AQHA UPDATE ON PASSAGE OF H.R. 503

AMARILLO, TEXAS – Today the agriculture industry, and in particular the horse industry, suffered a blow when Congress passed H.R 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, 263 to 146.  The American Quarter Horse Association, along with more than 200 other agriculture and equine groups known as the Horse Welfare Coalition, opposed H.R. 503.

Officials with AQHA and HWC, who were in Washington, D.C., speaking with members of Congress about the negative impact H.R. 503 would have on the industry, expressed disappointment and concern over passage of H.R. 503. AQHA and HWC opposed the bill because of its shortcomings on a number of different fronts.

H.R. 503 does not offer any solutions to the 100,000 unwanted or unusable horses that are sent to slaughter facilities each year and infringes on the rights of all horse owners. Additionally, the bill does not have any oversight measures or guidelines for equine rescue operations that are expected to absorb these horses each year. AQHA supported humane transportation and treatment laws for horses bound for slaughter.

In the end most members of Congress found it hard to vote against this bill, which was heavily lobbied for by animal rights groups and the Humane Society of the United States. While AQHA does not /favor/ slaughter over other end-of-life options, it does believe it should remain an option for owners.

“We appreciate the hard work of the House Agriculture Committee,” said Tim Case, AQHA Senior Manager of Public Policy. “Our industry owes much gratitude to Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA 6^th ), who chairs the Ag Committee and Joe Barton (R-TX 6^th ) chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. These gentlemen, along with their staffs, truly have the best interest of the agriculture industry and the welfare of horses in mind. We appreciate their work.”

By passing H.R. 503, AQHA and HWC officials believe bottom-end, unemployable and unwanted animals will suffer increased neglect and place an undue burden on state and local governments. The bill now moves on to the Senate.