Equines

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Update 7/1/2021: The INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684) has passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 221 to 201. We urge the Senate to include the House amendments in their version of the bill and pass it swiftly in order to make these historic wins for animals law!

The surface transportation bill—the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684)—which is part of Congress’ infrastructure package is set to include a number of good animal protection measures. Two of the most important focus on the welfare of horses and wildlife whose fate are shaped by our transportation systems and practices. Amendment #187 would outlaw the transport of America’s equines to slaughter for human consumption, while amendment #41 would authorize a national wildlife corridors system to mitigate habitat fragmentation and wildlife-vehicle collisions.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The myriad forms of animal cruelty make for a large and grim inventory, but horse soring consistently holds a place near the top of the list. It’s a deliberate and wanton torment of horses, one secretly carried out in training barns to produce a high-stepping gait for prizes in the Tennessee Walking Horse show ring. A more pointless cruelty you would be hard-pressed to identify, and it’s been going on for decades.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Update 6/2/2021: The split sample test has confirmed that Kentucky Derby champion Medina Spirit had betamethasone in his system, according to the New York Times. 

So far, the 2021 Triple Crown season has produced astonishing proof of how badly horse racing needs further regulation to ensure that horses aren’t being routinely and illegally drugged.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Almost half the U.S. Senate has called for swift action to end the indefensible practice known as horse soring—in which scofflaw trainers of Tennessee Walking horses and related breeds torment horses to get them to fling their front legs high, just to win a cheap blue ribbon in a show ring. 

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Update (3/15/2021): The Senate has voted to confirm Rep. Deb Haaland to lead the Department of Interior by a vote of 51-40.