Shaving Tails of Heavy Horses
Following a call from a concerned horse owner last September over the shaving of Clydesdale's tails, we have been pursuing what it will take to shift a very old school mind set that favours draconian traditions over animal welfare.
Last October we sent a letter to the Clydesdale Horse Society, and received a reply that, in short, they do not accept that shaving a horse's tail is in any way a welfare issue, and as they've received no complaints from their equine vets they will continue to allow the practice.
We have since been in touch with the British Horse Society, World Horse Welfare, British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) and the RSPCA, whose Equine Specialist /Scientific & Policy Manager offered this as their stance on the matter;
'The practice of fully shaving off the tails of Clydesdale horses deprives them of their natural fly swat, and also interferes with communication through body language, which is incredibly important in equines. As there are other means of ensuring that the tails of working horses do not become entangled or snagged in harness, such as plaiting of the tail, there is no benefit to the welfare of the animals which outweighs the negative impacts of the practice. Therefore it should end'.
BEVA replied;
“We agree that tails are an important means of protection from flies, and carrying out a procedure which limits a horse’s ability to protect itself purely for cosmetic purposes (as opposed to where they were performed historically to avoid entanglement in the harness) is not justified.”
The responses we've received all agree that the shaving of tails is unnecessary and deprives a horse of its natural protection and part of its communication.
This past summer saw numerous Clydesdales paraded around at shows, deprived of their tails, alongside a few whose responsible owners put temporary plaits in the tails. We commend those who leave the horses' tails as nature intended.
I had also contacted the Shire Horse Society, asking for their stance on the shaving of tails. With no response, I went to see the Shires being shown for myself at a country show, where I regret to report that it was clear that tail shaving was prevalent.
The young Shires pictured here were swishing their “tails” throughout being paraded around, clearly showing they were aware of the absence of their tails.
This practice is entirely unnecessary and we aren't going to drop it. With the illustrious Horse of the Year Show approaching in October we've contacted the HOYS organisers, asking what their stance is on draft horses being presented with shaved tails. Given the photo they chose to advertise on their website shows Clydesdales with shaved tails I think it's safe to say they do allow this bad practice, regardless of their reply.
Here's where we need your help.
Please write to Grandstand Media Limited, the organisers of the HOYS and ask them not to allows this practice to continue.
Their mailing address is:
Grandstand Media Limited, Stoneleigh Events, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ
While their is no direct email to Grandstand media, we encourage you to email the following so that our voices on behalf of these magnificent draft horses will be heard, one way or another!
Horse of the Year Show Press Office -press@hoys.co.uk
Secretary for Show Judges - showsecretary@hoys.co.uk.
The Showing Register - info@theshowingregister.co.uk
Click here to read the letter we've written to Grandstand Media Organisers. Feel free to use parts of it for your own message but also write from your own voice of concern.
We look forward to updating you on this as it progresses, and to hearing any responses you might receive for your efforts!