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From the Desk of the President and the Executive Director 

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) is actively working with our fellow equine organizations and with the American Horse Council (AHC) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to align with the revised USDA guidelines to the Horse Protection Act (HPA), which will take effect on February 1, 2025. 

These new HPA guidelines stipulate that competition management must notify APHIS of all equine events occurring in the United States. We recognize that this may pose challenges for event organizers. To assist in this process, USEF has agreed to provide APHIS with a monthly report of all USEF and USEF Lite licensed competitions.

As part of the HPA, APHIS has the authority to inspect horse shows to ensure compliance with the soring rule. We understand that such inspections are infrequent at Morgan Horse shows, and many may not be fully acquainted with the requirements. We encourage all participants to approach any inspection with professionalism and cooperation, as these measures are designed to safeguard our breed and maintain the integrity of our sport.

For a detailed summary of the revisions to the Act, please refer to the following link: Horse Protection Amendments.

Historically, USDA has conducted fewer than 50 inspections across the United States each year. However, it is essential for competition management to be aware that, should an inspection occur, federal law requires that inspectors be granted access to the grounds, including stabling areas, to fulfill their responsibilities.

In the coming months, we will collaborate with our industry partners to develop a checklist and additional information for show committees regarding the inspection process and what to expect should an inspection take place.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our equine community. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to upholding the standards of our sport.

Sincerely,

Steven Handy

AMHA President

s.t.handy@gmail.com

(508) 944-0787

Carrie Mortensen

AMHA Executive Director

execdir@morganhorse.com

(859) 405-0746

-- via AMHA