"This deliberate infliction of pain upon these noble, stoic horses is animal cruelty - no less so than dogfighting or cockfighting. Soring must be brought to an end," said Keith Dane, director of equine protection at The Humane Society of the United States. "This alliance will inform the public, the media and members of Congress of this inhumane practice and put violators on notice that the American people will no longer tolerate this criminal abuse of horses."

Soring involves the intentional infliction of pain to a horse's feet, using caustic chemicals and metal chains, which produce an exaggerated, high-stepping gait. Pressure shoeing - another especially egregious form of soring - is the abusive technique of cutting a horse's hoof almost to the bloodline so the shoe puts painful pressure on the horse's sole with each stride. In some instances, foreign objects are placed between the hoof and the shoe to create painful pressure on the sole.

Tennessee Walking Horses and other gaited breeds, prized for their distinctive gait and willing natures, have long been victims of this cruel training method.

Soring is so cruel that in 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Horse Protection Act, giving the USDA authority to inspect horses in transport to and at horse shows, sales and exhibitions for signs of soring, and prosecute individuals found in violation of the Act. However, enforcement of state and federal anti-soring laws has proven difficult, allowing the practice to persist on a widespread basis.

The Humane Society of the United States also announced it will offer a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any violator of Tennessee's "horse soring" law. Anyone with information on this cruel practice should call 1-866-411-TEAM (8326). The Humane Society of the United States will protect the identity of all callers.

The Alliance to End Soring will work with the USDA, Congress and Tennessee Walking Horse industry stakeholders to advocate for increased enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and raise public awareness of the pervasive use of soring in the industry.

Founding Alliance members include: The Humane Society of the United States, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Horse Defense Fund, Friends of Sound Horses and the Horse Protection Commission.