We want to implore the Horse Lovers of West Virginia to take a moment to Email our Legislative members to request their support of the PAST Act. This is vital, as they have not currently had much meaningful support for this vital equine welfare bill from our citizens.
1. West Virginian Horses are Sored, as well as shown sored in and out of our state.
2. Public opinion is overwhelmingly against this Abuse both in and outside of West Virginia
(If you have photos or video of sored horses in West Virginia, please email them to equinerescue@live.com)
(Image is from From the page: Honors Dishonored, which work to expose this abuse and see its end)
The PAST Act:
Learn about the PAST ACT HERE AT Congress.Gov
“Introduced in Senate (04/28/2015) Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2015 or the PAST Act This bill amends the Horse Protection Act to establish a new system for inspecting horses for soring, revise penalties for violations of the Act, and modify enforcement procedures.
The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse’s limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish requirements to license, train, assign, and oversee persons hired by the management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions to detect and diagnose sore horses.
A license may not be issued to a person with conflicts of interest, and USDA must give preference to veterinarians. USDA may revoke a license for unsatisfactory performance. USDA must assign licensed inspectors after receiving notice that management intends to hire the inspectors. An inspector must issue a citation for violations and notify USDA of violations. USDA must publish information on violations of this bill and disqualify a horse that is sore. The bill prohibits a person in any horse show, exhibition, sale, or auction from causing or directing a horse to become sore for the purpose of showing, exhibiting, selling, or auctioning the horse.
The bill prohibits the use of specified devices on a Tennessee Walking, a Racking, or a Spotted Saddle horse at a show, exhibition, sale, or auction. The bill increases the maximum criminal and civil liability penalties for certain violations. USDA may disqualify violators from specified activities related to horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.”
Please watch this video if you’re unfamiliar with what Soring means, what these horses go through and want to make sure your write the most informed letter possible to our West Virginia representatives.
Take a moment to write a thoughtful, meaningful email to YOUR Representives to let them
know EQUINE Welfare Matters to West Virginia Citizens. Make sure your response is
personal and let them know you are a West Virginia resident requesting their support of the PAST ACT.
For contact information for each represenative, CLICK HERE
