Advocacy
For the better treatment of horses
Major Horse Protection Laws
Horse Protection Act of 1970
The Horse Protection Act (HPA) is a landmark federal law that prohibits the showing, selling, exhibiting, and auctioning of sored horses. Soring is intentionally causing pain on a horse’s legs or hooves to enhance an exaggerated gait, often seen in show competitions. The HPA has the goal of protecting horses from intentional injury for show performance. Violating the HPA can cause a fine up to $50,000 or suspension or disqualification from shows for a minimum of 1 year.
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
The Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act was created in 1971 to legally protect the wild horses on public lands across the United States. The law recognizes horses as living symbols of the West, ensuring they are well protected and preserved in their natural habitats by the federal agencies. The law was created in response to declining wild horse populations due to unchecked roundups, slaughter, and habitat loss.
Current Events
Government's Budget Plan Threatens Horses
Currently proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes a dramatic shift in the management of wild horses and burros, which cuts funding for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program by over 25%—from $143 million to $100 million. This will ultimately eliminate protections against the killing of healthy animals. This proposal could lead up to mass slaughter of up to 64,000 federally protected wild horses and burros currently held in government facilities. The budget undermines the care and management of these animals through reduced resources. Aligned with the controversial Project 2025 manifesto, which promotes the idea of giving BLM authority to "humanely dispose" of wild horses, there are many concerns revolving around advocates and the public.
Horse Welfare Charities
Here are a few organizations that support horse welfare.
World Horse Welfare
World Horse Welfare is an international organization that builds around every horse and is treated with respect. This organization helps every horse in need whether they are working horses, sport horses, or production horses. Internationally, the organization builds partnerships in local communities for the optimal care for working equids.
Habits for Horses
Habit for Horses is a non-profit organization located in Texas. Their focus is on the rehabilitation of horses that are rescues, mostly physically abused. Horses here are put into full care to recover and they can be a real horse: joining the herds of other horses to be trained to be ridden. It is a sanctuary for a horse to gain a new chance for an adoption and a new start.
Equus Foundation
The Equus Foundation is the only organization in the United States that focuses on the welfare and the human horse bond. This organization believes that the human horse bond is important as horses have a positive effect on the physical and cognitive effects on humans. Through this organization humans are encouraged to partner with horses in new ways as they will be responsible in the smooth transition to a new chapter in life.