U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue calling for strict enforcement to protect horses from the abusive practice known as “soring.”
Horse soring involves show horse trainers intentionally applying substances or devices to a horse’s limb to make each step painful, forcing a horse to perform an exaggerated high-stepping gait that is rewarded in show rings. While soring is prohibited under federal law, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General (IG) report has found that some horse trainers often go to great lengths to continue this inhumane practice. This letter comes in the lead-up to the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
“We are committed to ending the cruel practice of soring of Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds, and call on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do everything possible to vigorously enforce the Horse Protection Act (HPA),” the Senators wrote. “As the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee approaches, we urge USDA field employees to perform their inspection duties with diligence.”
Sens. Warner and Crapo are sponsors of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which protects horses from this cruel practice by requiring additional and stronger enforcement measures and by prohibiting the use of certain devices associated with horse soring. Numerous groups have endorsed the bill, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Horse Council, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. The PAST Act was introduced in previous years by Sen. Warner and former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
The full text of the letter can be found here.
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Chris Graham
