AHA Statement on Horse Protection Act
Many AHA members are aware of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently proposed changes to the regulations governing enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA).
Please read the AHA Letter & Position Statement, written by AHA Executive Vice President, Glenn T. Petty below.
The HPA is a law that was created primarily to end the practice of “soring” in some parts of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse, and Spotted Saddle Horse Industries. This law was passed by Congress and is enforced by the USDA. The USDA has the authority to create any Rules it deems necessary to enforce this law. These Proposed Rules were published on July 25, 2016 and can be found here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS-2011-0009-0001#sthash.Xv5CEOVs.dpuf
A 60-day Public Hearing and Public Comment period began. This comment period has been extended and ends October 26, 2016 at which time the USDA will review comments, make any revisions/changes, and finalize the Rule. Because the HPA is already a law, there is no Congressional vote.
AHA is adamantly opposed to any cruel or abusive actions that endanger the welfare of any horses. We support the effort to eliminate soring and other abusive practices.
However, AHA feels that the proposed rule is over-reaching, arbitrary, capricious and potentially detrimental to the Arabian breed. The rule would forbid the use of pads, bands and action devices in Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, Spotted Saddlehorses “AND RELATED BREEDS”. Elsewhere in the rule it mentions horses that “move with an accentuated gait.” AHA feels that the language used in this proposed rule is far too broad and would encompass many breeds including the American Saddlebred, Hackney, Morgan, Arabian and Half-Arabian, who have no history or soring nor any incentive to do so. All of these are “TROTTING BREEDS”. A horse cannot trot if it is not sound.
Additionally, under USEF rules, AHA self regulates soundness and shoeing regulations, which can be found here: https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2016/05-AR.pdf in sections AR105 and 106.
AHA, along with ASHA, UPHA, AHHS and AMHA have been working with the USEF and the American Horse Council (AHC) to lobby the USDA to add clarifying language regarding their proposed rule changes to the HPA. Our main objective is to exclude trotting breeds (American Saddlebred, Hackney, Morgan, Arabian and Half-Arabian) from the regulation in order to eliminate any question about the application of these regulations to these breeds. Historically, these breeds have had no soring issues, are all USEF Affiliated breeds and are well regulated by USEF at recognized competitions.
WHAT CAN I DO?
We encourage the membership to comment on the proposed changes to the HPA, specifically citing that all TROTTING BREEDS be excluded from this regulation.
GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT
http://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2011-0009
If you have problems with the Regulations.gov page loading, try cutting and pasting the above link into your browser. Also try visiting the page early in the morning or late in the evening when “traffic” may be lighter. Keep trying because every comment counts!
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to:
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
SUGGESTED POINTS TO MAKE IN COMMENTS TO USDA
It is imperative that your comment be individualized and personal. It cannot be duplicated or a “form letter” or it will not count. Concise, well-written, educated, professional comments will carry more weight than a vague or angry response. Please feel free to use verbiage from any of these comments below which were presented to the USDA, HOWEVER YOU MUST MAKE YOUR COMMENT YOUR OWN!
Comments will be received until October 26, 2016 at midnight.
-- via AHA