The American Horse Council (AHC), which serves as the umbrella organization for the diverse equine sector, has long supported the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (S. 1007), as currently introduced in the 116th Congress. The current version of the PAST Act lays out a common-sense solution to prevent the continued practice of soring and is limited in scope to Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses.
AHC learned in late October that one animal welfare group and certain segments of the walking horse industry have been meeting and circulating a proposed Senate “compromise” bill that would substantially alter the PAST Act (S. 1007). After careful review and meeting with numerous industry stakeholders, the American Horse Council has formed a coalition of over 30 equine organizations that have significant concerns and are opposed to the “compromise.” AHC’s Equine Welfare and Shows/Competitions committees overwhelmingly turned down the proposed amendments and recommended to the AHC Board of Trustees that the organization continue its support of the PAST Act (S. 1007) as written and oppose the “compromise” bill. The AHC board unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation.
A detailed analysis comparison document of the PAST Act (S.1007) and the proposed “compromise” bill may be found on the AHC website www.horsecouncil.org
Equine organizations opposed include: American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, US Equestrian Federation, American Connemara Pony Society, American Saddlebred Horse Association & American Saddlebred Registry, Paso Fino Horse Association, United Professional Horsemen’s Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Pinto Horse Association of America, US Para-Equestrian Association, US Hunter Jumper Association, American Morgan Horse Association, American Hackney Horse Society, National Show Horse, National Reining Horse Association, Joint Leadership Council (consisting of American Hackney Horse Society, American Morgan Horse Association, American Road Horse & Pony Association, American Saddle Horse Association), US Eventing Association, US Dressage Association, American Saddle Horse Registry, United Professional Horsemen’s Association, Arabian Horse Association, American Vaulting Association. FOSH (Friends of Sound Horses), USA Reining, and Western Dressage Association of America.
ASPCA and HSUS also support the PAST Act as currently written and passed by the full House.
Contact: AHC President, Julie Broadway, at jbroadway@horsecouncil.org or Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Bryan Brendle at bbrendle@horsecouncil.org for more information or to join the coalition.
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. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day. The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen’s associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.
