By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Two bills reintroduced to the U.S. Congress this week could prevent the protracted suffering of so many horses: One would outlaw the painful soring techniques some trainers still inflict on horses to force them into the “Big Lick,” an exaggerated gait for horse shows, and the other would ban horse slaughter in the U.S. as a matter of federal law and end the export of American horses for slaughter in other countries. You can act now to show your support for ending these cruelties.

The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act would protect horses from “soring.”

Horse soring—a cruelty that has persisted for more than a half a century in the show horse industry—is perpetrated by a faction of those who show Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds. They deliberately inflict severe pain on the horses’ legs and hooves to create the artificially high-stepping “Big Lick” gait in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage.

In soring, caustic chemicals—blistering agents such as mustard oil, diesel fuel and kerosene—are applied to the horse's front legs and wrapped tightly to “cook” into the skin for days; heavy chains are attached to strike against the sore legs; hooves are cut down to the quick; and hard objects are jammed into the tender flesh. All these practices are designed to cause excruciating pain every time the horse steps down, so the leg will be flung high as the horse tries to avoid the pain.

This is a cruelty with roots in the training barn, where soring occurs. The horses suffer not just in the show ring but every day, in their stalls, where they lay moaning and are unable to engage in natural habits such as grazing or walking outside. The PAST Act would prohibit the use of devices that are integral to this cruelty, eliminate the failed system of industry self-policing and increase penalties for violators.

Led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., this vital legislation has garnered impressive bipartisan support, as demonstrated by 178 original co-sponsors. Moreover, it is endorsed by hundreds of veterinary, horse industry and animal protection groups and key individuals.

An undercover investigation released last October by Humane World for Animals provided damning evidence of ongoing soring and tactics to evade getting caught among those who win top prizes and get honored as leaders in the Tennessee Walking Horse show world. By enacting the PAST Act, we can consign this callous and shameful cruelty to the past, where it belongs.

Pass the PAST Act to end horse abuse >>

The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act would end U.S. involvement in horse slaughter.

Horse slaughter plants have not operated in the U.S. since 2007, thanks to state laws and annual federal appropriations provisions barring taxpayer funding to oversee such operations. However, horses across the U.S. are still being sold and sent to slaughter abroad. Many horses enter the pipeline at horse auctions where “kill buyers” contracted by slaughterhouses outbid legitimate horse owners and rescues, robbing horses of a second chance at life. After purchase, horses are crowded into trailers, often without food or water, and endure hours of transport to either Mexico or Canada, where slaughtering them is still legal. This grueling and merciless process results in injuries or death for many horses before they even reach the slaughterhouse.

Slaughter is never a humane end for horses. Equipment and practices are proven unsuitable for rendering horses unconscious due to their physiology and instinctive flight response, resulting in prolonged pain and suffering. The fear and distress horses experience in the slaughterhouse environment often leads to panic, increasing the risk of serious injury before they are slaughtered.

The reintroduction of the SAFE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Buchanan and Schakowsky, and in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., gives the U.S. a new chance to permanently ban the domestic slaughter of American horses and their export for that purpose.

Horse slaughter is unnecessary as well as inhumane. Studies show that 92% of slaughter-bound horses are healthy and able to be rehomed, yet profit-driven interests prioritize slaughter over responsible transition. In recent years, increased public awareness has led to industry-led programs that help horses transition to new homes, as well as the growth of rescues and sanctuaries expanding care for at-risk horses. The legal export of horses for slaughter undermines these efforts.

There has been a nearly 90% reduction in the number of horses exported for slaughter—from 160,000 in 2012 to fewer than 20,000 in 2024. This demonstrates that real change is possible. However, to eliminate this cruel practice entirely, legal exports of America’s equines across our borders for slaughter must end. Only then can we ensure that every horse has the opportunity for responsible care.

Speak out to end horse slaughter >>

We are determined to end animal cruelty. And that means putting an end to horse soring and horse slaughter. Working with humane-minded allies in Congress, our coalition partners and a caring public, we aim to create a world in which horses are treated with the respect they deserve. Join us. 

Kitty Block is CEO and president of Humane World for Animals.