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Sound Horse Conference
Louisville, KY
November 4, 2010
USDA works actively with the horse
industry to protect against such
abuse, working to ensure that only
sound and healthy horses participate
in shows, sales, exhibitions and
auctions. Our ultimate goal is to end
the inhumane practice of soring
completely.
• 14 USDA certified HIOs with 12 active HIOs
• Over the past two years, have increased
oversight at horse shows and other related
events by USDA personnel
• 2009: approx 40
• 2010: approx 60
• Plan for 2011: approx 100
• HIOs required to utilize database that provide
real time information to the USDA HP website
• Information include affiliated horse shows;
DQP inspection reports; violations found by
DQPs at horse shows; suspensions and fines.
• Current list of active DQPs and status of DQPs
including letter of warnings, license
cancellations and suspensions.
• We opened cases for more than 350 HPA violations
in FY 2010
• From 1/1/2010 to 9/30/2010, we issued more than
250 warning letters for HPA violations
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/foia/enforcement_actions.shtml
• Over 87 foreign substances identified as a
counterirritant, masking agent, or numbing
agent
• In 2009, 647 tested and 403 positive
• In 2010, 187 tested and 106 positive
• 170 more samples left to analyze for 2010
• Majority substances are numbing agents such
as lidocaine and benzocaine
• Random drug testing will begin in 2011 at
selected horse shows to see if there are
medications being used as soring agents.
• Have begun working relationship with United
States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Drug
Testing Program
• USDA OIG Audit began August 2008
• Interviewed multiple USDA representatives, as
well as, industry representatives
• Attended multiple horse shows and related
events unannounced throughout the 20082009
• Report released last Thursday, Oct 28, 2010
We are taking several actions to meet the needs identified in
OIG’s audit including:
• Revising the regulations to require Designated Qualified
Persons to be licensed with USDA and independent from
the horse show industry
• Requesting from Congress nearly double the amount of
funding to enforce the Horse Protection Act
• Pursuing the authority for USDA to directly discipline
Designated Qualified Persons
• Ensuring that horse show management actively identify
people on suspension because of previous Horse Protection
Act violations and prohibit their participation in show
events
• Hiring additional staff for USDA Horse
Protection Program
• Funding shall be increased to 900,000 for
FY2011
• Increasing further transparency and outreach
• Continuing to review objective diagnostic
tools to identify soring
Contact USDA Horse Protection Program
National Coordinator:
Dr. Rachel Cezar at (301)734-5784 or
[email protected]
Please view USDA Horse Protection website:
www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/hp