Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a long-awaited final rule that would help end horse soring, an extremely cruel practice in which trainers secretly and deliberately cause intense pain to show horses to produce the “Big Lick,” an exaggerated, high-stepping gait rewarded by judges...

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund are criticizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for proposing to withdraw a regulation that would have protected horses from the cruel and unlawful practice of “soring.” In response to a May 12 order issued by...

WASHINGTON—The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 3090, which aims to put an end to the cruel practice of horse soring, has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan set of 185 original co-sponsors led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Steve Cohen, D...

WASHINGTON—Today, a diverse group of equine industry and animal welfare organizations announced the Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter—a collaborative effort to permanently ban the slaughter of American horses. In an open letter to congressional leaders, including House Speaker Nancy...

Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, released the following statements regarding today's races at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore: “We are devastated by the tragic death of Havnameltdown on Preakness day. This fatality, alongside a series of losses of racehorses’...

WASHINGTON— As racing commences at Churchill Downs ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby, the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund call for change to address the devastating loss of horse life at each of the Triple Crown races last year, and racing in general. The dark...

WASHINGTON—Following the recent spate of horse deaths at the Saratoga Race Course this summer, Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States released the following statement: “In a tragic and disturbing summer at the Saratoga Race Course, 11 horses have died. Many of...

The cream-colored mare was pacing, criss-crossing her pen in the cobweb-strewn barn. When they found her on an Ohio property in November 2022, our Animal Rescue Team immediately noticed her ruptured eye, which had scarred over.

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend the efforts to successfully prosecute individuals involved in a massive racehorse doping scandal. Seth Fishman, a veterinarian from Florida, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after a jury found him...

CERRILLOS, New Mexico —The Humane Society of the United States’ Forever Foundation program held a clinic earlier this month at the Horse Shelter in New Mexico for trainers and volunteers from around the country to learn how to safely and efficiently work with their horses and prepare them for...

In response to Kentucky’s Churchill Downs horse racing track announcement of a halt to racing upon the recommendation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund issued the following statement. Keith Dane, senior...

Keith Dane, senior director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States released this statement in response to yet another tragedy within the horse racing industry after a horse had to be euthanized, Saturday, after the final leg of the Triple Crown: "As the third race of the...

WASHINGTON—Today, the House of Representatives approved the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 5441, by an overwhelming 304 to 111 bipartisan vote. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud this crucial vote to protect Tennessee walking horses and...

The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund have denounced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal to withdraw a regulation to protect horses from the cruel and unlawful practice of “soring”, with no commitment to a timeline for implementing increased...

WASHINGTON—Today, 202 veterinarians sent a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary expressing support for the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, H.R. 3355/S. 2732, federal legislation to permanently prohibit the slaughter of...

MURCHISON, Texas—The wild Assateague Island horse who was removed from the Maryland tourist attraction by the National Park Service last month, is settling in seamlessly at Black Beauty Ranch, part of the Humane Society of the United States. The 13-year-old horse named Delegate’s Pride—also known as...

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives for holding a hearing on the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 3355, and Prevent All Soring Tactics...

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States today honored two members of Congress as its 2021 Humane Horsemen of the Year: U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen and Brian Fitzpatrick. The award is presented on an annual basis and honors individuals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to...

The Humane Society of the United States and several of its individual members involved in the Tennessee walking horse industry, together with Humane Society Legislative Fund, have prevailed in a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that challenged the United...