The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has postponed the implementation of its Horse Protection Amendments final rule, delaying the effective date from February 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. This delay is due to ongoing court challenges, including a federal court vacating key provisions of the rule, continued litigation over existing regulations, and Congressional directives urging APHIS to withdraw the 2024 final rule. The amendments aimed to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act by shifting from industry-led inspections to USDA-authorized inspectors to better prevent the abusive practice of soring, which causes pain to horses to produce an exaggerated gait.
APHIS Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez explained that moving forward with only parts of the rule while others remain under legal dispute would create a confusing and unworkable patchwork of regulations. The delay means horse show managers will not have to comply with new recordkeeping and reporting requirements in early 2026, providing temporary regulatory relief until the legal and legislative issues are resolved. APHIS intends to use this time to determine the best approach to effectively end soring while ensuring clarity and certainty for exhibitors, managers, and owners.
