Alarmists Spread False Information on Revised Horse Protection Act

Information is being spread stating that the Revised Horse Protection Act will affect all horse shows, exhibitions, and events, excluding speed events crippling the horse industry as we know it today. Reading the entire Act one easily draws the conculsion that this is simply UNTRUE!

The revisions are clear in their definition and intended audience. The Act was originally written regarding the soring of the Tennessee Walking Horse in an attempt to wipe out the Big Lick, known for its cruelty to horses, and remains its focus, extending it to include all racking horses.

The current statement being circulated is:

QUOTE: Will Mean for Horse Show Communities

As the February 1, 2025 implementation date for the revised Horse Protection Act (HPA) looms over the horse industry, many people who are involved with horses find themselves wondering exactly how they will be affected. Simply put, the revised version of the HPA would make unnecessary, heavy-handed government overreach the norm, devastate all levels of horse show communities, and effectively cripple much of the equine industry in the United States.

 

The Revised Horse Protection Act clearly states:

Records of non-compliance with the HPA’s soring prohibition is rare in breeds other than the Tennessee Walking Horse and racking horse. APHIS nonetheless conducts occasional inspections and investigates other breed activity, and keeps records of any such noncompliance.

 

The intention and conduct of the Act remains firmly focused on Soring horses legs, shoeing and tails.

The Revised Horse Protection Act has broadened its reach to ensure all horses, not just TWH, where the extreme movement of the front legs is promoted and rewarded, as like tails tied high, are covered. They cite horses such as Missouri Fox Trotters, Rocky Mountain, and Spotted Saddle Horses.

The Final Rule Webinar on the process of conducting inspections, December 13th 2024  is CLEAR –    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj9KrEK4CDY

Background

The HPA was made law in 1970 to regulate the Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) industry, prohibiting the showing, sale, auction, exhibition, or transport of sored horses.

The USDA defines soring as “the application of any chemical (e.g., mustard oil or diesel fuel), mechanical agent (e.g., overweight chains), or practice (e.g., trimming a hoof to expose the sensitive tissue) inflicted upon any limb of a horse, that can cause or be expected to cause the horse to suffer physical pain or distress when moving.” Soring was utilized by unscrupulous trainers to artificially create a highly animated gait in TWHs and other gaited breeds. Since 1976, inspections of show horses, both before and after a class, have been required at all TWH events. Questions have been raised over the qualifications, independence and regularity of the inspections conducted as soring remains a recorded practice as documented in 2022 by the Humane Society. Read the report and evidence here.

 

The new rule can be read in its entirety here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/08/2024-09469/horse-protection-amendments

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-05-08/pdf/2024-09469.pdf