PAST Act
Key claim: This bill would crack down on soring—hurting horses’ legs to force flashy gaits at shows—by adding a new inspection system and raising penalties.
Abstract
(S1007 · 116th Congress) Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2019 or the PAST Act This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses’ limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations. Latest action (2019-04-03): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
Soring enforcement under the Horse Protection Act has long been criticized as under-resourced and captured by industry-selected inspectors, and the PAST Act represents the recurring legislative attempt to restructure that inspection regime. Because the bill targets a niche show-horse industry rather than food production, its practical stakes are for gaited-breed owners, trainers, and show organizers rather than consumers or food prices.