AQHA is pleased to announce the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to postpone implementation of the 2024 Horse Protection Act (HPA) amendments. This postponement will be effective until December 31, 2026. 

AQHA has been actively engaging with the American Horse Council and the equine industry to delay and stop implementation of the new rules amending the HPA which significantly expand the scope beyond the primary intent of the act. 

Originally passed in the early 1970s, the HPA was designed to eliminate the practice of soring, intentionally causing pain to a horse’s legs or hooves to exaggerate its gait, particularly in Tennessee Walking Horse competitions.

However, new rules under the proposed HPA allow for the inspection of all breeds and disciplines and, if left unchallenged, could impose overly burdensome requirements that negatively impact AQHA members' operations, livelihoods and the broader equine industry.

AQHA will continue to work with the equine industry to ensure a continued stay of the implementation of the new rules and develop a strategy to permanently rescind or substantially revise the new rule. AQHA appreciates the efforts of the entire equine/livestock community in expressing their concern with the implementation of these rules and the negative impact they will have on a $177 billion industry.

For more information regarding the Horse Protection Act and current enforcement standards, please visit the APHIS website.