IV
EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / MAY 2015
Ethics: Altering a horse’s tail—why not?, continued
registries, and 3) it may be illegal in the case of docking or cutting tails. This is an excellent opportunity to educate the client or trainer as to why these procedures should not be performed, even though it might give them and their horse a competitive advantage in the show ring, and why the breed registries have rules forbidding such procedures.
Some veterinarians rationalize doing tail blocks for their clients because they feel if they don’t perform the tail block themselves, someone else with less knowledge and experience will do it to the detriment of the horse, plus they might lose the client. Unfortunately, if the client is determined to have the procedure done, your refusal poses those risks; but is compromising one’s professional integrity and ethical standards worth it for a client that is asking you to help them cheat? Most likely not.
Two of the major veterinary specialty organizations— ACVIM and ACVS—have asked AAEP to join with them in trying to stop the practice of altering tails altogether, primarily because of the adverse consequences board- certified veterinarians are having to treat in horses that have had their tails blocked. They strongly feel more punitive measures should be taken against veterinarians, trainers, and owners who persist in either performing tail blocks or having tail blocks done to their horses since there is no medically sound reason to block a horse’s tail just to keep it from moving while the horse is being shown.
Actions that have been discussed include such things as charges of unethical conduct by veterinarians, charges of animal abuse and cruelty against owners and trainers, sanctions against judges who reward quiet tails in the show ring, stiffer penalties or fines assessed against owners whose horses have had their tails blocked, and more intense scrutiny of horses in shows where the breed registry forbids tail blocking. Only time will tell if these efforts are successful in stopping horses from having their tail function altered. There seems to be a “cheat to win” mentality that has become pervasive in the show horse industry. Hopefully, ethical AAEP member veterinarians will refuse to take part in such activities.
Dr. Messer is a Professor Emeritus of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the AAEP’s Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee.
References 1. Stewart RH, Reed SM, Weisbrode SE. “Complications associated with alcohol tail-blocks in three horses.” Progress in Veterinary Neurology. Vol 1, No. 4; 1989: 476-480. (View this article at
http://tinyurl.com/ktecvjh)
2. Personal communication. F. Glenn Anderson, DVM, 2015.
Last chance to nominate a deserving colleague for an annual award
Nominations close June 1 for the AAEP’s annual awards, which honor members and others for substantial contri- butions to the equine veterinary profession or well-being of horses. Nominations are being accepted for the following awards:
AAEP Research Award Distinguished Educator – Academic Award Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award Distinguished Service Award George Stubbs Award Sage Kester Beyond the Call Award The Lavin Cup (The Equine Welfare Award)
A description of each award, list of past recipients and link to the nomination form is accessible at www.aaep. org/info/aaep-annual-awards. A nomination form is also available by contacting Sue Stivers, executive assistant, at (859) 233-0147 or
sstivers@aaep.org.
Award recipients will be honored at the AAEP’s 61st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 5-9, 2015.
CANTER USA’s Robbie Timmons accepts The Lavin Cup from 2014 AAEP President Dr. Jeff Blea, left, and award namesake Dr. Gary Lavin, right, during the 60th Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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