WASHINGTON—As equine enthusiasts and animal supporters across the country celebrate the National Day of the Horse, Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund (formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund) are bringing attention to the need to protect Tennessee Walking Horse and related breeds from soring, the intentional infliction of pain to exaggerate a horse’s gait for “Big Lick” competitions.
Despite the Horse Protection Act being on the books for more than 50 years, enforcement gaps and the long-standing reliance on industry self-policing have allowed this cruelty to persist. However, the Trump Administration is in a strong position to course correct and put an end to the painful and illegal practice of horse soring.
Horse welfare concern resonates across the political spectrum. There are 205 members of Congress currently cosponsoring the bipartisan Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1684), which would end the failed system of industry self-policing, ban the use of devices integral to soring and strengthen penalties for violators. Additionally, in a newly syndicated op-ed, longtime Trump ally Roger Stone and conservative commentator Christian Josi underscore the urgent need for meaningful reform of the walking horse industry:
“The industry should be more frightened now,” write Stone and Josi. “There is a clear path forward, and the Big Lick crowd knows it: the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act. And Donald J. Trump is the one leader with the power, influence, and national backing to drive it into law. It passed the House twice with overwhelming bipartisan support.”
The full commentary, “Horse Abusers Smell Freedom,” is available on StoneZone.com, with a follow up piece, “Cruelty Is Not Tradition: The Universal Case for Ending Horse Soring,” published on PJ Media.
Humane World for Animals has a long history of advocating for stronger protection for Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds and is actively working to end soring together with Humane World Action Fund by urging the USDA to step up enforcement of the Horse Protection Act, applauding Congress for providing needed funding, and supporting passage of the PAST Act.
“As we honor horses today, we must also honor our shared responsibility to protect them from deliberate abuse like soring,” said Chelsea Perez, senior program manager, equine protection at Humane World for Animals. “This cruelty against walking horses must end and President Trump can make that happen.”
“The resistance to reform comes from a narrow segment of the industry,” said Jennifer Eskra, legislative director of Humane World Action Fund. “Veterinarians, farriers, trainers and breed organizations overwhelmingly support stronger protections. What is needed now is federal action to strengthen protections for horses.”
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