Sponsors (208)
Defines banned “action devices,” broadens who “participates,” requires licensing of show officials, and mandates escalating suspensions for horses found sore.
Official title: To amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Brian K. Fitzpatrick · Last progress February 27, 2025
The bill strengthens federal enforcement, oversight, and transparency to reduce horse soring and improve animal welfare and fair competition, while imposing heavier penalties, broader liability, multi-year disqualifications, and new administrative burdens that create economic and legal risks for people in the showing industry.
Owners, exhibitors, and horses: stronger federal prohibitions and enforcement reduce soring and other abusive practices, improving horse welfare and safety at shows.
General public and competitors: tougher criminal and civil penalties increase deterrence against intentional soring, promoting fair competition and animal welfare.
Veterinarians and qualified inspectors: a licensing preference and clearer licensure/oversight should improve inspection quality and reduce conflicts of interest at events.
Owners and exhibitors: mandatory multi-year disqualifications (180 days–3 years) can cause substantial lost income and reduced ability to show or sell affected horses.
Trainers, transporters, and support personnel: a broader definition of "participate" could expose more people to enforcement actions or liability for routine presence or support activities at events.
Individuals found in violation: higher fines and longer potential imprisonment (up to $5,000 and 3 years) increase legal and financial risk compared with prior law.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits use of certain rotating or sliding devices on horses’ lower legs (“action devices” as defined), broadens definitions of who “participates” in horse shows and sales, changes who must be licensed to inspect/manage shows, and requires graduated, mandatory disqualification/suspension periods for horses the Secretary of Agriculture determines are sore. It also adds findings that USDA inspection efforts were judged inadequate and that specific gaited breeds have historically been sored. The bill tightens enforcement tools and penalties to deter soring, clarifies covered conduct and covered persons, and shifts some management roles from being merely appointed under regulations to being licensed.