USDA Announces Delay in Horse Protection Act Implementation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on March 21, 2025, that it is further delaying the effective date of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) final rule to February 1, 2026. APHIS has opened a public comment period regarding this postponement. Previously, on January 24, 2025, APHIS had announced a 60-day delay, moving the effective date from February 1, 2025, to April 2, 2025, with the exception of the training section, which took effect on June 7, 2024. The current postponement does not affect the training section but extends the effective date for the remainder of the rule. APHIS is encouraging the public to submit comments on whether to extend this postponement further and is seeking additional information to inform this decision. The related docket is available for inspection and public comment starting March 21 and will remain open until May 20, 2025. On March 14, 2025, APHIS provided an update to stakeholders regarding the upcoming horse show season, in response to a recent court decision affecting the HPA final rule. The HPA is federal legislation aimed at prohibiting sored horses from participating in various events, including shows and auctions. Soring is a detrimental practice that inflicts pain on horses to enhance their gait, often seen in specific breed competitions.