Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised the USDA’s decision to postpone implementation of amendments to the Horse Protection Act, calling it a step toward balancing animal welfare with common sense for horse owners.
“As someone who has spent a lifetime around horses and as Texas Agriculture Commissioner, I welcome USDA-APHIS’s decision to postpone implementation of the Horse Protection Act amendments,” Miller said in a statement on January 29. “Folks who work with horses understand that animal welfare and common sense must go hand in hand.”
Miller acknowledged that the Horse Protection Act was created to stop abusive practices but criticized the new rules pushed under the Biden administration. He said the amendments added burdensome requirements without input from experienced horsemen, state agriculture leaders, or rural communities, potentially imposing unnecessary costs and red tape during active show seasons.
“USDA’s decision to postpone implementation is an acknowledgment that overregulation has real consequences,” Miller said. “Good animal welfare policy should target actual abuse, not punish responsible owners or regulate the life out of the equine industry. You don’t protect horses by punishing the people who love them; you protect horses by focusing on bad actors.”
Miller added that he will continue advocating for a system that protects horses while respecting common sense, saying Texas horsemen know how to care for their animals and deserve regulations that reflect reality.
