In an important victory for Tennessee Walking Horses, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 693) by a vote of 333–96. The PAST Act would end the cruel practice of injuring the hooves and legs of horses to alter their gait during certain walking horse competitions. It represents the most significant protections for Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds since passage of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) in 1970.
The bill, named in honor of the late Maryland senator who shepherded the HPA through Congress, amends that law to combat the inhumane practice of “soring,” whereby individuals intentionally inflict pain on horses’ hooves and legs to force the animals to adopt an exaggerated high-stepping gait during competitions involving Tennessee Walking Horses and similar breeds. Methods used to sore horses include applying diesel fuel and kerosene to burn the skin, grinding down hooves to expose sensitive tissues, and applying sharp or abrasive objects to tender areas to maximize pain. Under the current system of industry self-policing, individuals who abuse horses often go unpunished.
“This is a historic moment for horses that have been subjected to this brutal practice in the name of competition,” said Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute. “Soring will persist as long as trainers, owners and others involved in walking horse shows are not held unaccountable for their actions and even rewarded by winning prizes.”