New regulations under the HPA take effect next month
The Horse Protection Act (HPA) has raised concerns among horsemen, as updates are scheduled to take effect on Feb. 5, which will broaden regulations to include all breeds, horse events and 4-H horse activities.
HPA, enacted in the early 1970s, was a significant step forward in promoting the humane treatment of horses.
It aimed to eliminate inhumane practices, such as soring, which involves painful methods used to enhance the movement of a horse’s gait artificially and prohibited sored horses from participating in shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), soring can be accomplished by applying certain substances, devices and/or practices to a horse’s limb and can cause physical pain, distress, inflammation or lameness when walking, trotting or otherwise moving.
A sored horse will pick up its feet higher and faster, creating a highly-animated gait desired in specific breed classes, such as Tennessee Walking Horses and racking horses.
Revisions
Revisions aim to strengthen rules which discourage soring, but the expansive updates include a requirement for advanced notice for events and government-approved veterinarians on premises during the event.
If the HPA revisions become effective, event organizers will be required to notify USDA APHIS at least 30 days before the event, provide any event updates 15 days before the event and report any violations within five days after the event concludes.
They are also required to maintain detailed records and verify the identity of all horses entered. If an event manager chooses not to request or hire a USDA inspector, they are then liable for any HPA violations found at their event.
The reach of the revisions extends to all shows involving horses, from local 4-H playdays to annual international competitions, as the new rule defines a horse show as a “public display of any horses in competition except where speed is the prime factor, rodeo events, parades or trail rides.”
Inspections will now be conducted by USDA-trained horse protection inspectors, who must be veterinarians or experienced equine professionals.
The USDA APHIS website notes the previous system relying on industry-appointed inspectors will be eliminated, and the revised rules will hold not just owners but all participants, including trainers, haulers and event sponsors, accountable for violations.
Stricter inspection criteria and expanded liability mean participants must ensure compliance with the new guidelines to avoid penalties.
Voicing concerns
Many industry professionals and organizations have voiced their concerns about the expanded scope of the HPA.
Opponents of the updates have raised concerns about challenges facing the horse industry, arguing animal rights groups with conflicting ideologies have significantly influenced the legislation.
U.S. Rep. John Rose (R-TN) has voiced his strong opposition to the USDA APHIS finalized regulation, stating it would unnecessarily decimate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
“President Joe Biden has severely damaged the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and those who work in it,” states Rose in an April 2024 press release. “Implementing this regulation is a slap in the face of all who love and cherish Tennessee Walking Horses.”
“Once again, Biden has chosen to use an executive order to bypass the normal legislative process to enact rules which otherwise could not gain the support necessary to be passed into law,” Rose continued.
According to a Western Justice statement made in December 2024, “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 U.S.”
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
