Tail turnip
The tail beet is a continuation of the horse's spine, formed by 15 to 21 vertebrae . Together with the long hair growing on it , it forms the tail.
The tail beet is an easily recognizable indicator of the horse's condition. A relaxed horse carries the tail calmly or lets it swing smoothly, while a tense horse flaps its tail and a troubled horse places it horizontally or even vertically. In dressage tournaments , a beating tail is therefore punished with a deduction of points as an indication of a lack of harmony between rider and horse.
In American Saddlebred Show horses, the lower muscles of the tail beet are severed in order to achieve a high tail posture and thus a livelier appearance. This interference is prohibited in most European countries according to the current animal welfare legislation .
Cold-blooded horses and carriage horses used to have their tails docked in order to rule out problems with the tail cutter and the leashes from the outset. A docked tail was often seen in cold-blooded horses, as the breeders hoped that the split croup would have a more impressive effect . The animal protection law in Germany (§ 6) and laws of several EU countries have forbidden this practice (see cropping ) for many years.
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