- Secured a $1.2 million increase in funding for equine health in FY2013 appropriations to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture is able to respond effectively to equine disease outbreaks.
- Helped achieve Senate passage of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, a comprehensive immigration bill. The bill would overhaul the U.S. immigration system and fix some of the immigration issues facing the horse industry and all of American agriculture.
- Testified in support of the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2013 (H.R. 1518/S. 1406) or PAST Act before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. The PAST Act would strengthen the forty year old Horse Protection Act to prevent horse soring.
- Held a Congressional briefing on the PAST Act to educate Members of Congress and their staffs on the bill and industry support for the bill.
- Clarified that horse breeding farms are eligible for the USDA Emergency Conservation Program. This program provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by drought, erosion, floods, hurricanes, heavy snows, ice and/or high wind or other natural disasters.
- Launched a new national initiative to increase awareness of and interest in horse-related activities, including a new website and social media platform called TimeToRide.com.
- Continued to advance the National Equine Health Plan to ensure the horse industry, as well as federal, state and local governments are prepared for and able to respond efficiently to contagious equine disease outbreaks.
- Continued to gain support for the AHC Welfare Code of Practice. The code of practice is a broad set of principles designed to establish good welfare procedures for organizations to follow to “Put the Horse First,” and has been endorsed by 42 horse organizations.
The American Horse Council is a Guidestar Silver Participant
The AHC believes that the more opportunities available to use horses in various activities, the better the overall health of the industry and those who participate.
1775 Tysons Blvd
5th Floor
Suite 6110
McLean VA, 22102
General Phone: 202.296.4031
E-Mail: info@horsecouncil.org