The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially postponed the implementation of new Horse Protection Act (HPA) rules, which could have subjected reining competitions and other equestrian events to additional inspections intended to eliminate intentional soring. The revised effective date for these amendments is now February 1, 2026.
This decision by the USDA allows NRHA to continue its longstanding commitment to ensuring the highest standards of welfare for reining horses across its global events.
The HPA, originally enacted more than 50 years ago, was designed to protect Tennessee Walking Horses and other racking breeds from soring. However, recent proposed expansions have sparked debate within the equine community. The USDA is currently seeking public input on whether this delay should be extended further and is requesting additional information to help determine an appropriate timeline.
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has actively engaged with its board of directors, staff, committee chairs, affiliates, and show managers to address this legislation.
“This is a short-term victory for the Western horse competition community, maintaining the Horse Protection Act as originally intended—for now,” said NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith. “NRHA remains committed to working with its partners to turn this temporary success into lasting policy.”
NRHA has collaborated with the American Horse Council and a coalition of over a dozen equine organizations and event venue stakeholders to prevent the HPA from exceeding its original scope. This coalition will be engaged in providing testimony to the USDA as they consider the future of the HPA.
Concerns About the HPA Expansion
The HPA was established to prevent intentional soring, a practice widely condemned within the equine industry. However, the Western horse community, within which NRHA is a leader, already invests substantial resources into ensuring animal welfare and preventing soring, making the proposed expansion unnecessary and misaligned with existing standards of care.
NRHA remains committed to protecting horse welfare without the unnecessary misapplication of existing animal welfare law. We will continue a dialogue with the USDA through our coalition partners, provide updates, and encourage our members to stay informed and engaged.
Stay tuned for further developments.