WASHINGTON, (AAEP) – Today the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners issued a joint statement of support for the Amendments to the Horse Protection Act, H.R. 6388.“Soring is an unconscionable abuse of horses that is used to produce a high-stepping gait—the “Big Lick”—and gain an unfair competitive advantage in the show ring. For decades we’ve watched irresponsible individuals become more creative about finding ways to sore horses and circumvent the inspection process, and have lost faith in an industry that seems unwilling and/or unable to police itself. The AVMA and AAEP are committed to strengthening the USDA’s ability to enforce the Horse Protection Act and ending this abuse for good. We strongly encourage everyone who cares about the welfare of horses to contact their member of Congress and urge them to pass H.R. 6388,” said Dr. Doug Aspros, AVMA President.
Specifically, H.R. 6388:
- Makes the actual act of soring, or directing another person to cause a horse to become sore, illegal;
- Requires the USDA (rather than the industry) to license, train, assign and oversee inspectors enforcing the Horse Protection Act;
- Prohibits the use of action devices (e.g., boot, collar, chain, roller, or other device that encircles or is placed upon the lower extremity of the leg of a horse) on any limb of Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle horses, or Racking horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions and bans weighted shoes, pads, wedges, hoof bands, or other devices that are not used for protective or therapeutic purposes;
- Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations, and creates a penalty structure that requires horses to be disqualified for increasing periods of time based on the number of violations; and
- Allows for permanent disqualification from the show ring after three or more violations.
For more information on the AVMA and AAEP’s efforts to stop this egregious abuse of horses, visit the AVMA’s Soring Resource Page.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 82,500 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. For more information, visitwww.avma.org.
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Long Awaited Theater Premier of Katia Louise’ “Saving America’s Horses” on Both Coasts | Horse Back Magazine
LOS ANGELES, (Humanion Films) - New York, NY/ Los Angeles. New York’s QUAD Cinema, Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, IMA Studios, WFLF Humanion Films and The Triumph Project are proud to present the provocative new documentary “SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES: A Nation Betrayed” (91 minutes) produced, written and directed by filmmaker Katia Louise.Featuring revealing interviews with distinguished veterinarians, trainers, academics, investigators, policymakers and members of the equine community including Paul Sorvino, Linda Gray, Tippi Hedren, and Willie Nelson, the film addresses a question that recently prompted the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, to threaten to ‘punch out’ a reporter who asked him if “any changes need to take place in the system in terms of safeguarding” America’s wild and domestic horses.
Louise, and her organization, the Wild for Life Foundation, ask the same question in her investigation of the economic, environmental, public health, and ethical issues surrounding the slaughter of both wild and domestic horses for their meat. As she notes, the cost of round up and removal of wild horses from the public lands and holding them long term continues to increase (now budgeted at more than $40 million a year); European demand for horsemeat continues to be satisfied illegally; the unregulated slaughter of horses pollutes the land and brings pain and suffering to the animals.
Bringing together a wide spectrum of hard-hitting, sometimes opposing viewpoints the film lays down evidence for the Full Monty of objectionable behavior, including neglect, cruelty, deception, and profiteering. The victims run the gamut, from those who eat the meat filled with carcinogenic and other harmful drugs, to the horses themselves, wild horses poached from government land, Thoroughbred race horses who pass through the system to oblivion, domestic horses who outlive their welcome and are sent to slaughter. SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES is a compelling, provocative and a rallying cry for justice and integrity.
Director Katia Louise in person for Q & A:
LA: Following 1PM shows on Nov 23rd and 25th, and following Nov 24th shows at CHOZA MAMA Reception
NYC: Following 7:15PM shows on Dec 7th and 8th
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.savingamericashorses.org
TRAILER: http://youtu.be/7Qb68DTz5RQ
TEASER: http://youtu.be/eNs0QF4tfXo
SAVING AMERICA’S HORSES (91 minutes – not yet rated)
Opens November Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, 673 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 p: 310-478-3836 –Purchase tickets from Laemmle Theaters. December NY’s QUAD Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011 p: 212-255-2243 quadcinema@aol.com ADVANCE TICKET SALES CALL 777-FILM #636 or PURCHASE FROM:movietickets.com Enter: Title / zip code
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