Urge Congress to Rescind the Horse Protection Act Amendment
Voice your concerns and opposition directly to your Congressional Representative and U.S. Senators regarding the new USDA Rule under the Horse Protection Act with the click of a button below.
The Horse Protection Act (HPA), passed in 1970, and the intent of the Act was to serve as a safeguard to protect horses from the cruel practice of soring. This vile practice, involving the infliction of pain on a horse’s legs or hooves to achieve an exaggerated gait, has been illegal for over half a century. The HPA specifically prohibits the participation of sored horses in shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, as well as their transportation to and from such events.
Despite its universal application to ALL equine breeds and disciplines, the enforcement of the Act has historically targeted Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses—breeds with a past history of soring practices. However, the new rule which was finalized under the Biden Administration is now set to take effect on April 1, 2025, following a 60-day extension announced by APHIS last week.
This new rule significantly expands the scope of the HPA, sounding the alarm for the entire equine industry in addition to the fact that this new Rule has fueled accusations that the agency’s actions are driven more by an animal rights agenda than by a commitment to fair and objective regulation. USDA has a history of abusing the rules to disqualify participants.
The new HPA Rule is currently being challenged in court by the Walking Horse Celebration, which has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the enforcement of the new HPA rule, highlighting the significant concerns the industry has regarding this new overreaching regulation. The ruling is due any day.
Meanwhile, Congressman James Comer, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, recently sent a powerful letter to the Trump-Vance Transition Team, urging immediate action to address the Biden Administration’s deeply flawed Horse Protection Act Rule and calls on the incoming Administration to delay, rescind, and ultimately abolish this rule, restoring a commonsense approach to protecting horses while ensuring fairness for the industry.
Read our article about this new rule and the animal rights influence at USDA HERE.
We need for you to TAKE ACTION and send letters to your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to request that Congress abolish this new HPA Rule.
Thank you for taking action! Make sure you modify the boiler plate letter and make it your own.
Should you have any questions about this effort, you may contact Mindy Patterson, President, The Cavalry Group at 855-748-4210.