Young girl and helper getting her Appaloosa ready for a horse show.
The new rule defines horse show as a public display of any horses in competition except where speed is the prime factor, rodeo events, parades, or trail rides.
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As a general reminder, the HPA covers all equine breeds and disciplines to eliminate the practice of soring horses. The AHC and other industry stakeholders have engaged in numerous meetings with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) to obtain clarifications and details on the new revisions to the HPA Rule.
New requirements Effective February 1, 2025: Horse show and event managers will be required to:
- Provide notice to APHIS at least 30 days in advance of the event via mail or email.
- Provide any event updates 15 days in advance of the event
- Report any violations of the horse protection act within 5 days post event
Note, the new rule defines horse show as a public display of any horses in competition except where speed is the prime factor, rodeo events, parades, or trail rides.
One of the key changes to the rule is that USDA will be responsible for training Horse Protection Inspectors which will be licensed veterinarians or individuals with extensive equine experience with a governmental agency. These will be the individuals performing inspections at events. A video of the inspection process is on the website. Historically, USDA has inspected fewer than 50 events nationally per year.
All event managers should be prepared for potential USDA inspectors onsite. It is important to note that horse show managers are liable for any HPA violations found at their show if they choose not to hire an inspector.
USDA has notified AHC that new guidance documents and further information will be posted to the Horse Protection Act Website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/hpa. At this time, AHC does not know a timeline for when additional USDA guidance resources will be available. Individuals with questions regarding revisions to the HPA are encouraged to email horseprotection@usda.gov and info@horsecouncil.org with the subject line “HPA Question”. This will ensure AHC stays informed and can follow-up on questions/answers.
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.
Press release by Amy Sales