Sound Horses, Honest Judging, Objective Inspections, Winning Fairly (SHOW), the horse industry organization (HIO) that manages the high-profile National Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration has responded to an official USDA notice of decertification by claiming that SHOW’s demise will put horses at greater risk of abuse by trainers who sore the animals to achieve specific performance.

Soring is the deliberate injury to a horse’s feet and legs to achieve an exaggerated, high-stepping gait. The USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the Horse Protection Act (which prohibits soring), certifies HIOs that manage horse shows, and trains Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs). HIOs hire DQPs to carry out HPA compliance inspections on horses presented for exhibition at the horse shows.

In June APHIS announced a final HPA penalty rule, which took effect July 9, requiring all federally certified HIOs to assess penalties that equal or exceed minimum levels for HPA violations. The rule also stiffens penalties for repeat HPA violators. APHIS subsequently notified HIOs that they must adopt minimum penalty protocols and demonstrate their compliance by submitting to the USDA amended rulebooks containing the protocol.

On June 25 SHOW filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the new minimum penalty rule violates the Constitution because it forces private entities to impose penalties on horse show participants for violations of federal law. Later, SHOW, along with Professional Regulation and Inspection for Dedicated Equestrians (PRIDE) and the Heart of America Walking Horse Association, declined to submit amended rulebooks containing the protocols and were deemed noncompliant with the federal HPA enforcement protocols