Dane Says PAST Act Applies To All Breeds
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
During the Sound Horse Conference on March 29, 2014 Humane Society of the United States Vice President of Equine Protection Keith Dane stated that the PAST Act would apply to all breeds. The only provision according to Dane of the PAST Act that applies to Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses exclusively is the prohibition of the use of pads, action devices and weighted shoes.
The PAST Act, H.R. 1518 and S. 1406, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and in the Senate by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Congressman Whitfield's wife, Connie Harriman-Whitfield is the Senior Policy Advisor for the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Dane gave an update on the PAST Act as part of the agenda for the 2014 Sound Horse Conference. According to Dane at a previous Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' & Exhibitors' Association meeting he helped Congressman Whitfield draft the PAST Act. HSUS has been the largest advocate for the passage of the PAST Act.
The Performance Show Horse Association previously sent a letter to the American Horse Council, who is a proponent of the PAST Act, as well as the other member breeds of the AHC warning them of the provisions in the PAST Act that make the legislation a federal equine cruelty law. Dane's comments at the Sound Horse Conference confirmed the warnings in those letters to AHC and other breeds.
Dane went on to say that the equipment used in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry "is used to sore the horse." Dane's comments were in direct contradiction to comments made by Dr. Tracy Turner at the same conference when he stated that the shoe doesn't cause soring, rather the management of the shoeing process can cause it.
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