These unscrupulous veterinarians need to be outed and penalized for doing the surgical procedure, whether shown as the procedure or not on the invoice. Some veterinarians are cashing in on this condemned procedure. It is a cosmetic procedure and if performed is done so for financial gain only by the veterinarian.Ĭlick here to read the Veterinarian Board position on tail blocking. If it is performed by a veterinarian, it is unethical.” Thus, any individual who performs the procedure most likely has had no veterinary training and may have minimal knowledge of the anatomy and function of the tail.

Hepworth-Warren says “Because tail blocking is considered inhumane and unethical, it is not taught in veterinary schools. Read the Full Article from Kate Hepworth Warren on Tail Blocking and its effects on horses.Īccording to the American Association of Equine Practitioners: Tail Blocking is disrespectful and abusive to the horse, and it is only done for the trainers and owners financial gain.Īccording to DR KATE HEPWORTH-WARREN, DVM, DACVIM – the Quiet Tail is “perhaps the most dangerous tail alteration procedure, which the AVMA defines as “numbing the tail to cause it to hang limply.” This practice is most often performed on horses competing in Western disciplines, such as pleasure or reining classes, where horses are penalized for wringing, raising or moving the tail side to side excessively. Tail Blocking is painful for the horse when being done, and they suffer for months following. It can also disguise soreness in horses for some ailments. It is a cosmetic procedure for the “show look” being used to disguise heavy spurring and sour minded horses. Tail blocking is unethical for veterinarians and shows the decay in training programs when it becomes a necessity to get a horse shown. There seems to be a “cheat to win” mentality that has become pervasive in the show horse industry 1.

Tail blocking is pervasive in reining events and members believe it is a necessity to win prize money.

State of decay 2 trainer july 2019