b'Helped achieve a five year extension of bonus depreciationSuccessfully achievedpassage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility for qualifying new property, including assets used in the horseAct (S. 1171/ H.R. 1528),The bill clarifies that veterinarians business, such as horses and other equipment, purchased andare allowed to transport, administer and dispense controlled placed in service after January 1, 2015. The bonus depreciationsubstances and medications outside of their registered offices and percentage is 50 percent for property placed in service during 2015,hospitals. It ensures equine veterinarians continue to have the 2016 and 2017 and phases down to 40 percent in 2018, and 30ability to provide mobile or ambulatory services in the field to the percent in 2019. The first use of the horse or equipment must beginhorse community.with the taxpayer. This had expired at the end of 2014.Helped draft and achieve introduction of the National Forest Supported restoring and making permanent favorable tax treatmentService Trail Stewardship Act of 2014 (H.R. 4886).The bill would for land donated for conservation purposes, particularly landdirect the Forest Service to take several actions to address the donated by farmers and ranchers. This will benefit horse farms andcurrent trail maintenance backlog that is adversely impacting all help protect land for equestrian uses.trail users on many national forests, including equestrians.Worked with other industries to secure, in the FY2016 omnibusSuccessfully supported reauthorization of the Market Access spending bill, beneficial provisions relating to the H-2B temporary,Program (MAP) until 2018. MAP provides funding for overseas non-agricultural worker program, including a returning workermarketing and promotional activities to help build commercial exemption to the visa cap and improvements to some of the mostexport markets for U.S. agricultural products and commodities. The onerous provisions of the 2015 H-2B rule. These changes make theprogram is used by the horse industry to promote American horses H-2B program less burdensome for employers, including those into foreign markets. the horse industry. Successfully supported reauthorization the Environmental Quality Worked with other recreational users to re-authorize the FederalIncentives Program (EQIP). EQIP is a voluntary program that Highway Administrations Recreational Trails Program (RTP) thatprovides financial and technical assistance to help agricultural provides $85 million in annual funding for trails throughout theproducers implement conservation practices that address natural country. RTP provides funding directly to the states for recreationalresource concerns.Horse farms and ranches are eligible for this trails and trail-related facilities for all recreational trail users andprogram.has greatly benefited equestrians. Successfully supported reauthorization of several USDA disaster Launched with the American Association of Equine Practitioners theassistance programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) that will collect and(LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and the Emergency report real time information about disease outbreaks as well asLivestock Assistance Program (ELAP). These programs compensate provide the information needed to respond to and manage thoselivestock producers, including horse breeding farms and ranches, outbreaks. The EDCC will help protect the horse industry fromfor the loss of animals from natural disasters and diseases, and the threat of infectious disease outbreaks and keep horse movinghelp producers who have lost grazing land from drought pay for domestically and internationally.feed. Held the second 100 Day Horse Challenge as part of the AHCsHeld the first 100 Day Horse Challenge as part of the AHCs Time Time to Ride initiative that seeks to increase awareness of,to Ride initiative that seeks to increase awareness of, and interest and interest in, horse-related activities. Hundreds of stables,in, horse-related activities. Hundreds of stables, organizations and organizations and businesses participated in the 100 Daybusinesses participated in 100 Day Horse Challenge by hosting Horse Challenge by hosting events that attracted over 41,000events that attracted over 25,000 newcomers to horse activities.newcomers to horse activities. Submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Continued to gain support for the AHC Welfare Code of Practice.Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) opposing the The code of practice is a broad set of principles designed toproposed removal of Saudi Arabia from the list of African Horse establish good welfare procedures for organizations to follow toSickness (AHS) affected countries.Put the Horse First, and has been endorsed by 53 national horseContinued to advance the National Equine Health Plan to ensure organizations. the horse industry, as well as,federal, state and local governments are prepare for and able to respond efficiently to contagious equine 2014 ACCOMPLISHMENTS disease outbreaks.Secured a one year extension of 3-year-depreciation for all raceContinued to gain support for the AHC Welfare Code of Practice. horses retroactive to January 1, 2014. From 2009 through 2013,The code of practice is a broad set of principles designed to race horses could be depreciated over three years, regardless ofestablish good welfare procedures for organizations to follow to when they were placed in service. That change, which eliminatedPut the Horse First, and has been endorsed by 48 national horse the 7-year depreciation period for race horses and made all raceorganizations.horses eligible for three-year depreciation, expired at the end of 2013.The extensionran through December 31, 2014Helped achieve a one year extension (to December 31, 2014) of several tax provisions favorable to horse owners, breeders, and equine businesses that expired or were reduced at the end of 2013. These provisions included restoration of the Section 179 business deduction to $500,000 and restoration of 50% bonus depreciation for qualifying new property, including assets used in the horse business, such as horses and other equipment, purchased and placed in service through 2014.Also restored for one year was a favorable tax treatment for land donated for conservation purposes by farmers and ranchers.12AHC ACCOMPLISHMENTS2020 HORSE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY'