Representatives Cohen, Fitzpatrick, Schakowsky and Buchanan Lead Letter to USDA Urging Finalization of Horse Soring Rule

WASHINGTON — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus who was awarded the Humane Society’s Humane Horseman of the Year last year, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), today led 122 Congressional colleagues in a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to quickly finalize and publish the rule proposed on August 21 to strengthen enforcement of the 1970 Horse Protection Act to crack down on horse “soring,” which is the intentional infliction of pain on horses’ feet and legs to achieve the high stepping, pain-based “big lick” gait that has plagued Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds for more than half a century.

The letter reads in part:

“We are writing to express our strong support for the rule proposed on August 21, 2023, and urge the USDA to act expeditiously to finalize it.  As supporters of the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, H.R. 3090, we are pleased that the proposal includes key elements consistent with the PAST Act to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA), and encourage you to ensure that other needed reforms contained in the PAST Act are included in the final rule.

“The existing HPA regulations have not been sufficient to put an end to the cruel and illegal practice of soring, in which unscrupulous trainers deliberately injure the legs and hooves of certain breeds of horses by mechanical and chemical means to create an exaggerated, high-stepping gait known as the ‘Big Lick’ that wins ribbons at some horse shows.  For example, between 2017 and 2022, on average annually, more than 40 percent of horses tested by APHIS at competitions tested positive for prohibited substances used to sore horses or temporarily numb them to mask their pain during inspection.  Despite the agency’s best efforts at enforcement under the current regulations, soring remains rampant.

“The USDA committed to rulemaking to abolish the current Designated Qualified Person (DQP) licensing system in its 2010 response to an audit issued by the USDA Office of Inspector General.  Additionally, in multiple Federal Register notices, the USDA stated the agency’s plans to consider banning the pads and chains used as part of the soring process. We agree with your conclusion reached in 2016: ‘The Department believes that 38 [now 45] years has been more than enough time for the gaited horse industry to reform its training practices to comply with the Act.’ In 2021, the USDA issued a press release that it would be pursuing a new proposed rule expeditiously as a top regulatory priority, and Congress has repeatedly urged the agency via appropriations provisions to move forward with new regulations to end horse soring…

“These important regulatory changes, consistent with the PAST Act, will allow those who are trying to play by the rules to finally be free of the stigma that soring brings on the whole industry.

“We commend the USDA for proposing a strong rule and urge you to prioritize the finalization and publication of the rule. As the agency committed in 2010 to promulgate rules to strengthen enforcement of the HPA, regulatory action is long overdue and must be completed as expeditiously as possible.  Every day that the regulatory reforms needed to fulfill the intent of the HPA and bring about an end to soring are delayed, thousands of horses are subjected to chronic, abject cruelty.  We implore you not to allow any further unwarranted delay.”

See the entire letter here.

In addition to Representatives Cohen, Fitzpatrick, Schakowsky and Buchanan, the following Members also signed the letter: Adam Schiff, Adriano Espaillat, Alma Adams, Ami Bera, André Carson, Angie Craig, Anthony D'Esposito, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Bill Foster, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, Brad Sherman, Bradley Schneider, Brendan Boyle, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chellie Pingree, Christopher Deluzio, Christopher Smith, Colin Allred, Dan Kildee, Daniel Goldman, Danny K. Davis, Darren Soto, David Joyce, David Trone, David Valadao, Debbie Dingell, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Derek Kilmer, Dina Titus, Don Bacon, Donald S. Beyer, Jr., Donald Norcross, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Doris Matsui, Dwight Evans, Earl Blumenauer, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Frederica Wilson, Gerald Connolly, Grace Napolitano, Greg Casar, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Gregory Meeks, Gwen Moore, Haley Stevens, Hank Johnson, Hillary Scholten, James McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Jared Huffman, Jared Moskowitz, Jason Crow, Jerrold Nadler, Jill Tokuda, Jimmy Gomez, Jimmy Panetta, Joaquin Castro, John Sarbanes, Josh Gottheimer, Josh Harder, Juan Vargas, Judy Chu, Julia Brownley, Kathy Castor, Katie Porter, Kevin Mullin, Kim Schrier,  Lance Gooden, Linda T. Sánchez, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Lizzie Fletcher, Lloyd Doggett, Lois Frankel, Lori Trahan, Lucy McBath, Madeleine Dean, Marcy Kaptur, Mark DeSaulnier, Mark Pocan, Mark Takano, Mary Peltola, Matt Cartwright, Mike Carey, Mike Thompson, Mike Quigley, Morgan McGarvey, Nancy Mace, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Nikema Williams, Nicole Malliotakis, Nick LaLota, Norma Torres, Patrick Ryan, Paul Tonko, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Raúl M. Grijalva, Raul Ruiz, Ritchie Torres, Ro Khanna, Salud Carbajal, Sanford Bishop, Jr., Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, Sean Casten, Seth Magaziner, Sharice Davids, Sheila Jackson Lee, Stephen Lynch, Steny Hoyer, Steven Horsford, Susan Wild, Susie Lee, Suzan DelBene, Suzanne Bonamici, Sylvia Garcia, Tony Cárdenas, Troy Carter, Val Hoyle, and Veronica Escobar.

Organizations endorsing the intent of the letter include: The American Horse Council (AHC), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH), American Horse Protection Association (AHPA), and Homes for Horses Coalition (HHC).

“It’s high time to shut down the perverse cruelty known as soring, carried out in secret by scofflaws seeking to cheat their way to glory in the show-ring,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We commend Representatives Cohen, Fitzpatrick, Schakowsky, and Buchanan for leading the way with their strong bipartisan letter to USDA. We hope the agency heeds the will of the people – demonstrated by this letter and more than 115,000 public comments submitted to USDA that call for the proposed rule to be finalized swiftly. We need regulations now that will finally end this indefensible animal cruelty.”

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