Majestic Tennessee Walking Horses are cherished for their natural, unique four-step gait and their gentle dispositions. The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act was just reintroduced in Congress to protect these treasured horses from unscrupulous trainers and abuse and is one of the most widely supported measures by the horse industry.
This bill would:
- Require horse show organizers to use only USDA-licensed inspectors.
- Prohibit the use of action devices that intensify the pain caused by soring and increase the penalties for violations.
- Strengthen penalties to deter violators.
Did you know there are some trainers who compete in Tennessee Walking Horse competitions that still subject their horses to “soring?” This involves intentionally inflicting intense pain on a horse’s legs and hooves to elicit an exaggerated gait. Although soring has been illegal since 1970, weak regulations and poor enforcement have allowed this cruel practice to persist. The PAST Act will address these gaps by amending the Horse Protection Act to improve protections for horses.
What You Can Do
Please use the form below to email your U.S. representatives and ask them to support and pass the PAST Act! If your legislator has already supported this bill, the system will instead generate a message of thanks.
