TRADITIONAL PRACTICES UNDER SCRUTINY

TAIL DOCKIN IN HEAVY HORSES

It is increasingly important that livestock producers have sound justifications and protocols for procedures that may inflict pain. The debate surrounding heavy horse tail docking is reflective of other traditional livestock management practices (e.g., dehorning, castration) that are coming under scrutiny.

Tail docking in heavy horses has existed for hundreds of years. Bruce Roy, editor of Feather and Fetlock, a Canadian heavy horse publication, says, “Docking is done as a matter of good husbandry by those who care about the welfare and safety of their harness horses.” Long tails can swing across a line, causing the line to touch the hypersensitive area underneath a horse’s tail. The horse panics, clamps its tail and the driver loses control of the team. Also, full tails can get caught in moving parts of machinery, causing injury to the horse.

Roy says docking is generally done in young foals at birth. “This early in life the foal has little feeling in its tail.” He believes little or no pain is experienced.

Greg Ruzicka uses heavy horses in his PMU operation. “Tail docking keeps the horses cleaner in the barn and easier to manage.” Undocked heavy horse tails tend to be more thick and unruly than in lighter breeds (which are not docked by Ruzicka). Ruzicka has his veterinarian dock the horses at 8 months of age. A longer dock is done, which allows hair to grow for fly swatting, but keeps the tail manageable. Local anesthetic is used.

It has been suggested that tail docking continues for cosmetic reasons. There is an aesthetic appeal to docked tails for long-time heavy horse enthusiasts involved in conformation showing. Tails docked for show purposes tend to be shorter.

However, Bruce Roy says, “Of 642 Canadian Percheron Association members in 2001, fewer than 100 exhibited their horses.” Roy adds, “The Amish, [who employ large numbers of horses across the US, but do not show their animals] dock their draft horses for safety as they often work in multiple hitches of twelve or more animals.”

In the UK tail docking in horses has been banned since 1949 under the Docking and Nicking of Horses Act. Several UK heavy horse groups have indicated that undocked tails do not cause any problems. Kerstin Alford, of the British Horse Society, says, “The incidence of injury in undocked horses where lines may become caught under the base of the dock can be avoided by correct practice and adaptation to the implements and lines used. If the likelihood of such an injury is significant then it is the method and practice that should be changed.”

It has not been determined scientifically if foals feel pain from tail docking. However, studies in neonate lambs have established that young animals feel significant pain and distress from tail docking. Recognizing pain in young animals can be difficult. Behavioral signals may be subtle, or misunderstood (e.g., nursing after tail docking may indicate a need for comfort due to pain).

Horse tail docking for cosmetic reasons is considered unacceptable by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the Recommended Code of Practice For the Care and Handling of Horses. However, there is no enforcement of this position.

Practices that inflict pain on animals are no longer acceptable without sound justifications, and protocols that minimize the negative impacts of the procedure. Protocols, or best management practices, for tail docking currently are lacking within the industry.