Protecting Horses from Soring Act of 2025
Protecting Horses from Soring Act of 2025 (H.R. 1675) would reform the Horse Protection Act by creating a new, federally recognized body—the Horse Industry Organization (HIO)—to oversee and standardize inspections of horses at shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions. The bill would require objective, science-based inspections (including swabbing and blood testing) conducted by trained inspectors and veterinarians to determine if a horse is “sore.” Horses deemed sore would be disqualified from showing and barred from sale or exhibition for defined periods, with longer disqualification for repeat offenses. The Secretary of Agriculture would certify and oversee the HIO, license inspectors, and coordinate with state agriculture officials. The act also finds that the current inspection program is inadequate and seeks to replace or supersede some existing enforcement structures with a centralized, regulated process designed to reduce soring in performance horses, especially within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. In short, the bill seeks to tighten enforcement against soring by introducing standardized, objective testing, a dedicated industry organization with licensing authority, and stricter disqualification rules, while shifting key enforcement responsibilities under federal guidance and oversight.
Key Points
- 1Objective inspections and science-based testing: The bill defines “objective inspection” as tests conducted by a veterinarian or veterinary technician using a standardized, science-based protocol (at a minimum including swabbing and blood testing) that is scientifically reliable, peer-reviewed, and accepted by the veterinary or scientific community as determined by the Secretary.
- 2Creation and role of the Horse Industry Organization (HIO): The Secretary must establish the HIO within 180 days after enactment. The organization would be governed by a nine-member Board (with specified appointments from Tennessee and Kentucky state agriculture officials and walking-horse industry representation) and would:
- 3- affiliate with horse sales and exhibitions,
- 4- appoint inspectors for inspections at sales and shows, and
- 5- contract with veterinary experts to advise on testing methods, inspection procedures, and certification of inspections.
- 6- establish licensing requirements for individuals who detect or inspect sore horses.
- 7Licensing, certification, and conflict-of-interest safeguards: The HIO would license inspectors and other qualified persons, with strict conflict-of-interest rules to prevent ties to the walking-horse industry. The Secretary would certify the HIO to train and license inspectors under federal regulations, and would revoke any prior, non-HIO certification for inspectors once HIO certification is in place.
- 8Increased protections and disqualification at shows and exhibitions: Section 4 would require show and exhibition managers to disqualify any horse determined to be sore by an objective inspection or reported sore by a licensed person or the Secretary. Disqualification would last at least 30 days for a first finding and at least 90 days for a second or subsequent finding. The law also expands beyond shows to prohibit sale, auction, and exhibition of sore horses under the new framework.
- 9Recordkeeping and right of inspection: The bill would require the organization to maintain records and grant inspection rights, aligning with a strengthened enforcement regime. It emphasizes transparency and traceability of inspections and results.
- 10Regulatory timeline and oversight: Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary would issue regulations to implement the amendments, reflecting an accelerated timeline to operationalize the HIO and related inspection framework.