need you for some of that behavioral stuff. We uh folks who grew up not around horses, we need to know because all we know is they're huge, they're beautiful, you know, can be gentle, but they can definitely kill you. Yes. Um, so you're in the process of applying to veterinary schools. What are you looking for in a program and what do you think makes you competitive?

Speaker 1 11:02

I'm looking for a program where I can get a lot of hands-on learning, especially with large animals. I hope to do rural mixed practice, and I want to continue to kind of do what I'm doing in undergrad and get that hands-on experience working at barns. And I think I'm competitive because of all of the different veterinary experiences that I have had, starting with this experience, this wonderful internship, working at a small animal clinic at home, working at the barns here, shadowing a mixed practice rural rat out in Indiana. I feel like I've done a wide variety of things and seen a lot of different aspects of VetMed.

Speaker 11:45

That's the perfect answer because that just slides right into this next one. Because this um internship that I've created here, which is a triage internship where you know the interns can join virtual visits and run directly there, but it is all virtual, so it's very different from some other internships. How has this format helped you grow? Um, maybe in ways you didn't expect?

Speaker 1 12:10

It definitely has helped me with the interpersonal aspect. Talking with people face to face has definitely gotten easier as I've gotten older, but talking to people over the phone or over a computer screen when you don't really know them was something that I really struggled with. But with that being the main format of this internship, it's definitely I kind of was thrown in off the deep end and had to figure it out. And it's definitely been really good for me.

Speaker 12:40

That's what I'm talking about. Yeah, because it's like for those who were unfamiliar with the internship, it is uh 100% virtual, and it's why we can have interns from across the country and even internationally in the future instead of just locally. What has it been like connecting with other pre-vet students from across the country instead of just locally?

Speaker 1 13:02

It's been amazing. Everyone in the internship comes from such different backgrounds, not only personal backgrounds, but veterinary and work and animal backgrounds. So I've gotten to have some really cool conversations with really cool pre-vet students about lab animal medicine, about snakes and reptiles, things that I personally am not super familiar with. So it was really cool to hear about different people's stories and learn some new information.

Speaker 13:32

I love that. Well, you know, right now you're literally recording a controversial welfare discussion. And most pre-vet students are not doing that. So how does that feel?

Speaker 1 13:44

It feels pretty great. It's really nice to get my voice out there about something that I am educated on, but not a lot of other people are educated on, and to be able to share that information and even be able to educate one or two people so that more people are aware of this topic. That feels really good.

Speaker 14:04

Absolutely. Snaps for you. So, one thing that you have done since you have joined in our internship, we are very entrepreneurial around here, and so one of our big um ways that we can earn revenue as veterinarians in general is with products that we share with our pet parents. And one of those for Dr. Croom Mobile Vet Service is my herbs. People love the Body Sore, the Shen Calmer, and then I've started making some blends of those so that they can be very unique. So you had signed up as one of our affiliates. What made you interested in integrative medicine this early in your career? Where, of course, yes, we still do provide pharmaceuticals and have medications available, but also starting to open up your mind to more of the herbal and nutritional side of the house. What made you interested in that so soon in your career?

Speaker 1 14:56

I just thought it was really interesting that it's something that human doctors talk about a lot is supplements and diet and lifestyle to promote your overall health. And that's not really something that is talked about for animals as much. And it just kind of made sense to me that if we're doing that for our bodies, why shouldn't we be doing this for our pets' bodies and trying to find alternatives instead of just immediately jumping to a medication or a chemical or something to put into your body and trying to fix problems from multiple angles and doing it conservatively?

Speaker 15:35

That's right. For those who aren't familiar with the website, our website is drcroom.com, and you can go there for some of those holistic solutions, as well as virtual visits. We do telehealth and telemedicine, which is one of the exciting aspects of the internship because it allows the pre-veterary interns to come on with a real client, see that pet right over the airwaves. Everybody's in a relaxed and comfortable situation. A lot of times, since we do focus on senior pets here, the senior pet may be ailing or disabled in some way, shape, or form, scared to get in the car, all of these things. And so a telehealth visit is really, really helpful. And so our interns get to learn how to speak to the client, different ways to make sure they're listening, not speaking over, having a compassionate tone, very important for this over-the-airwaves type of communications. So, yeah, and if anyone out there is interested as well in the affiliate program, we do have that where you can earn um funds from sharing information about our high-quality veterinary herbs. So finally, if an admissions committee were watching this right now, what would you want them to know about the kind of veterinarian you're becoming? That's a good question.

Speaker 1 16:52

I would hope that they would know that I'm going to be a very well-rounded veterinarian. I'm going to look at problems from multiple approaches, listen to all the facts, think about what the owner is saying, what I'm seeing, understand that I do have this background now with the holistics, and that there might be alternative medicines that I could explore to get the job done. And that if I say I'm gonna get a job done, I'm gonna get that job done.

Speaker 17:25

Snaps, okay. Period. Is that what the kids say these days? Yes. I love that. I love that. I mean, I I'd let you in, I'd admit you. Thank you. So, Elise, thank you so much for stepping into a topic today that requires maturity, composure, and ethical clarity. Horse soaring is not easy to talk about, and especially when you care deeply about the equine world. And I appreciate that you approached it with balance instead of just a reaction. You represent the kind of future veterinarian who understands that advocacy requires actual knowledge, not just out here making noise. And so I want to thank you again for being a part of our future vets virtual internship and for lending your voice today to controversial animal topics.

Speaker 1 18:18

Well, thank you for this opportunity. It's absolutely wonderful.

Speaker 18:22

Now, listeners, let's zoom out for a moment. Horse soaring is illegal and yet it hasn't disappeared. That tells us something important. Tradition does not automatically equal ethical practice. And outrage alone does not fix systemic issues. The answer is not in extremes. It's in the nuance, it's in evidence, and it's in whole animal care where data drives every decision. Ultimately, the future of animal welfare depends on people who are willing to question what they've always been told. You as a horse owner, you as a pet professional, and you as a pre-veterinary student. Because real change does not start with blind acceptance or blanket rejection. It starts with curiosity. If you want more conversations that don't shy away from tough truths, check out the other episodes of controversial animal topics on your favorite listening platform. And for honest discussions about holistic veterinary medicine, you can find me on the Dr. Croom Army Vet YouTube channel or on Substack and across all social media. So until next time, stay curious, stay engaged, and always keep questioning.