The Zeitgeist of Now
There is a lot of volatility in the current political environment. Whether you access the news from TV, newspapers, or social media, all platforms are exploding with stories about how rapid policy shifts are affecting various segments of society, including the equine community and industry.
Many of these stories adhere to the traditional “who, what, where, and why” style of journalism. However, some are clickbait designed to drive traffic to a particular website for marketing purposes. Unfortunately, others aim to obfuscate and scare. We’ve certainly seen a lot of the latter in the discourse around the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and its enforcement regulations.
The American Horse Council (AHC) is staying the course, advocating for its members on issues that impact horse welfare, equine-related businesses, and the recreation sector. By maintaining a consistent voice and engaging in constructive dialogue, we ensure our priorities remain on the legislative agenda, regardless of the political climate.
To this end, the AHC is continuing to work with our members and affiliated equine organizations to urge the United States Department of Agriculture to either fix the existing HPA regulations or scrap them. We are also working with our champions in Congress to keep them informed of our concerns and activities on the regulatory front.
Additionally, we are joining forces with other like-minded organizations to advocate for relief and exemptions to proposed tariffs, which, if imposed, would increase the prices our members pay for hay, feed, supplements, equipment and possibly impact the movement of horses between the U.S. and Canada.
We are also active in coalitions to assist in keeping an employment pathway open for legal, temporary workers.
That’s a full plate. But as Desmond Tutu observed, we’re going to eat this elephant one bite at a time (apologies to the elephants!).
In that spirit, we offer a snapshot of some of the legislation we are following to make the world a better place for horses, whether they are grazing in someone’s backyard or housed in a million-dollar competition stable.
Check out some of the legislation we are following:
R. 1113 – the RaceHorseCost Recovery Act of 2025 introduced by Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) and co-sponsored by Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3). This legislation makes permanent the modification of the accelerated depreciation allowance for racehorses to allow a three-year recovery period for any racehorse. Currently, the default is seven years, but realistically, the useful life of a racehorse is three years. This bill encourages investment in racehorses and this dynamic industry.
H.R.1112 – Racehorse Tax Parity Act introduced by Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) and co-sponsored by Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3). H.R. 1112 shortens the holding period for racehorses to be considered eligible for long-term capital gains treatment from 24 months to 12 months
H.R.1131– Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act is bipartisan legislation that seeks to restore the decades-old standard that exempts the value of assets found on family farms and small businesses from being assessed as part of a family’s net worth. In July 2024, provisions from the Federal Application For Student Aid Simplification Act altered the federal formula for determining student aid. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) explained the need to refigure the financial formula so that it reflects the realities and limited financial resources that family farmers and small business owners often face. He said, “In restoring this 30-year-old standard, we will ensure the federal government is expanding, rather than limiting, academic opportunities for these entrepreneurial families.”
H.R. 1131 has been introduced by Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Tracey Mann (R-KS-1), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), along with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN-02). Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
H.R.1266 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, sponsored by Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). According to the AVMA, the legislation would provide the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with tools to help address the illicit drug by scheduling xylazine as a Schedule III drug, ensuring common veterinary uses of the drug remain legal, helping maintain the availability of the drug on the market for veterinarians, and allowing the DEA to track the legitimate supply.
In veterinary medicine, xylazine is an important prescription sedative used to facilitate the safe handling and treatment of many species and is particularly important for use in cattle, horses, wildlife, and research species. However, Illicit xylazine has now been found across the country mixed with fentanyl and other narcotics. This dangerous drug combination poses significant health and safety risks to human users.
S.930 – A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income capital gains from the sale of certain farmland property which are reinvested in individual retirement plans. S. 930 was introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Its purpose is to reduce the tax burden on selling farmland, encouraging farmers to keep their land in agricultural production and curbing the loss of farmland across the country.
The Protecting American Farmlands Act would exempt farmers from capital gains tax if they sell their land to farmers who will keep it in agricultural production for a minimum of ten years. The profit from the sale is stored in a qualified retirement savings account. As a result, landholders are encouraged to put their farmland on the market for other farmers while also investing in their own future with more liquid assets in retirement.
H.R.1684 – would amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) introduced H.R. 1684.