ADS Support for Organizers with new HPA Laws
What Organizers and Clubs need to know about new Horse Protection Act regulations and how the ADS will support its Recognized Events
New regulations passed by Congress are going to mean big changes for organizers of all horse shows, events and exhibitions across the United States. Please read this release in its entirety to learn how the ADS plans to support its Recognized Events.
Congress enacted the Horse Protection Act (HPA) to end the cruel and inhumane practice of soring horses, a practice that has long been prevalent in the Tennessee Walking Horse and Gaited Horse Shows. Soring is defined as:
(A) An irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse,
(B) Any burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted by a person on any limb of a horse,
(C) Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent has been injected by a person into or used by a person on any limb of a horse, or
(D) Any other substance or device has been used by a person on any limb of a horse or a person has engaged in a practice involving a horse, and, as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in connection with the therapeutic treatment of a horse by or under the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State in which such treatment was given.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) through their parent agency the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended horse protection regulations. The new regulations go into effect on February 1, 2025. This new law pertains to ANY competition or public exhibition in the United States (exception: rodeo, parades, speed events). This will affect ALL competitions and exhibitions, even non-recognized club events, 4-H events, schooling shows, etc. There is no exception based on number of entries.
The ADS is committed to supporting and educating Organizers, Clubs, Licensed Officials and Members about these new regulations, which can be found in their entirety here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/hpa
It should be noted that an HPA violation would be a violation of existing ADS rules regarding welfare of the horse.
What this means for Organizers:
Access to Records
The law refers to event Organizers as "Management”: any person who organizes, exercises control over, or administers or who is responsible for organizing, directing, or administering. Managers must provide representatives from the APHIS and Horse Protection Inspectors (HPI) unlimited access to any records required to be kept or otherwise maintained by regulation. This includes:
- Allowing APHIS representatives and HPIs to examine and make copies of such records pertaining to any horse during business hours or other mutually agreed upon time
- Providing a room, table, or other facilities necessary to properly examine and copy such records
Reporting
As a horse event manager, you must report certain information at specific intervals before and after each event:
At Least 30 Days Before the Event
Under §11.14 of the HPA regulations, you must submit to the APHIS Administrator the following information:
- Event date(s), name, street address, and zip code
- Event manager’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if one is available)
- A copy of the official program, if one has been prepared
- Anticipated or known number of entries
- Whether you have requested an APHIS representative, chosen and appointed an HPI (from a list of USDA-trained inspections), or will not use an inspector to conduct inspections.
At Least 15 Days Before the Event
- You must notify the APHIS Administrator of any changes to the information previously provided.
The management of any horse show or horse exhibition shall disqualify any horse from being shown or exhibited (1) which is sore or (2) if the management has been notified by a person appointed in accordance with regulations under subsection (c) or by the Secretary (Secretary of Ag, if inspectors are on the grounds) that the horse is sore.”
After The Event
You must submit information to the APHIS Administrator concerning each horse prohibited by management from being shown or exhibited because it was found to be sore or otherwise in violation of the HPA or its regulations. This includes:
- Name of owner/driver and any applicable horse registration name and number
- Competitor number and class number
- Reason for the action
It is important to note that Horse Show/Event/Exhibition Managers are liable for any HPA violations found at their event if they choose not to hire an inspector or if they fail to disqualify an animal with an HPA violation. Event Managers are also financially liable for failure to report as outlined above.
According to published data, there are on average 50 inspections per year at horse shows, and were nearly all at Walking Horse and Gaited Horse Shows. You may never see an inspector at your events, but the law still pertains to ALL shows and exhibitions.
The ADS is prepared to support its Recognized Events and commits to doing all of the pre-event reporting. Event Organizers/Management will be responsible for post-event reporting in the instance that there was an equine prohibited from being shown because it was found to be sore or otherwise in violation of the HPA.
ADS HPA Procedures for ADS Recognized Events:
- ADS reports all upcoming ADS Recognized Competitions (Rec Drives without competition are excluded) once per month to the USDA with a link to our Omnibus for Organizer/Manager information.
- ADS will no longer accept date applications within 30 days of an event in order to stay in compliance with the Act.
- ADS will notify USDA of any events which canceled within 15 days prior to the event.
- ADS created a HPA violation reporting form that the organizer/manager must fill and submit within five days of the event to both the ADS and the USDA.
- ADS will maintain a record of all HPA violations with data collected from Judge’s Reports, TD Reports, Incident Reports, Warning Cards, and HPA Violation Reporting Forms.
- ADS will require all Recognized Events to declare on their date applications whether they choose to request an APHIS representative, have chosen and appointed an HPI (from a list of USDA-trained inspections), or will not use an inspector to conduct inspections.
- ADS will create a statement on all date applications that includes the requirements of the HPA and notes that Date Application will not be taken within 30 days of the event and that the ADS will report the events in advance as required by the USDA, but that responsibility for HPA violation reporting and subsequent liability falls to the organizer/manager*.
*The organizer/manager must only file a report after the event if there is an incident of HPA violation.
ADS Member Clubs must understand what this means for them—this law is for ALL horse shows in the US, there is no exemption even for 4-H or schooling shows. Reporting and responsibility for ALL non-ADS Recognized Events are the sole responsibility of the Event Manager/Organizer.
Here is a link to an ADS-housed HPA webpage off of Competitions that includes the HA language, our procedures, and all necessary forms: www.americandrivingsociety.org/HPA