USDA / HPA
UPWHA 
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USDA / HPA
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The Humane Society of the United States Announces $10,000 Reward for Information on Horse Soring (March 18, 2008) — The Humane Society of the United States has announced it will offer a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any violator of Tennessee’s “horse soring” law, which prohibits the deliberate infliction of pain to horses’ feet to produce an artificially high-stepping gait. Ads announcing the reward will appear throughout middle Tennessee, an area still believed to be a hotbed of soring activity. “Soring - the deliberate infliction of pain upon a horse to increase the animal’s entertainment or monetary value - is incredibly cruel, and must end” said Keith Dane, director of equine protection at The Humane Society of the United States. The soring of Tennessee Walking Horses and other breeds of gaited show horses is one of the most heinous forms of abuse inflicted upon equines in the U.S. The practice involves the use of caustic chemicals and chains on the legs of the horse, creating severe pain and forcing an exaggerated, high-stepping gait. Pressure shoeing – another especially egregious form of soring – is the abusive technique of cutting a horse's hoof almost to the bloodline so the shoe puts painful pressure on the horse's sole with each stride. In some instances, foreign objects are placed between the hoof and the shoe to create painful pressure on the sole. Passage of a federal law (the 1970 Horse Protection Act) has not had the intended effect of eliminating soring. Tennessee also has a state law prohibiting soring, but enforcement of these laws has proven difficult, and this illegal practice continues on a widespread basis. Therefore, The HSUS is offering this reward in order to encourage citizens to come forward and help end this entrenched cruelty. In 2006, the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, TN failed to name a World Grand Champion when most of the finalists were disqualified for violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. Constituents, who support HSUS’ efforts and understand the need to end this cruel practice, have generously agreed to supplement the reward amount. In the past, supporters have offered similar backing for increased rewards in particular cases of animal cruelty. Anyone with information on this cruel practice should call 1-866-411-TEAM (8326). The Humane Society of the United States will protect the identity of all callers. -30- Media contact: Heather Sullivan: 301.548.7778; hsullivan@humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.
The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, N.W. Washington , D.C. 20037Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty USDA and Enforcement of the HPA (Horse Protection Act)January 16, 2006 - FOSH proposes changes to the Operating Plan for 2007 as follows:
FOSH Proposes Changes to USDA Horse
Protection Program Operating Plan
(01/16//2006) Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) presented a number of proposed changes to the 2007 USDA Horse Protection Program Operating Plan (OP), at a meeting of Horse Industry Organization (HIO) representatives held September 13, 2005. Sound horse supporters can demonstrate their support of the proposed changes by either writing to the USDA or attending the USDA Listening Sessions, which will be held in various cities throughout the United States (dates and cities are provided). Following two years of historical data analysis, FOSH identified several areas of the current Operating Plan that minimize the effects of penalties and allow violators to continue to participate in shows while on suspension. FOSH believes the following changes to the next USDA Operating Plan are needed in order to improve enforcement of the Horse Protection Act. 1. The probation period for HPA violations should be eliminated. This probation period - currently set at one year - is the window following a person's suspension during which they must remain free of violations before a subsequent violation of the same type will be treated as a new, first-time violation. FOSH believes this window should be closed, as it allows trainers and owners to enter horses at shows under other individuals' names to avoid receiving a second, enhanced violation during the probation period, when they are supposedly "turning over a new leaf". Violators should not be entitled to unlimited "second chances" – those who truly intend to change their ways permanently do not need a probation period. 2. Violators on suspension should not be allowed to be present on the grounds of any gaited horse show. At the present time, there is no way to ensure that such persons are not participating in the preparation or coaching of show entries in the barns or elsewhere on the show grounds. Because DQPs and VMOs typically spend most of their time at a show in the inspection area, they are unable to monitor the actions of violators elsewhere on show grounds. 3. The USDA should define specifically in the OP, the criteria for HIO decertification. In Spring of 2005 the Department made reference to several criteria that it would use to make a decision to decertify an HIO, one of which was a variance in an HIO's violation rate with/without USDA personnel present. But it has not stated how wide that variance would have to be in order for a decision to decertify to be made, nor how the variance would be measured. Historically, large variances have been recorded for several HIO's. 4. The combined HIO suspension list should be published by the HIOs in industry trade publications or made available on the Internet, or USDA should release it to the public, with proper disclaimers. 5. The USDA should commit to a standard set of show, inspection and violation data that it will compile and release on a regular (monthly, quarterly or annual) basis, and that report criteria should be included in the OP. 6. There should be a standard set of forms and data used across all HIOs for submission of information to the USDA. Regarding the Operating Plan development process, FOSH believes the USDA should post on its website all proposed OP changes submitted to date, prior to the holding of each scheduled listening session. Posting such changes in advance means that interested parties can provide input to the Department on proposed OP changes. By holding an open forum to obtain input on proposed changes, the OP is more likely to be a collaborative document that is supported by individuals and HIOs alike. FOSH welcomes input on these and any other changes to the next Operating Plan; comments may be sent to Keith Dane at djuj@aol.com. FOSH also requests that concerned members of the sound horse community contact the USDA to indicate their support for the above proposed changes and/or attend a USDA Listening Session. Letters and emails should be sent to USDA. For information on contacting the USDA or a sample letter, visit FOSH's website at www.fosh.info. The first USDA APHIS Listening Session will be held on February 8, 2006, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on the Celebration show grounds in Shelbyville, TN. A second session will be held on March 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, MO. Listening sessions will also be held in Chattanooga, TN, Pomona, CA, and Dallas, TX. FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH or to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info or call 1-800-651-7993.
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