The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act by increasing penalties, banning specific action devices, and mandating licensed inspectors to combat the practice of horse soring.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Representative
PA-1
The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.
PAST Act of 2025 Bans Soring Devices, Hikes Fines to $5,000 and 3 Years in Jail for Horse Cruelty
The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2025 (PAST Act) is a major overhaul of the existing Horse Protection Act, aiming to shut down the cruel practice of “soring”—intentionally injuring a horse’s legs or hooves to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait, usually seen in breeds like the Tennessee Walking Horse.
This bill cuts straight to the chase by defining and banning the tools of the trade. It specifically defines an action device (think chains, rollers, or weighted boots that rub or strike the horse’s lower leg) and bans their use entirely on Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses at shows. If you’re involved in these events, the bill also clarifies that participating now includes everything from transporting the horse to giving instructions in the warm-up ring. No more loopholes for people claiming they were just 'helping out.'
The New Sheriff in Town: Licensed Inspectors
One of the biggest changes is how horse shows will be policed. The current inspection system has been flagged as ineffective, so the PAST Act mandates that horse shows must now use licensed inspectors, not just appointed ones. The Secretary of Agriculture has to set up a whole new system for licensing, training, and overseeing these inspectors, with a preference given to accredited veterinarians. Crucially, these inspectors must have no conflicts of interest—a provision meant to prevent the industry from policing itself.
For show managers, this means more paperwork and coordination. You have to notify the Secretary 30 days before your event starts about which licensed inspector you plan to use. If you fail to pay that inspector, you could face a fine up to $4,000. For the public, the Secretary must now publish all violation information on the APHIS website, making it much harder for repeat offenders to hide.
Harsher Penalties for Repeat Offenders
The bill significantly raises the stakes for anyone caught soring a horse. The penalties are now designed to escalate quickly, making it financially and legally risky to try it even once. If a horse is found to be sore, it’s immediately disqualified from showing for a set period:
- First offense: At least 180 days out.
- Second offense: At least 1 year out.
- Third offense: At least 3 years out.
Beyond disqualification, the financial and criminal penalties are much steeper. Knowingly violating the rules now carries a maximum fine of $5,000 (up from $3,000) and potential jail time of up to 3 years (up from one year) per violation. If you’re a repeat offender, the Secretary gains the power to permanently ban you from showing, judging, managing, or even financing any horse event after a third violation.
In short, this bill creates a clear, tough regulatory framework. It forces the industry to professionalize its inspection process and ensures that the financial and legal consequences of animal abuse are severe enough to act as a real deterrent. The Secretary of Agriculture has 180 days from the law’s enactment to finalize all the necessary rules, so the clock is ticking on implementation.