Target: Dr. Yugal Kishore, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu, India
Goal: Enforce the prohibition on spiked bits and refer substantiated cases of horses’ mouths being injured by these devices for appropriate legal action.
A horse carrying visitors should not have to answer every pull of the reins with pain. Officials reportedly seized 140 metal spiked bits during an enforcement drive in Katra and Shiv Khori. These devices use projecting spikes against sensitive tissues inside the mouth, and their alleged use warrants examination of the affected horses and handlers.
The operation involved the Animal Husbandry Department and PETA India. Reporting says confiscated equipment was replaced with smooth bits, an immediate improvement. Follow-up examinations and records should establish whether prohibited devices were used and who was responsible.
The existing prohibition must have practical force beyond a single enforcement day. Operators need clear instructions, horses need welfare checks, and substantiated violations need appropriate consequences. Urge the department to maintain inspections, document suspected offenses, and coordinate legal action against those proven to have used prohibited equipment.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Kishore,
Please build on the reported seizure of 140 spiked bits from horse reins during an enforcement drive with sustained enforcement and veterinary follow-up. These devices can press sharp metal into horses’ mouths, raising concern about painful wounds and continuing injury. We ask that affected animals receive examinations and any necessary treatment, with findings recorded for welfare and investigative purposes.
Work with local authorities to establish where each device was allegedly recovered, who controlled the horse concerned, and whether the evidence supports a violation. Please preserve seizure records and witness accounts, and revisit operators to check compliance. Training should explain humane handling and approved equipment, while investigators assess each allegation fairly rather than assuming guilt from occupation or location.
Where unlawful use or other cruelty is established, refer the evidence for appropriate prosecution and pursue any authorized administrative measures through fair procedures. Restrictions on operating should follow applicable powers and proven conduct. Publish follow-up results and prevent prohibited equipment returning after inspections. The horses’ protection depends on lasting compliance and meaningful consequences for substantiated violations.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: B. Sandman
