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Presenter Name By PresenterMedia.comPresenterMedia.com How Information Can Lead to Ending Soring Abuses

Presenter Name By PresenterMedia.comPresenterMedia.com How Information Can Lead to Ending Soring Abuses A Progress Report

1.History on Building the Information Trail 2.Current Availability of Information 3.Usage of HPA information 4.Examples of Actions Spurred by HPA information 5.Future Ideas

2003 3

Goal: Data on Horse Protection Act violations available to the public, to encourage change 7 year project

Gathering controversial info, there can be risks Support of Senator Tydings and his law firm helped remove road blocks in making this happen

USDA Horse Protection web site SHOW HIO web site USDA HPA database FOIA requests

9,098 HPA Soring Violation entries in this database 1986 to current

New addition: USDA legal cases Over 400 cases to date with determination by Administrative Law Judge, info if appealed to Judicial Officer decision or higher court, or withdrawn.

Great improvement of information now available Suspensions, violators, letters of warning, show inspection records, HIO audit reports, foreign substance findings and latest news Information is kept for 3 years ( Animal Care document retention guidelines )

All current suspensions are on-line Includes 80 current HPA suspensions Excellent progress on information transparency Plus current news on violations

New password-protected database for each HIO to enter their DQP, show inspection, and violation data Results are available real-time to the public Tremendous advancement in access to information

Freedom of Information Requests Redacted information is provided Can take 5 – 7 months Requests and responses will be on-line to the public

Analysis of the Information

Researchers at Eastern Kentucky University analyzed data from the USDA website They compared violation rates for horse shows inspected by USDA veterinary medical officers (VMO) versus those inspected by designated qualified persons (DQP). October, 2010

Researchers analyzed data from 2008, 2009, 2010 (as of 10/31/2010) Over 1,400 shows, over 240,000 horse inspections

VMOs find times more violations than DQPs Average With USDA VMOs With only DQPs

YearActual number of violations If USDA had inspected every show 20081,00822, ,65026, ,614 Total3,932 62,387 What if VMOs inspected every show? How many violations would have been found?

Out of 9,098 total HPA violations 4,505 ( 50%) are listings for repeat offenders

1,157 individuals make up these repeat offenders This data is quite consistent over the past 5 years.

Usage of the HPA Information

1.YouTube soring videos: 185,000+ views 2.Facebook: 1,000 members on anti-soring groups 3.USDA Horse Protection web site 23,733 page views ,824 items viewedwww.HPAData.us

11,126 visitors Articles relating to soring in news library Links to 55 articles on soring from past 3 years Most complete library of soring information Totaling 72 articles & news items CNN & Sports Illustrated

Examples of Actions from Available Information

Over 500,000 attendees Exhibitions featured Walking Horses and gaited horses

Exhibitions featured Walking Horses and gaited horses Chose representatives with no history of HPA violations

In early 2010, this organization again requested and analyzed data on HPA violations and records on industry leaders. The Rules Committee entertained applications from three additional HIOs wishing to be approved to inspect Kentucky shows for Tennessee Walking Horses eligible for these funds.

The Rules Committee considered HPA violators in leadership positions & statistical increases in tickets when USDA was present at shows. The Committee chose IWHA, NWHA and FOSH to inspect shows eligible for incentive funds, and denied 2 HIOs.

Sound Horse Conference has been one initiative Sharing information with key leaders in the industry We’re honored this Conference is being covered by the press representing regional, national & industry media

Soring or not, the movement these horses are doing can´t be healthy for their back and body. This is just sick! This is supposed to attractive?!?!?!

This is a disgusting practice. This is nothing more than out right ABUSE. I have seen way too many good horses done this way. For you Walking horse people that find this acceptable, perhaps you should have this done to you. Wouldn't hurt my feelings any. As a TW owner I hate this. This is outright abuse. This kind of treatment is out of the dark ages born of complete ignorance.

i know how to pressure a horse so its obvious to me that you do not if you bunch of idiots would like to know how its done you should contact me i done it for a living showed horses that is and i had to quit so i have nothing to lose if you want to really want to know the truth you should talk with me

There are various groups working on new concepts to rejuvenate the breed and this industry. We will be establishing a series of conference calls to begin discussing. If you are interested in joining these informational conference calls, get in touch with me.

Information Progress Report Lori Northrup