The PAST Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Horse Protection Act by banning soring devices, increasing penalties for violations, and improving inspection processes to prevent horse abuse in shows and sales.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Representative
PA-1
The PAST Act of 2025 amends the Horse Protection Act to strengthen enforcement against horse soring, a cruel practice used to create an exaggerated gait. It bans action devices and weighted shoes, increases penalties for violations, and mandates the licensing and oversight of qualified inspectors, prioritizing veterinarians, to ensure fair competition and protect horses. The Act also requires the USDA to publish violation information and sets clear disqualification periods for horses found to be sore, aiming to eliminate soring in specific horse breeds.
PAST Act of 2025 Cracks Down on Horse Soring: Bans Devices, Hikes Penalties
The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act of 2025 aims to finally put a stop to the cruel practice of "soring" horses. Soring is when people intentionally hurt a horse's legs and hooves to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait that's prized in some show circles. This bill updates the existing Horse Protection Act, and gets serious about enforcement.
Stepping Up Inspections
The PAST Act makes some big changes. It requires the USDA to hire licensed inspectors, and gives preference to veterinarians, to check horses at shows and sales. The bill specifically calls out the need for these inspectors to be conflict-free. Management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions can request an inspector at least 30 days in advance. If inspectors find violations, they have to report them to the Secretary of Agriculture within 5 days. (SEC. 2)
Hitting Offenders Where It Hurts: Wallets and Bans
This is where the PAST Act really puts its teeth in. It significantly increases penalties for anyone caught soring a horse, or even just using banned equipment. We are talking potential fines up to $5,000 and up to 3 years imprisonment for each violation. (SEC. 2) The bill also mandates minimum disqualification periods for horses found to be sore: 180 days for the first offense, 1 year for the second, and 3 years for the third. (SEC. 2)
Think of it like this: a trainer caught soring multiple horses could face years in prison and crippling fines. Even seemingly minor violations of the Act or its regulations now carry a hefty $4,000 fine. And if you're caught breaking the rules a third time? You could be permanently banned from showing, judging, managing, or even financing others' participation in horse shows or sales. (SEC. 2)
Banning the Bad Stuff
The PAST Act specifically bans "action devices" on Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses at shows and sales. (SEC. 2) Action devices are defined as anything like boots, collars, chains, or rollers that can move around on the horse's leg and cause friction or hit the hoof. The only exceptions are soft, protective boots. The bill also bans weighted shoes and pads on these breeds, unless they're proven to be strictly protective or therapeutic. (SEC. 2) This is a major step, as these devices are often used to either cause pain directly or hide evidence of soring.
Transparency
Finally, the PAST Act shines a light on violators. It directs the USDA to publish information about violations on its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. (SEC. 2) This added transparency means that anyone – potential buyers, other competitors, the general public – can see who's been caught breaking the rules. The Secretary has 180 days to issue regulations to carry out these amendments. (SEC. 2).