As updated Horse Protection Act (HPA) regulations are set to take effect Feb. 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting a webinar Friday, Dec. 13, 2025, to inform the equine industry.

“The webinar will provide an overview of the Horse Protection Act and new rule highlights, implementation, and timelines,” according to USDA APHIS. “This webinar is intended for a broad audience including horse event management, horse owners, riders, trainers, veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and anyone interested in becoming a Horse Protection Inspector or learning more about the Horse Protection Act and the new rule.”

Although the HPA applies to all breeds and disciplines since its inception in 1970, enforcement historically targets the elimination of soring in Tennessee Walkers, Spotted Saddle Horses and racking horses, federal regulations are focusing on all shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions. The new rule, which was published in the Federal Register in May, defines a show as a public display of any equines in competition except where speed is the prime factor, rodeo events, parades, or trail rides. This includes donkeys, mules, state fairs and 4-H shows.

The rule requires horse show and event managers to:

  • Notify APHIS at least 30 days before an event via mail or email.
  • Update APHIS about any changes 15 days before an event.
  • Report HPA violations within 5 days after an event.

Shoeing Changes

Many of the proposed rule changes are similar to those proposed in the 2017 APHIS rule and the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act that both houses of Congress have put forth over the past several years. The rule prohibits “any device, method, practice, or substance applied to any horse that could hide or mask evidence of soring, as well as all action devices and non-therapeutic pads and wedges, and substances applied about the hoof.”

While the current regulation prohibits pads or other devices on yearling horses that elevate or change the angle more than 1 inch at the heel, the new rule eliminates all pads unless applied for therapeutic purposes.

“Altering the angulation of a horse’s feet and legs can cause painful lameness, soreness, and inflammation by transferring concussive impact and weight-bearing pressures to joints and other parts of the horse not normally subjected to these forces,” states the rule. “Elevating the foot using stacked hoof pads, or ‘performance packages,’ can also cause an increase in tension in the tendons leading to inflammation, as can extra weight on the horse’s foot.”

Citing an Auburn University study, the rule also makes the case that raising heels with only pads results in swollen flexor tendons and inflammation. The packages limit the ability to detect pressure soring since the solar surface of the foot is covered. Pressure soring involves the use of items such as bolts, screws, hoof packing and other materials to create force on the sole to influence the horse’s gait.

Action devices are defined as “any boot, collar, chain, roller, beads, bangles, or other devices, which encircles or is placed upon the lower extremity of the leg or slide up and down the leg so as to cause friction, or which can strike the hoof, coronet band or fetlock joint.”

The rule also prohibits all artificial toe length extensions unless it has been prescribed and receiving therapeutic treatment.

“Toe extensions can be used to sore horses by increasing stress on certain tendons and ligaments,” the rule states.

In addition, the rule also:

  • Prohibits grinding or trimming the sole of the hoof to expose spongy, sensitive tissues underneath the sole.
  • Prohibits the removal or trimming of normal support structures of the hoof wall. Removing the support causes the sole to bear all of the weight. This is called “rolling the sole.”
  • Eliminates industry self-regulation and Designated Qualified Persons as inspectors. Authority to inspect horses at shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions will fall to “APHIS inspectors and independent non-APHIS-employed protection inspectors.” They will be screened, trained and authorized by APHIS.
  • Removes the scar rule and replaces it with “a more accurate description of visible dermatological changes indicative of soring.

To register for Friday’s webinar, visit https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_92yr3uj-RraNmBsk4pX-nw#/registration