![\"Scottish](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_25-03-03_20-27-05-443-e1741062454524.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n GLASGOW, \u00a0Scotland<\/strong>\u2013\u2013\u201cSome great news for a change!\u201d emailed Animal Concern Scotland campaigns officer Elena Edwards on March 3,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 but Edwards bannered the intention of the Welsh government to close the last greyhound track in Wales above her own unique and signal victory on behalf of Clydesdale show horses, \u00a0native to Scotland.<\/p>\n Boldly going where few if any Scottish animal advocates had gone before,\u00a0 Edwards less than two years earlier took on the horses’ asses by doing her own intensive investigation\u2013\u2013and won her first major concession from the show horse industry,\u00a0 less than one year after risking ridicule by standing up for the horses\u2019 bloody rear ends in public.<\/p>\n Don Staniford of End Salmon Farming & Elena Edwards of Animal Concern Scotland.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Much as there is to report about the anticipated end of greyhound racing in Wales,\u00a0 sometimes the last must come first,\u00a0 especially when it saves suffering and no one else spoke out until just one person finally did,\u00a0 inspiring many others.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s been over a year since we\u00a0began campaigning to see an end to shaving off the tails of heavy horses,\u201d\u00a0 Edwards began,\u00a0 “with many letters,\u00a0 emails,\u00a0 phone calls, \u00a0and documenting horses as young as five months old with their tails shaved off.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we are absolutely thrilled,”\u00a0 Edwards said,\u00a0 “that the Great Yorkshire Show,\u201d\u00a0 the 188-year-old biggest such event in England, \u00a0\u201chas come to the same conclusion that it is inhumane and entirely unnecessary to remove the tails by any means, and is bringing in a rule next year \u2013 and an advisory this year \u2013 stating that all horses must have tails.\u201d<\/p>\n Shire horse with shaved tail.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>(Elena Edwards, Animal Concern Scotland photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Continued Edwards,\u00a0 \u201cIn an interview with\u00a0Horse & Hound<\/em>, \u00a0Amanda Stoddart-West, \u00a0Great Yorkshire Show entries and livestock coordinator, stated,\u00a0 \u2018For an hour in the ring, \u00a0these horses have no tails all summer.<\/p>\n “We\u2019ve had some complaints about it; \u00a0members of the public and other equestrians saying, \u2018Surely that\u2019s not right?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone we asked said it was because it was quicker than plaiting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just not good enough. It\u2019s really sad for these horses.\u201d<\/p>\n Agreed Great Yorkshire Show vet Julian Rishwort,\u00a0 \u201cTails are a vital part of a horse\u2019s basic requirements.\u00a0 They should never be removed for aesthetic reasons.”<\/p>\n Victoria Clayton, CEO, Shire Horse Society.<\/strong><\/em> Shire Horse Society chief executive Victoria Clayton, \u00a0risking becoming confused with a horse\u2019s rear end herself,\u00a0 objected that \u201cHair getting caught in harness and traces is dangerous.\u00a0 We stand by that shorter tails are necessary for safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Responded Edwards,\u00a0 \u201cJust what are they doing to these horses that puts them in such danger by having their natural tails? \u00a0In particular, \u00a0what excuse can there be for shaving off the tails of five-month-old foals for shows, \u00a0who shouldn’t be going anywhere near harnesses at this age?\u201d<\/p>\n Pledged Edwards,\u00a0 \u201cWe’ll also be following up with all the other shows whom we’ve raised this concern with, \u00a0asking them to follow the excellent decision of the Great Yorkshire Show.\u201d<\/p>\n Edwards first raised Clydesdale tail-shaving on August 31, \u00a02024,\u00a0 after a year-long investigation,\u00a0 she wrote, \u00a0\u201cfollowing a call from a concerned horse owner.\u201d<\/p>\n (See \u201cBig lickers\u201d reined in, but tongue-tied horses remain at mercy of shavetails<\/a>.)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Tail docking.\u00a0 (PETA photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tail-shaving is a different practice from tail-docking,\u00a0 which means tail amputation,\u00a0 and has long been recognized as inherently inhumane.<\/p>\n Despite that,\u00a0 the Anheuser-Busch brewery docked the tails of the iconic Budweiser beer wagon Clydesdale team until,\u00a0 responding to a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,\u00a0 the company announced in September 2023 that \u201cThe practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Tail-shaving,\u00a0 unlike tail-docking,\u00a0 is not in itself an inherently painful procedure,\u00a0 but\u2013\u2013the same as tail-docking\u2013\u2013leaves the horse exposed to attack by biting flies.<\/p>\n More than just a frequently severe pain in the ass,\u00a0 biting flies can transmit a range of equine diseases,\u00a0 including anthrax, \u00a0anaplasmosis, \u00a0tularemia, \u00a0equine infectious anemia, \u00a0equine trypanosomosis, \u00a0vesicular stomatitis, \u00a0and pigeon fever.<\/p>\n Clydesdale with shaved tail.<\/strong><\/em> Historically,\u00a0 shaving a horse\u2019s tail was widely considered a confession of incompetence on the part of drivers and plowmen.<\/p>\n The term \u201cshavetail\u201d used to describe a newly commissioned military officer reputedly dates back to the cavalry practice,\u00a0 centuries ago,\u00a0 of shaving the tails of the mounts of new commanders as a signal against following them in ill-advised charges.<\/p>\n But no one seems to have noticed or become concerned about the growing prevalence of shaving heavy show horses\u2019 tails until Edwards in October 2003 \u201csent a letter to the Clydesdale Horse Society,\u201d\u00a0 Edwards recounted, \u00a0\u201cand received a reply that they do not accept that shaving a horse\u2019s tail is in any way a welfare issue, \u00a0and as they have received no complaints from their equine vets they will continue to allow the practice.<\/p>\n Clydesdale.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe have since been in touch with the British Horse Society, \u00a0World Horse Welfare, \u00a0British Equine Veterinary Association, \u00a0National Equine Welfare Council, and the Royal SPCA,\u201d\u00a0 Edwards recounted when she took her campaign public,\u00a0 \u201cwhose equine specialist offered this as their stance on the matter:<\/p>\n \u201cThe practice of fully shaving off the tails of Clydesdale horses deprives them of their natural fly swat, \u00a0and also interferes with communication through body language, \u00a0which is incredibly important in equines.<\/p>\n \u201cAs there are other means of ensuring that the tails of working horses do not become entangled or snagged in harness, \u00a0such as plaiting of the tail, \u00a0there is no benefit to the welfare of the animals which outweighs the negative impacts of the practice. \u00a0Therefore it should end.\u201d<\/p>\n Shire horse with shaved tail.<\/strong><\/em> The British Equine Veterinary Association agreed that tail-shaving \u201cpurely for cosmetic purposes is not justified.\u201d<\/p>\n Continued Edwards,\u00a0 \u201cI also contacted the Shire Horse Society. \u00a0With no response, \u00a0I went to see the Shires being shown for myself at a country show, where I regret to report that it was clear that tail-shaving was prevalent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least ten states have banned the docking of horses\u2019 tails,\u201d\u00a0 an American Veterinary Medical Association spokesperson told CNN reporter Ramishah Maruf in September 2023,\u00a0 but the AVMA does not prohibit the practice,\u00a0 and has no position on tail-shaving.<\/p>\n Said Keith Dane,\u00a0 retired former senior director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States, \u201cI haven\u2019t seen the shaving of tails on Clydesdales or other draft horses in the U.S., \u00a0or heard of the practice here.\u00a0 But for some of the same reasons we oppose tail docking,\u201d\u00a0 specifically \u201closs of function in swatting insects and communication, \u00a0we would also oppose the shaving of horses\u2019 tails.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now about greyhound racing being banned in Wales.<\/p>\n First of all,\u00a0 it has not happened yet,\u00a0 but on February 18,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 Welsh deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies, said: \u00a0\u201cI believe that now is the right time to move to ban greyhound racing in Wales.\u00a0 We are proud to be the first nation in the United Kingdom to do this.“<\/em><\/p>\n Wrote Daniel Davies,\u00a0 political correspondent for BBC Wales News and David Deans,\u00a0 political reporter for BBC Wales,\u00a0 \u201cNo timeline has been announced for the ban, but Irranca-Davies said it is not \u2018impossible\u2019 it could come in before the next Welsh Parliament election in May 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The only greyhound track in Wales is the Valley Stadium in Ystrad Mynach,\u00a0 opened in 1976 as a combined greyhound track and soccer field.<\/p>\n It received zoning permission in 2023,\u00a0 the BBC reported, \u00a0to \u201cextend the existing clubhouse and grandstand building “to provide office, \u00a0hospitality, \u00a0amenity and veterinary facilities,\u201d\u00a0 and to convert the soccer field into greyhound kennels.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing New Zealand’s announcement in December that it would be\u00a0banning greyhound racing by 2026, this news from Wales will only help the push for a ban in Scotland,\u201d\u00a0 speculated Elena Edwards.<\/p>\n Scottish first minister John Swinney,\u00a0 Edwards said, \u00a0\u201chas stated he will give \u2018full and careful consideration\u2019 to calls for greyhound racing to be banned. \u00a0Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, who has been at the forefront of presenting a\u00a0Members\u00a0Bill to end greyhound racing in Scotland,\u00a0 has commended the decision by Wales, \u00a0and pushed for the same consideration in Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n Beth & Merritt Clifton with friends.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Edwards promised to keep ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> informed of progress.<\/p>\n The post Winning one for the horses\u2013\u2013and perhaps a big win for greyhounds too<\/a> appeared first on Animals 24-7<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Beth Clifton collage) Biggest show in U.K. agrees that a tail is an essential part of a horse GLASGOW, \u00a0Scotland\u2013\u2013\u201cSome great news for a change!\u201d emailed Animal Concern Scotland campaigns officer Elena Edwards on March 3,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 but Edwards bannered the intention of the Welsh government to close the last greyhound track in Wales above […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12022],"tags":[55238,1022,55239,55240,31697,55243,55241,55242,4666,19837],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-126332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activist","tag-animal-concern-scotland","tag-big","tag-clydedale","tag-elena-edwards","tag-greyhounds","tag-horsesand","tag-keith-dane","tag-victoria-clayton","tag-win","tag-winning"],"yoast_head":"\nBiggest show in U.K. agrees that a tail is an essential part of a horse<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“The last shall come first”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“Surely that’s not right”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n“We’ll be following up”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTail-shaving is an invitation to biting flies<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(Elena Edwards photo. Animal Concern Scotland)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nConfession of incompetence<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cNo benefit to the welfare of the animals\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(Elena Edwards, Animal Concern Scotland photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u201cTail-shaving was prevalent\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nWelsh greyhound racing ban has not yet happened<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLast track in 2023 won permission to expand<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPlease donate to support our work:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
www.animals24-7.org\/donate\/<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n