USDA Urged to Enforce Horse Protection Act at Horse and Livestock Auctions

HSUS press release

The public sale of horses bearing evidence of soring is prohibited by federal law, but The Humane Society of the United States has found evidence that some horse and livestock auctions are not abiding. The HSUS urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pursue meaningful penalties against auctions that facilitate the sale of sored horses in violation of the Horse Protection Act.

As described in a letter sent to the USDA, The HSUS and Omega Horse Rescue recently rescued an abused Tennessee walking horse from a livestock auction. The horse, now named Dutch, arrived at the auction still wearing tall, heavy stacked shoes used on Big Lick walking horses and with pasterns visibly scarred from years of soring abuse. Following an investigation into the case, the USDA issued letters of warning to several of the individuals who permitted Dutch to be put up for sale illegally. However, The HSUS urges the USDA to make auctions aware that the sale of sored horses is illegal and will not be tolerated, and to prosecute those that fail to comply.