Report on the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (PAST Act)

SUMMARY

The Committee on Animal Law issued a report on federal legislation that would amend the Horse Protection Act (HPA)(15 U.S.C. Sections 1821 et seq.) to prohibit soring of horses, strengthen enforcement of the HPA and increase penalties for violations of the Act. Soring is a practice that involves the intentional infliction of pain to a horse’s legs or hooves in order to force the horse to perform an artificial, exaggerated gait that is valued in certain show horse competitions and exhibitions. In 1970, the HPA was enacted to prohibit the showing, sale, or transportation of horses that have been sored. However, the Act does not prohibit the activity of soring itself. As a result, many horses continue to be subjected to the painful practice of soring. In addition, violations of the Act continue to be prevalent. The proposed legislation is necessary to prohibit the act of soring and strengthen HPA enforcement.

BILL INFORMATION

S.1121 (Sen. Ayotte) – to amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes (114th Congress (2015-16))