“Big Lick” horses win in court. Can they get a break from Congress?

I'm Mayhem competing in the 2017 Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration.

WASHINGTON D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2017 improperly blocked a new USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service rule meant to protect show horses from taking effect, ruled a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on July 22, 2022. The appellate court verdict,… Continue reading “Big Lick” horses win in court. Can they get a break from Congress?

Federal legislators plan bills to restore USDA’s animal welfare records including soring

Sen. Ron Wyden (left) and Rep. Earl Blumenuer (right).

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden [D-OR] (above left) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer  [D-3-OR] (above right) plan to introduce bills to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore records of animal welfare inspections, removed last month, to its web page. The department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service database went dark shortly after the… Continue reading Federal legislators plan bills to restore USDA’s animal welfare records including soring

Trump removes Rule aimed at ending the inhumane practice of horse soring

Horse soring inspection. HSUS image.

WASHINGTON, DC — In a nightmare move for horse advocates Trump axed a Federal Rule aimed at ending the inhumane practice of horse soring. The Rule was removed just hours before it was to be published in the Federal Register. On January 13, 2017 the The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service… Continue reading Trump removes Rule aimed at ending the inhumane practice of horse soring

Final horse soring rule could lead to legal action

Image from 2015 HSUS Horse Soring Investigation.

WASHINGTON, DC — On January 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a final rule that strengthens the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and safeguards horses from the practice of soring. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the new amendments to the Horse Protection Act make… Continue reading Final horse soring rule could lead to legal action

APHIS to use iris scanners to identify sored horses

Close up of a horse's eye. Google search result. Unattributed image.

JILL BARNES NELSON reporting for the Tehachapi News writes: " . . .companies are working on an eye scan for identifying horses — just like in the spy movies. "The scanners will use an infrared light that can capture an image of a horse's iris from distances of up to a yard away. The iris… Continue reading APHIS to use iris scanners to identify sored horses

Hundreds turn out for walking horse forum in Murfreesboro

Image from 2015 HSUS Horse Soring Investigation.

MARY REEVES reporting for the Daily News Journal points out two significant changes to the Horse Protection Act that may actually rid this country of the barbaric practice of horse soring, an abusive practice used to accomplish the abnormal gait called "Big Lick" in competition. 1. The USDA would train, license and screen all horse… Continue reading Hundreds turn out for walking horse forum in Murfreesboro

Feinstein Supports Ending Abusive Horse Soring

(AP Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)

PRESS RELEASE Washington DC (July 25, 2016)—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and end inhumane practices known as soring, the use of painful devices or chemicals to force an unnatural gait. Senator Feinstein is an original cosponsor of the… Continue reading Feinstein Supports Ending Abusive Horse Soring

USDA Proposes Changes to End the Inhumane Practice of Soring

Stacked shoes of a sored Tennessee Walking Horse. HSUS image.

APHIS PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON, July 25, 2016--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced proposed changes to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and end inhumane practices known as soring, which cause horses to suffer physical pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness while walking and moving. APHIS… Continue reading USDA Proposes Changes to End the Inhumane Practice of Soring

AVMA and AAEP urge strong enforcement of HPA at Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Horse soring inspection. HSUS image.

By American Veterinary Medical Association SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 23, 2012 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) urge veterinarians, owners, trainers, riders, event spectators, media and the public to redouble their efforts to identify and report sored horses at this year's Tennessee Walking Horse National… Continue reading AVMA and AAEP urge strong enforcement of HPA at Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Walking Horse groups could face USDA sanctions

Horse soring image from The Hoof Blog

Well, here's a another hot mess, and horses are suffering cruelly year after year -- decade after decade -- for it. If you think horse racing has problems, the industry that "sores" and competes Tennessee Walking Horses is loathsome and mafioso-like in its operations. The Horse Protection Act was passed by Congress in 1970 but… Continue reading Walking Horse groups could face USDA sanctions