In an ongoing effort to urge Congress to pass legislation to protect Tennessee walking horses, The Humane Society of the United States has launched a new television advertisement calling out Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Marsha Blackburn for introducing legislation that would allow the intentional soring of horses in the Big Lick segment of the Tennessee walking horse industry to continue.
Effects of soring on horse's leg and hoof
The Humane Society of the United States launches ad campaign in Tennessee, urges support of H.R. 1518/S. 1406, the PAST Act.
© 2014 by Fitch
The ad asks viewers to reject their bills and instead to call their federal lawmakers in support of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 1518/S. 1406, introduced by Reps. Ed Whitfield, R-KY, and Steve Cohen, and Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, and Mark Warner, D-Va.
Keith Dane, vice president of equine protection for The HSUS, said: “The Big Lick set has enlisted some of its allies in Washington to introduce new legislation to allow the industry to keep torturing horses. Their bills are a sham, and we know the public won’t be duped by their obstructionist efforts.”
The way to prevent horse trainers from soring horses is to adopt the PAST Act, H.R. 1518/S. 1406. These bills, which collectively have more than 300 cosponsors in among Representatives and Senators, would eliminate the failed system of industry self-policing, prohibit the use of “stacks” and chains (devices used to inflict pain on horses’ front limbs and produce the “Big Lick” gait) on horses in the Tennessee walking, racking and spotted saddle horse breeds, and increase penalties to finally provide an effective deterrent.
The PAST Act is endorsed by the American Horse Council, the American Veterinary Medical Association, all 50 state veterinary medical associations, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and dozens of leading horse industry organizations (see full list).
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated most effective by our peers. For 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. We are the nation’s largest provider of hands-on services for animals, caring for more than 100,000 animals each year, and we prevent cruelty to millions more through our advocacy campaigns. Read more about our 60 years of transformational change for animals, and visit us online at humanesociety.org.