Walking On Volume 4, Issue 7, July 2017 | Page 6

Industry Info

Senate Appropriations Committee Vote on Horse Slaughter Defunding

The Senate Committee on Appropriations voted July 20 in favor of an amendment offered by Sens . Tom Udall ( D-NM ) and Lindsey Graham ( R- SC ), to defund the USDA ’ s inspection of horse slaughter , a renewal of what was effectively a ban on the practice .
Today ’ s vote for the Udall-Graham Amendment means the Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations Bill may move forward with language limiting USDA action in the inspection of animals , facilities or products associated with horse slaughter . On July 12 , however , the House Appropriations Committee voted against a similar amendment that would defund USDA inspection of horse slaughter , setting the stage for possible negotiations on the final spending bill .
Horse slaughter plants in the United States were closed in 2007 when funding for USDA inspection was halted through the appropriations approval process . Horse slaughter inspections will remain unfunded through September 30 , 2017 , when the current fiscal year will end . Further information will be available when approval for the FY18 Appropriations are finalized .
The American Horse Council has not taken a position on horse slaughter as the equine industry remains divided on this issue . Please contact the American Horse Council for further information .

Deadline to Take Survey to Update Economic Impact Survey Extended

The American Horse Council Foundation ( AHCF ) announced today that it will be extending the deadline to complete the horse owner and supplier survey to update the National Economic Impact Study to August 18th .
“ The survey has been open since the beginning of June , and unfortunately we have only had around 9,000 responses ,” said AHC President Julie Broadway . “ We decided to extend the deadline for respondents to take the survey to ensure that we are getting as many responses as we can- we estimated that the survey link should be reaching approximately 900,000
6 • Walking On people , and the 2005 Study had over 18,000 responses itself . The industry has waited a long time for this study to be updated and we want to be sure we are getting the full picture of the impact of the vast equine industry .”
The main survey is designed to capture the impact of individual horse owners ( whether commercial or recreational ) and industry suppliers of equine-related goods and services . To take the horse owner & supplier survey please click here : https :// innovationgroup . qualtrics . com / jfe / form / SV _ 0oaYvVhgaWHgpvL ? Source = Request Please note , all personal information collected in the survey will be confidential and will not be distributed . The AHC encourages Individuals to share the study link above via email , social media , etc . in order to ensure maximum participation .
The 2017 Economic Impact Study will contain expanded demographics with youth participation and additional segments of the industry , including Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies , Equine Sanctuaries and Rescues , Equine Academic Programs , and Equine Youth Organizations . If you are interested in receiving one of these survey links , please contact the AHC at info @ horsecouncil . org .