Let Horses Have Their Tails
Clinging to Outdated Tradition
Despite heavy horses no longer being required for pulling machinery, many involved in maintaining the history of the heavy horse breeds cling to the mindset that draft horses should be presented in the show ring to reflect their historic use. As docking was banned, “clipping”/shaving the tails became accepted as the way to present the breed to reflect it’s traditional use.
The History
Historically, when heavy horses were routinely worked in harness, the tail bones of draft horses were “docked” -surgically removed near the base, to stop the tail from growing for the purposes of preventing the tail from getting caught in machinery or harness. This was considered practical for the farmers and a safety measure for the horses.
Since tractors replaced the use of heavy horses, the practice was considered an unnecessary cruelty and legislation banned it in the UK in 1949.
Why Horses Need Their Tails
The tail of a horse is important for many reasons.
Over millions of years horses have developed a complex system of tail signals that enable them to communicate with each other as part of their body language. Their tails are used to express their physical and emotional state, not just with each other, but with humans as well (should they choose to pay attention!).
We are campaigning to see an end to the unnecessary and outdated practice of shaving/clipping the tails of heavy horses for presentation at shows.
With the support of the British Equine Veterinary Association, the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, the World Bitless Association and others, we are strongly encouraging the Clydesdale Horse Society and Shire Horse Society to discourage their members from this practice, for judges to refrain from supporting the clipping of tails for the show ring, and for organisers of prestigious horse shows such as the Horse Show of the Year (HOYS) to ban clipped/shaved tails in equestrian shows.
Tail signals communicate irritation, pain, receptiveness to breeding or to warn away suiters. They give warning of intent to kick or intent to flee from perceived dangers. A mother will communicate with her foal using her tail, and in friendship, horses will stand head to tail, swishing flies from each others faces.