On the heels of a televised Humane Society of the United States video showing abuse of Tennessee Walking Horses, the federal government is moving toward stiffer, mandatory penalties for horse soring and other related violations.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that the agency will implement a new rule on July 9 requiring organizations that inspect horses to assess minimum penalties to violators of the Horse Protection Act, including violations from soring Tennessee Walking Horses.

Soring uses metal devices or chemicals that make the legs of Walking Horses extremely tender so they exaggerate their natural high-stepping gait. Read more…