Horse Protection Program Listening Session Shelbyville, TN - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Horse Protection Program Listening Session Shelbyville, TN February 8, 2006 U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Care Additional Sessions Springfield, MO March 13 Dallas, TX April 19
Horse Protection Program Listening Session
Shelbyville, TN February 8, 2006
U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Care
Additional Sessions
Springfield, MO
March 13
Dallas, TX
April 19
Somerset, KY
May 17
Pomona, CA
June 12
Chattanooga, TN
September 11
Today’s Agenda
8:30 – 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 9:15
Welcome and Overview
9:15 – 11:00
Horse Protection Update
11:00 – 12:45
Listening Session
12:45 – 1:00
Remarks and Closing
Meeting Guidelines
Keep conversations to a minimum Be courteous to speakers Turn off cell phones
Introductions
Dr. Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator for
Animal Care
Dr. Todd Behre, Horse Protection
Coordinator, Animal Care
Horse Protection Coordinator USDA APHIS Animal Care 4700 River Road Suite 6A02-7 Riverdale, MD 20737
(301)734-5784
todd.h.behre@aphis.usda.gov
Operating Plan
Overview of Today’s Listening Session
Main Three Purposes: 1: Gather public’s input for recommendations
for the 2007-beyond
Overview of Today’s Listening Session
Main Three Purposes:
for recommendations
for the future direction
Overview of Today’s Listening Session
Main Three Purposes:
comprehensive overview
What is the Horse Protection Act?
Horse Protection Act of 1970 Section 3. The Congress finds and declares that - - (1) the soring of horses is cruel and inhumane; (2) horses shown or exhibited which are sore, where such soreness improves the performance of such horse, compete unfairly with horses which are not sore; (3) the movement, showing, exhibition, or sale of sore horses in intrastate commerce adversely affects and burdens interstate and foreign commerce; (4) all horses which are subject to regulation under this Act are either in interstate or foreign commerce or substantially affect such commerce; and (5) regulation under this Act by the Secretary is appropriate to prevent and eliminate burdens upon commerce and to effectively regulate commerce.
What exactly is soring :
In a nutshell:
Most commonly, a description is
fairly simple: Soring causes pain in the forelimbs of horses and causes horses to consciously shift their weight to the hindlimbs
Depending on the breed of the horse
and the text you read: Horses at rest bear 60-70% of their body weight on the forelimbs, and bear 30-40% of their body weight on the hind limbs
The word “sore” is a legal term. It was defined by Congress in the Horse Protection Act (HPA).
Definition of a Sore Horse
The HPA defines a horse as being “sore” when one or more of the following conditions have been met:
Definition of a Sore Horse
An irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse,
Definition of a Sore Horse
Any burn, cut,
been inflicted by a person on any limb
Definition of a Sore Horse
Any tack, nail, Any tack, nail, screw, or screw, or chemical agent chemical agent has been has been injected injected into or into or used on any used on any limb of a horse limb of a horse by a person, by a person,
Definition of a Sore Horse
Any other substance or device has been used by a person on any limb of a horse, or a person has engaged in a practice, which causes or can reasonably be expected to cause the horse to suffer physical pain or distress, inflammation,
walking, trotting, or
Definition of a Sore Horse
Recap:
Soring requires the involvement of a person,
and that person must
apply inflict inject use or engage in a practice
Applied-what?
Diesel Kerosene Lighter fluid Industrial hand soap DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) Mustard oil Croton oil
………wrapped under cellophane and standing bandages
Inflict-what?
Heavy chain (>6 ounces) Irregularly linked chain Rubberized or elasticized motion
restriction device
Legs chained together Standing on sole or frog pressure
devices
Resourcefulness Resourcefulness Creativity Creativity
Inject-what?
Any caustic substance,
under the skin, into the forearm muscle, into a supportive structure such as a tendon or ligament, into a synovial structure such as a joint or tendon sheath
Use, or engage in a practice of
heavy shoes
>16 oz. in yearlings what about in horses 2 years old +??
pressure shoes
Increased weight bearing on sole instead
Object(s) inserted between shoe and hoof Pressure points welded onto shoe
Definition of a Sore Horse
11.2(b)(9) Any weight on yearling horses,
except a keg or similar conventional horseshoe, and any horseshoe on yearling horses that weighs more than 16 ounces.
there are currently no regulations regarding
weight limits on shoes, pads, or lead weights for horses two years old and older
these regulations were written before →
Tungsten Shoes…..
…..varying reports: these shoes weigh somewhere between 10 and 14 pounds each…..
Food for Thought: During show season 2005:
An exhibitor, after being excused for a horse
that had “unacceptable locomotion”, proclaimed that his horse wasn’t sore, but walked the way it did because his shoulders were hurting him because of heavy tungsten shoes.
Would this constitute something that “can
reasonably be expected to cause the horse to suffer physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving?”
What happens when the weight
shoe exceeds what the nails and band can hold?
nail clinch hoof wall band lamina
Is it time for a weight limit regulation?
How about the packages a “performance horse” carries?
This stack of pads weighs up to seven pounds…..
Use, or engage in a practice of
Any shoe or shoe/pad apparatus that do
not comply with the HPA regulations
Definition of a Sore Horse
The term “sore” does not include any application, infliction, injection, or practice performed in connection with the therapeutic treatment
the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
Soring a Horse would not include:
Application of a
“blister” to a “bucked shin”, “splint”, or curb
“Pin Firing” those
same causes of lameness
Injection of
counterirritants (internal blisters) for upward fixation of the patella Done by, or by the direction of, a licensed veterinarian
Definition of a Sore Horse
So what substances
are allowable on a horse’s limbs during inspection?
Definition of a Sore Horse
11.2 (c) Substances. All substances are
prohibited on the extremities above the hoof of any Tennessee Walking Horse or racking horse while being shown, exhibited, or offered for sale at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction, except lubricants such as glycerine, petrolatum, and mineral oil, or mixtures thereof.
Speaking of veterinarians….
What can we learn from some common
knowledge across the equine veterinary profession? “what part of a horse is most likely to become the cause of lameness, when the lameness is in a forelimb?”
Where does lameness occur in horses’ forelimbs?
Equine Veterinarians’ “rule of thumb”: 75% of forelimb lameness
distally
Why are we talking about lameness in horses when today’s meeting is all about Horse Protection Act enforcement?????
Equine Veterinarians’ “rule of thumb”:
75% of those lameness cases originate in the foot proper
……because this is a very susceptible part of the equine locomotion apparatus……
….and we have to explain how this happens…..
….how this happens…
…..and how this happens
Let’s talk about anatomy
Where’s the pain?
A prominent area where soring takes place
Where’s the pain?
Soring chemicals, devices, or practices in this area of the horse’s limb are in proximity to a multitude
As you can see, there is muscle no further down the horse’s leg than here
even this Shire’s legs have no muscle
farther down the leg than here……..virtually no distance between soring practices and critical structures beneath the skin
On such a strong and large On such a strong and large animal, most of the vulnerability animal, most of the vulnerability exists from black the exists from black the line down. line down.
Look again Look again at all of at all of the critical the critical structures structures beneath beneath the skin the skin
pastern pastern
and then apply and then apply a a chain chain to the skin to the skin
If horses are so susceptible to pain originating from the distal forelimb, wouldn’t you want to be very protective of that area?
When seasoned knowledgeable trainers are entrusted with the care and custody of a Tennessee Walking Horse, knowing the horse will be subjected to HPA inspections, how do the skin changes we see so regularly happen?
The skin pathology seen in the Tennessee Walking Horse show horse is unlike anything I saw in fifteen years of equine practice. What is the explanation that doesn’t include the use of soring chemicals
So- How does a horse’s leg end up like this, and why does a trainer have to “work to keep a horse in compliance with the “scar rule”.
Preventative measures used to avoid scar rule violations: “Working Grease” Stockings “Time off”
Why are horses working in
in the equine
industry not wearing
stockings, working grease, or taking time off from training to preserve tissue normalcy?
Tennessee Walking Horses???
Sweat? Friction? Wear and tear? Grime? Hard work? Genetics? Soap? Age? Action devices? Soring chemicals? “Treatments”? “Working grease”? Stockings? How do other disciplines do it????
Eventing Mud Sweat Wear and Tear (miles) Normal Pastern Skin
Dressage Mud Sweat Wear and Tear (miles) Normal Pastern Skin
Cutting Mud Sweat Immeasurable Friction Normal Pastern Skin
Cutting Mud Sweat Immeasurable Friction Normal Pastern Skin
Reining Why don’t these horses have any abnormal skin on their pasterns?
How does skin on these horses’ pasterns remain normal? Water? yes Boots? yes Sweat? yes Grime? yes
How about these horses?
The reining horse in this picture may define “friction” as a potential cause of tissue changes, but no “scar rule” type lesions appear on these horses.
Polo Mud Sweat Immeasurable Friction Normal Pastern Skin Normal Pastern Skin
How about this Polo horse? Pastern friction? Yes-at speed Full range of motion
Pastern skin lesions? No
Another Polo horse- Pastern friction? Yes-at speed Full range of motion
Pastern skin lesions? No
Race Horses ? Clean pasterns here as well
Hackney Ponies? Hackney Ponies? Huge range of Huge range of motion, motion, great speed, great speed, action devices, action devices, sweat, grime, sweat, grime, friction friction… ….. .. normal normal pastern pastern skin skin
American American Saddlebred: Saddlebred: Speed, friction, Speed, friction, action devices, action devices, sweat, grime sweat, grime…… …… normal pastern normal pastern skin skin
Sweat? Friction? Wear and tear? Grime? Hard work? Genetics? Soap? Age? Action devices? Soring chemicals? “Treatments”? “Working grease”? Stockings? How do other disciplines do it????
Sweat? All working horses Friction? All working horses Wear and tear? All working horses Grime? All working horses Hard work? All working horses Genetics? All working horses Soap? All working horses Age? All working horses Action devices?
TWH, ASB, Morgan, Hackney
Soring chemicals? TWH ? “Treatments”? TWH ? “Working grease” TWH ? Stockings? TWH ?
Has the whole story been told? What about shoeing, and its effects on
skin tension, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and skin integrity?
Do contracted heels, and the resultant
lessened shock absorbing capabilities of the lower hoof transfer this shock to the coronary band?
Is unbalanced shoeing a potential
explanation for the asymmetrical pathology we see repeatedly on TWHs?
Why are so many scar rule violations
cited due to diseased skin on the medial portion of the posterior surface of the pastern?
Let’s talk about shoeing, and its effect on the skin of the posterior pastern.
Why are the patterns of skin lesions
posterior pastern usually asymmetrical?
medial lateral
lateral medial
lateral medial
Beyond that discussion about medial to lateral hoof balance………….. …….how about the hoof pastern axis and its effects on skin tension?
Before trim After trim and shoe
How about shoeing violations…….. …..don’t these seem totally avoidable?….. How do they happen?
How can a horse, into which the
acquisition and training dollars, be found in violation of a shoeing regulation minutes before going into the show ring?
There were 38 such violations cited at the shows attended by USDA VMOs in 2005, including the huge year end championship shows.
The dollars required to produce a very successful TWH, given breeding fees, foal loss, infertility, injuries, veterinary and hoof care, training, etc., might be $15,000, $150,000, $500,000…..$????
Let’s not have any shoeing violations in 2006.
$1.00
“ “50% Rule 50% Rule” ” This length This length Must be at Must be at least 2 x least 2 x this length this length
“ “Heel/Toe ratio Heel/Toe ratio” ” This length This length must be >1 must be >1” ” longer than longer than This length This length
How do DQPs and VMOs pick
ruler on and measure?
The inspection process itself
Before any DQP or VMO lay hands on a
TWH at a show or sale, the primary responsibility falls on the trainer or
“training” process that could result in limb pain or tissue changes that result in an HPA violation.
The inspection process itself
The components of the HPA
examination are:
Observation of the horse in motion Observation of the general appearance of
the horse
Physical examination of the limbs.
The inspection process itself
Every TWH or racking horse must be
inspected by a DQP, if present, before entering a show or sale ring, as well as every TWH or racking horse finishing in first place (“tyed first”) in competition
Some horses are examined by a USDA
Veterinary Medical Officer, if present
§ 11.7 Certification and licensing of designated qualified persons (DQP's):
(1) Doctors of Veterinary Medicine who are accredited in any State by the United States Department of Agriculture under part 161 of chapter I, title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and who are:
(i) Members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners,
(ii) Large animal practitioners with substantial equine experience, or
(iii) Knowledgeable in the area of equine lameness as related to soring and soring practices (such as Doctors of Veterinary Medicine with a small animal practice who own, train, judge, or show horses,
in an accredited college or school of veterinary medicine). Accredited Doctors of Veterinary Medicine who meet these criteria may be licensed as DQP's by a horse industry organization or association whose DQP program has been certified by the Department under this part without undergoing the formal training requirements set forth in this section.
(2) Farriers, horse trainers, and other knowledgeable horsemen whose past experience and training would qualify them for positions as horse industry organization or association stewards or judges (or their equivalent) and who have been formally trained and licensed as DQP's by a horse industry organization or association whose DQP program has been certified by the Department in accordance with this section.
Let Let’ ’s talk s talk about the about the scar scar rule rule
(a) The anterior and anterior-lateral surfaces of
the fore pasterns (extensor surface) must be free
pathological evidence of inflammation, and, other bilateral evidence of abuse indicative of soring including, but not limited to, excessive loss of hair.
(b) The posterior surfaces of the pasterns (flexor
surface), including the sulcus or "pocket" may show bilateral areas of uniformly thickened epithelial tissue if such areas are free of proliferating granuloma tissue, irritation, moisture, edema, or other evidence of inflammation.
What is a scar rule clinic? Has USDA done them in the past?
Chronic case
“scratches” a.k.a.: “exudative dermatitis”
(not a scar rule violation)
Another case
“scratches” a.k.a.: “exudative dermatitis” (not a scar rule violation)
Close up view of “exudative dermatitis” (not a scar rule violation)
Injury scar only: (not a scar rule violation)
Training Horse 2004
Training Horse 2004 Very typical
horses we see
Conflict Conflict Resolution Resolution Horse Horse Show season Show season 2004 2004…… …… Clearly a Clearly a scar rule scar rule violation violation
Conflict Conflict Resolution Resolution horse horse show season show season 2004 2004… ….. .. Clearly a Clearly a scar rule scar rule violation violation
2004 Conflict 2004 Conflict Resolution horse Resolution horse… … Clearly a scar Clearly a scar rule rule violation violation
Another clear example Another clear example
limb limb
Very common Very common appearance appearance
limb limb… … sweat&grease sweat&grease have matted have matted down hair down hair aid in aid in visualization visualization
2005 2005
This post-show This post-show horse, a two year old, horse, a two year old, should have should have been determined been determined to be in violation to be in violation during its during its pre-show inspection pre-show inspection… …. . …… ……it was not it was not 2005 2005
Extremely Extremely common common appearance appearance prompting discussion: prompting discussion: Is this uniformly Is this uniformly thickened thickened epithelium? epithelium? 2005 2005
Remember this horse? If this is the “gold standard” for normal, unblemished skin…..
… ….how .how do do we we get get here here… ….. .. 2005 2005
…..how do we get here….. 2005
…..how do we get here….. 2005
Here are a few changes that took place in the Horse Protection program in 2004-2005. Those things that have worked well, we’ll continue in 2006…
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Overview
Gas Chromatography (GC) was field tested for the detection of illegal substances on horses’ legs throughout 2004 and 2005
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Overview
GC revealed a high incidence of the use of topical anesthetics, presumably to numb the skin of the pasterns to digital palpation
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Overview
GC also revealed a high incidence of the use of irritating substances such as diesel fuel, camphor, and DMSO.
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
Gas Chromatography in the Field
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
What are USDA’s plans to use the findings of foreign substance testing in the future?
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
The TWH industry was assured at five public meetings in 2004, and through a press release in 2005, that no federal prosecutions would result from the findings of samples analyzed in those two years.
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
In 2004 USDA began sending samples that had been processed on the Gas Chromatography machine to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA, for analysis
for identification and validation of all GC findings.
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
The percentage of horses on
which prohibited substances were identified varied from 25% to 100% in 2005.
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration ’05 92 samples were taken over 7 performances 54.3% of horses had some prohibited substance 32.6%-Benzocaine +/- other substances 5.3%-Lidocaine +/- other substances 16.7% substances including benzophenone (UV blocker), chloroxylenol (sanitizing product), isopropyl myristate (lubricant in cosmetics), octly- methoxy-cinnamate (UV blocker), and dimethyl sulfone
Kentucky Celebration ’05 25 samples were taken over 3 performances 100% had one or more prohibited substances 44%-Benzocaine +/- other substances 16% camphor 12% sulfur 8% isopropyl myristate (lubricant in cosmetics) 100% diesel fuel or similar fuel
In 2006 USDA will take samples at
every horse and sale we attend and submit the samples directly to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA
USDA will begin listing prohibited
substance findings on the HP web page.
Thermographic data compiled by APHIS suggests a predictable relationship between hoof temperature and mean distal limb temperature.
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
What are USDA’s plans to use the findings thermographic testing in the future?
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
Peer reviewed studies already conducted at the University of California-Davis already have shown that thermography can be used as an effective screening tool, to followed by a routine HPA examination.
Algometry
Algometry
Diagnostic method used by neurologists, chiropractors, and osteopathic physicians to quantify human patients’ response to pressure stimulus For our purposes: develop an objective and quantitative means to detect sore horses
Historically, the amount of digital palpation pressure that has been used by DQPs and VMOs is “just enough to blanch the nail of the thumb”.
References to the human medical literature indicate that the amount of pressure required to blanch the nail of the thumb is 4 kg/cm2
Algometry
In 2005, several DQPs, VMOs, and HIO
determine their approximate palpation pressure. The range of findings was from 3-5 kg/cm2
In a 30 horse study, initial USDA
trials with the algometer have indicated that horses do not show any signs of pain when 10 kg/cm2 is applied to the pasterns.
Algometry
In 2006, USDA will conduct a study utilizing up to 25 TWHs between the ages of 4 and 10 that are actively showing to determine if this population of horses will tolerate 10 kg/cm2 of pressure with the algometer without indicating any signs of pain.
Design and Implementation of Training
Design and Implementation Of training
Training designed and delivered by DQPs and VMOs
instead of by USDA alone USDA veterinarians prepared the syllabus and did the majority of Horse Protection training for years prior to 2005. In response to the industry’s concerns that training could be more comprehensive and effective, USDA handed training responsibilities over the nine certified DQP programs in 2005. More live horse demonstrations, conflict management training, and the addition of another training day resulted in a rewarding experience for all involved.
What were the effects of attending multiple events over single weekends?
What were the effects of attending multiple events over single weekends?
Several weekends in 2005, USDA inspection teams dropped in on two or more shows, driving up to 300 miles between locations. Lessened predictability regarding the whereabouts of inspection teams caused more exhibitors to simply load their trailers and go home upon USDA’s arrival…a trend that is suggestive of a presence of sored horses.
What are the monthly industry teleconferences?
What are the monthly industry teleconferences?
All nine certified DQP organizations may participate in monthly telephone meetings facilitated by the American Horse Protection Association, to discuss common challenges and solutions. Quarterly, these same groups meet face-to-face for single all-day sessions
Monthly industry teleconferences
All nine certified DQP organizations (HIOs) do not always participate in these opportunities to work together. You can encourage leaders in the HIOs under which you show to be represented at these meetings.
USDA participates in these meetings in the capacity of being available to clarify policies and procedures used in the application
USDA relies on the industry representatives present to share important information with their constituents.
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
Violation numbers comparison at the
biggest TWH show, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
In 2003, USDA was present for 10 days, and 118 violations were written In 2004, USDA was present for 7 days, and 170 violations were written In 2005, USDA was present for 8 days, and 191 violations were written
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update
Research Outreach Administration Communications Travel Prosecution
How will we pay for it all?
How will we pay for it all? HPA Section 12: …..for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1976, and for each fiscal year thereafter there are authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $500,000, as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
How will we pay for it all?
“do the math” $500,000 in 1976 had the buying power of in 2005?
USDA APHIS-Animal Care Horse Protection Act Enforcement Update Per the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics: $500,000 in 1976 had the buying power of
$1,736,380 in 2005
Operating Plan Current plan is in effect through 2006 Any subsequent plan will be in effect from 2007-?
Operating Plan-Purpose
Under the terms of this Operating Plan, APHIS will
sub-delegate to the signatory HIOs the initial enforcement responsibility for affiliated horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions. The use of the term “initial enforcement responsibility” means that the Department (1) has allowed the signatory HIOs, in a manner consistent with the terms of this Plan, to employ uniform and effective inspection procedures and to penalize conduct violative of the HPA and Regulations; and (2) has decided that it will not institute enforcement proceedings under the Act if, in its sole judgment, a signatory HIO’s initial enforcement actions against violators satisfy the requirements of this Plan and fulfill the purposes of the HPA.
Operating Plan-Purpose
In 2005, there were several hundred shows and sales at which the HPA needed to be enforced.
USDA VMOs attended 39 of these events.
Operating Plan-Purpose
The HP regulations, and now the Operating Plan, recognize the fact that the Horse Protection Act cannot be enforced by USDA personnel, and have been designed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of DQPs in their inspections, and HIOs in their maintenance of records and assessment of penalties for HIO violators.
Horse Protection Coordinator USDA APHIS Animal Care 4700 River Road Suite 6A02-7 Riverdale, MD 20737 (301)734-5784 todd.h.behre@aphis.usda.gov