Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is the latest organization to endorse the American Horse Councilâs (AHC) Welfare Code of Practice.
Promoting humane care, treatment and training of gaited horses
FOSH is a national leader in promoting, supporting and protecting gaited horses, and its purpose is to provide information to the public about the humane care, treatment and training of gaited horses.
The AHC Welfare Code of Practice is a broad set of principles designed to establish good welfare procedures for organizations to follow to âPut the Horse First.â The code outlines in broad strokes what principles organizations are committed to in breeding, training, competing, transporting, enjoying, and caring for their horses.
The code encourages everyone to consider the health, safety, and welfare of their horses in all aspects of their activities, including the social and ethical issues.
FOSH is a national leader in promoting, supporting and protecting gaited horses. Its purpose is to provide information to the public about the humane care, treatment and training of gaited horses, with a special emphasis on the Tennessee Walking Horse, and to promote the exhibition of the flat shod and barefoot Walking Horse at competitions designed to showcase the natural gaited pleasure walking horse.
âFrom its inception 15 years ago, FOSH has always placed the welfare of the horse first, and it is pleased to fully support the tenets of the AHC Welfare Code of Practice,â said Teresa Bippen, President FOSH.
âBy supporting the code, FOSH is reemphasizing its support for the principles that the Welfare Code represents and which FOSH strives to enact daily,â said AHC President Julie Broadway. âWe encourage all members of the equine industry to support and endorse the Welfare Code of Practice as yet another indication to the horse community, the public, the media, federal and state officials that the industry is committed to âPutting the Horse First.â
The AHCâs code is not intended to supersede an organizationâs rules or regulations. Any organizationâs more specific rules still govern activities sanctioned and regulated by the organization.
Rather the code is a compliment to any such rules and restates the principles to be followed by breed registries, trade associations, various disciplines and the horse community as a whole in pursuing their equine activities.
To review the AHC Welfare Code of Practice, a list of the 54 organizations supporting the code, and a FAQs page, please visit the AHC Website at www.horsecouncil.org.
About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.
The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.
The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.