vestigations have resulted in several new regulations, ment to the cause of Thoroughbred rehabilitation and
which outlaw steroid use, improve standards for drug aftercare. In the same month, a group of prominent
testing, regulate whip weight, and modify acceptable AAEP equine veterinarians formed an Equine Health
height for toe grabs on horseshoes to help prevent falls and Welfare Alliance to “identify issues adversely ef-
from clipped heels. The AQHA also stepped up its com- fecting the humane treatment of horses, and identify
mitment to equine welfare in 2009, when it gathered solutions through legislative or regulatory action; pro-
members from across the Quarter Horse industry into mote research to improve equine health;...and build a
an “Animal Welfare Task Force” to investigate horse nationwide grassroots network to advocate on behalf
welfare and abuse in Quarter Horse racing, breeding all equine breeds.” And finally, thanks to the quick digi-
and showing. The resulting recommendations clearly tal spread of news regarding Stanic’s abuse by rollkur,
identify ways to prevent, track and sanction abuses. the FEI voted just weeks ago to outlaw from dressage
competition “any head and neck position of the horse
The American Horse Council (AHC) also recently fol- achieved through aggressive force.”
lowed suit, drafting a “National Equine Welfare
Code of Practice” in November of 2009 to “outline… So it does appear that this year is heading in the right
what it means for an organization to be committed to direction where are our equines are concerned. Here’s
the responsible breeding, training, care, use, enjoy- hoping that 2010 also heralds the beginning of a new
ment, transport, and retirement of horses...and also era of humane horse husbandry. And that I can go back
provide a guide for equine organizations that are for- to Congress with the wide-eyed joy of my youth, thrilled
malizing a welfare philosophy and policy for their re- simply to be there watching happy horses doing their
spective organizations.” It received endorsement for shining best.
this initiative from:
• the AAEP - American Association of Equine Prac-
titioners
• the USTA -United States Trotting Association
• the NTRA - National Thoroughbred Racing Au-
thority
• and the USEF - United States Equestrian Founda-
tion
Also in 2009, The Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH)
consolidated 20 years worth of gaited horse soring vi-
olations into an online web database, so that trainers
and exhibitors charged with soring can now be quickly
identified by industry participants and potential cli-
ents. In addition, 2009 saw several equine industry
governances, including the:
• United States Polo Association (USPA)
www.secretariatcenter.org
• the FEI - Fédération Equestre Internationale
• the USEF
• the AQHA,
• and the NTRA
pass tighter restrictions on the use of NSAID analge-
sics and other types of drugs in competition horses,
and implement more aggressive drug testing policies.
Though 2010 has already seen a fair share of equine
welfare controversies, there have been positive devel-
opments for the cause of equine advocacy. In January,
Monique Kohler, founder of the Thoroughbred Retire-
ment Foundation, was honored with a Special Eclipse
Award for her and her organization’s 27 year commit-
www.equineconnection.org- the website for global equine stewardship - Equine•Connections
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