Western Justice Seeks to Modernize Equine Welfare Standards

Western Justice Legislative Fund

Protecting Property Rights, Animal Welfare, and Rural Freedom

October 8, 2025

To: Members of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

      Washington, D.C. 20250

Subject: Submission of Western Justice Congressional Briefing Memo — Full Repeal of the Horse Protection Act (HPA)

Dear USDA Members,

On behalf of Western Justice, I am submitting the enclosed Congressional Briefing Memo titled “Full Repeal of the Horse Protection Act (HPA).” This document outlines the legal, economic, and constitutional rationale for repealing the Horse Protection Act of 1970, which has outlived its purpose and now imposes undue burdens on lawful horse owners, rural communities, and youth equine programs.

Western Justice is committed to advancing practical, science-based animal welfare policy that respects both property rights and due process. We urge the USDA and members of Congress to review this briefing in consideration of modernizing federal equine policy by returning welfare authority to the states and supporting voluntary, industry-led welfare programs.

We would be pleased to meet with USDA representatives or Congressional staff to discuss our recommendations in further detail. Please contact me directly at office@westernjustice.info or through our Washington liaison to schedule a briefing or provide additional materials.

***

Subject: Full Repeal of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) 

Dear USDA Members,

On behalf of Western Justice, a national legislative and advocacy organization dedicated to protecting property rights, advancing true animal welfare, and defending rural freedom, we submit this briefing urging the full repeal of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) of 1970.

I.  Overview

The Horse Protection Act was enacted over fifty years ago to address a narrow, breed-specific issue—the practice of “soring” within a small segment of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Through decades of education, improved breeding, and strong state-level animal welfare laws, this problem has been effectively resolved.

Today, the HPA has evolved into an outdated and unconstitutional federal overreach that threatens the foundation of America’s horse industry and the livelihoods of countless rural Americans.

II.  Key Arguments for Full Repeal

Federal Overreach and Constitutional Concerns

The HPA has expanded far beyond its original scope, allowing federal agents to intrude on private property, state-regulated shows, and local equine events. Such enforcement practices violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and undermine due process rights under the Fifth Amendment.

Redundant and Ineffective

Every U.S. state now enforces comprehensive anti-cruelty and animal welfare laws, making the HPA’s federal duplication unnecessary. This redundancy wastes taxpayer resources and creates bureaucratic confusion without improving actual welfare outcomes.

Judicial Confirmation of Overreach

In January 2025, the federal court in Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association v. USDA ruled that the USDA exceeded its statutory authority in implementing the 2024 HPA Rule. The court vacated multiple provisions for violating due process and going beyond Congressional authorization—clear evidence that the Act itself is unworkable and constitutionally unsound.

Harm to Rural Economies and Youth Programs

The HPA’s burdensome mandates, inspections, and paperwork have chilled participation in equine shows, sales, and youth programs such as 4-H and FFA. Repealing the Act would revitalize local economies, reduce liability risks, and empower communities to regulate equine welfare through local authority and accountability.

Outdated and Politicized Enforcement

The USDA’s current enforcement mechanisms have become politicized and activist-driven, targeting law-abiding horse owners with arbitrary inspections and punitive measures. This erodes trust, violates constitutional principles, and diverts resources from genuine welfare concerns.

III.  Proposed Congressional Action

•  Repeal the Horse Protection Act of 1970 in its entirety.

•  Cease all USDA rulemaking and enforcement activities under the HPA.

•  Return animal welfare oversight to the states, where enforcement is most effective and locally accountable.

•  Support voluntary, industry-led welfare accreditation programs that uphold high standards without infringing on property rights or due process.

IV.  Closing Statement

The Horse Protection Act, once well-intentioned, now stands as an unconstitutional relic of a bygone era. The problem it sought to address has been resolved, while its continued enforcement undermines legitimate horse owners, small businesses, and rural youth programs.

Repealing the HPA will restore common sense, constitutional integrity, and local authority, ensuring that animal welfare is guided by responsible ownership and state sovereignty—not by Washington bureaucracy.

We urge the USDA and Congress to act decisively in restoring fairness, federal restraint, and respect for America’s horse community.

Respectfully submitted,

Dave Duquette

President, Western Justice Legislative Fund

www.westernjustice.info

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