Summary timeline: What's behind US Equestrian, American Horse Council calls for delay of USDA's new Walking horse soring regulations?

UPDATE: On January 24, the US Equestrian Federation announced that the US Department of Agriculture had indeed pushed back new rules to prevent soring in Tennessee walking horses and similar breeds until April 1, 2025. The article below describes the background to this decision. 

Since then, however, sweeping changes in Washington, DC have affected many cabinet agencies, and are expected to impact the USDA. Whether these changes will impact the APHIS horse inspection program remains to be determined.

Readers in the USA may be aware that long-anticipated changes to the federal Horse Protection Act are scheduled to go into effect on February 1. These new rules change the way that Tennessee Walking horses will be inspected at horse shows, and by whom, in an effort to prevent deliberate "soring" practices to enhance gait.

If only it was that easy.

Canadian boost for UCalgary racehorse injury prevention research will have global benefits

Professor Thilo Pfau of the University of Calgary demonstrated the use of wearable sensors at the Rood & Riddle International Equine Podiatry Conference in 2022. This horse was subjected to before/after  analysis as farriers and veterinarians used imaging, trimming, and shoeing methods to help the horse. (Hoof Blog file photo)

Horse Racing Alberta invests in racehorse injury prevention research with $185,000 donation to University of Calgary program led by Dr. Thilo Pfau.

 

Canada's Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) has generously committed $185,000 to support pioneering research by Dr. Thilo Pfau and his team at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Kinesiology. This significant contribution will fund research aimed at improving the prediction and prevention of racehorse injuries, a critical area of focus for the safety and protection of equine athletes.