Is horse tail shaving justified?

We recently learned that The Clydesdale Horse Society is actively promoting the practice of horse tail shaving - even delivering workshops to help people learn how. We’re not convinced this is in a horse’s best interests, as explained by our letter to the Society below:

Dear Mr Greenhill & associates of the Clydesdale Horse Society, 

I am writing to you on behalf of Animal Concern, a charity that is dedicated to improving the welfare of animals, and this letter is to engage with you on the topic of Clydesdales’ tails. 

Recently it was brought to our attention by members of the public that the Clydesdale Horse Society held a workshop on shaving Clydesdale tails for showing purposes.  

We are aware that the practice of shaving tails is seen as a more humane alternative to the historic practice of docking tails (a draconian practice that was only recently banned in the US), but the question must be asked; is there any good reason to deprive any horse of its tail at all?  

You will be aware of alternatives for protecting a horse’s tail from getting caught in harnesses, such as braiding or bandaging, so we question why the Clydesdale Horse Society is choosing to encourage a practice that is unnecessary, especially for showing purposes. Even cutting the tail at the hocks is surely better than shaving, as can be seen in the photo below. 

We were pleased to see that not all engage in this practice of shaving and show that horses can safely be driven without their tails being compromised. (Photo from your Facebook page) 

As you’ll already know, a horse has a tail for various reasons - protection from pests, communication, body temperature regulation, protection of a mare’s reproductive organs – therefore it cannot be in their best interest to deprive them of their tail for purposes that are purely aesthetic for showing (though how one finds a shaved tail bone attractive is beyond us). 

No doubt all involved in the Clydesdale Horse Society take exceptional care of their horses, so we’re asking if you would consider taking your care one step further and refrain from the practice of depriving Clydesdale’s of their tails through the practice of shaving their tail bones.  

Yours sincerely, 

Animal Concern Ltd. 

Since we sent the letter, we have had a response from the CHS Secretary, saying that their Board do not believe tail shaving to be problematic for horse welfare. We are in the process of gathering points of view from veterinarians, horse behaviourists and other equestrians, to corroborate the facts that shaving the tail deprives the horse of protection and ability to communicate.