Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act

This petition pertains to the practice of the Soring of Gaited Show Horses.

The continued corruption of those who practice these methods concerns those of us who own and love the Tennessee Walking Horse. Criminal abuse, through chemical and mechanical soring of the TWH for the purpose of showing and/or selling said horses can no longer be tolerated by law abiding citizens.

Those who promote this horror are involved in an illegal conspiracy to dupe the public and U. S. Congress as to the extent of this rampant, unparalleled horse abuse, in complete defiance of the Federally mandated Horse Protection Act (HPA).

The situation concerning abuse of the Tennessee Walking Horse has grown steadily worse, notwithstanding Congress' attempts to require the Horse Protection Act (HPA) be enforced.

In the USDA's most recent HP2000 report to Congress on enforcement of the HPA, the lack of industry cooperation is CLEARLY illustrated. It shows when the USDA Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) appear at a show, the rate of detection of HPA violations increase by more than 17 percent. It has even become necessary to provide protection for the VMO's when they attempt to ensure the HPA is being enforced. Those VMOs who conscientiously attempt to do their job are slandered in the press!

The USDA/APHIS is currently allowing this out-of-control industry to Self-Police the enforcement of the HPA. When abuse IS detected the penalty process allows ticketed horse trainers, owners and exhibitors to be minimally fined and/or put on probation, penalty, or suspension for short time periods, without true legal consequences, less than are mandated in the HPA.

According to the HPA these violations must be coordinated with local animal protection enforcement agencies in each city/county/state wherein that ticket was received for further penalties accessed according to the laws on the books in that particular jurisdiction. (Something that has NEVER been done!)

Furthermore, these violations need to be freely provided to the local news media and the Horse Protection Organizations so the information can be readily available to the general public in order to preserve the penalty integrity of the person and/or horse in violation. (This information is now available only through the Freedom of Information Act and takes up to six months to obtain...therein not preserving the penalty integrity of each HPA Violation.)


The USDA/APHIS is grossly understaffed and under funded concerning the enforcement of the HPA. (with an out of date l970 HPA, $500,000 maximum funding appropriation-of which the full amount has never been allotted to date. The 2002 allotment would now be about $2,000,000.00!)

The problem does have a solution! We need better enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA )

Respectfully, I request your support of the following items:

(A) Support the present FULL funding of the HPA

(B) Institute legislation to increase HPA funding to a figure representative of the Millennium

(C) Institute a Congressional Grand Jury Investigation into the corruption of the Groups which continue to practice and promote this CRIMINAL ACTIVITY!


THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO HELP THE INNOCENT HORSES WHO HAVE NO VOICE!