It is common practice among those who show heavy horses (Clydesdales and Shires) to shave/clip up to 90% of a horse's tail, thinking it shows off the horses' hindquarters for judges to view.

Foals as young as 5 months old have most of the tail hair shaved off, leaving just a spattering of hair at the top of the dock (tail bone).

Horses' tails are vital to swat away insects. They are used to communicate a horse’s mood - by mares to indicate willingness or otherwise to mate, to help regulate body temperature.

Tail signals communicate irritation, lameness and pain. 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.

Why Horses Need Their Tails — Animal Concern

Welfare must come before aesthetics, and World Horse Welfare, the British Horse Society, RSPCA, British Equine Veterinary Association and many others agree. But their is no law stating that owners of these horses cannot remove the natural tails of horses via shaving. 

 

 

 

It is entirely unnecessary to deprive horses of this natural part of themselves. Tails can be plaited before being entered in a show, returning the tail to full function after.

We're asking government to debate this matter in parliament and recognise that horses have a right to keep their natural tails for all the functions tails are meant for, and to ban this archaic practice. 

Please sign and share our petition;

Ban the Shaving of 90% of Tail Hair from the Draught Horse Breed. - Petitions