The equine industry is preparing for changes as updated regulations under the Horse Protection Act (HPA) are set to take effect on February 1, 2025. These regulations aim to end the cruel practice of soring horses for competitions. The American Horse Council (AHC) has requested a 60-day postponement, citing concerns over the preparedness of the USDA APHIS to implement the new rules effectively.

The revised HPA rule includes provisions such as advance notification of events, reporting violations within five days, clear definition of events, and training of Horse Protection Inspectors. The AHC supports the strengthened regulations but believes that the USDA-APHIS is not yet ready to implement them fairly and consistently. The urgency for these rules comes from the practice of soring, which involves causing pain to horses’ legs to enhance their gait.

Despite the upcoming implementation date, concerns remain about the readiness of the USDA-APHIS to enforce the new regulations effectively. The shift from hands-on to online training for inspectors and the practical details of event managers complying with notification and reporting requirements are central to the AHC’s request for a delay. The equine community is facing a complex regulatory environment with fears of potential noncompliance issues and penalties.