Category: American Horse Council

In The Face Of Climate Change, Experts Offer Tips For Making The Most Of Your Hay

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by Natalie Voss

 

The cost of keeping horses has been rising for some time now, but last year was an especially bad one when it came to finding hay. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, hay stocks fell to the lowest point they’d seen in a decade and in December 2022 were at their lowest since 1954. After a dry late summer and fall in many places, some 37 percent of the country is still considered to be in “extreme drought” conditions, with even more sitting at milder drought ratings despite recent precipitation.

According to statistics presented at a webinar hosted by the American Horse Council, the average cost of grass hay is up to $109 per ton nationally while alfalfa has climbed to $143 per ton. (This varies widely depending on where in the country you are.)

AHC President Julie Broadway said that hay prices and availability are subject to a variety of drivers, from the weather to fuel costs to fertilizer expenses and even the pricing/demand for hay from foreign countries that import it for their grazing animals.

Special Bulletin – AHC seeks member input and opinions to help shape the future

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American Horse Council Announces Speakers for 2022 Conference

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Special Bulletin 
AHC 2022 Conference
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington DC
June 5-7, 2022
(Washington, DC)- The American Horse Council (AHC) is pleased to announce that speakers for committee meetings and the upcoming National Issues Forum, have been tentatively set. The AHC’s Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum takes place from June 5-7 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

“We are very excited with this year’s line-up of noted and exemplary speakers,” said AHC President Julie Broadway. “Additionally, it will be great to engage in a discussion with partners about ways to collaborate within the agriculture and livestock industry.”

Invited Guest speakers include:

  • United Horse Coalition Meeting; Panelists from ASPCA’s Right Horse Initiative; GFAS; TAA; TCA; STA
  • Equine Welfare Committee; USDA Animal Care
  • Equine Industry CEO Forum: Wanda Little-Coffey of ASAE
  • Congressman Sanford D. Bishop. Jr. (GA)
  • Margaret Reynolds – Author, Reignite
  • Jennifer Brown Lerner, Deputy Director Aspen Institute – Sports & Society Program
  • Keith Roberts – Author, The Oak Journal “ Level up your Life”
  • Julie Fershtman, Foster Smith Attorneys
  • Charlene Couch, The Livestock Conservancy
  • Panel Discussion on trends in Horse Sales – Keeneland (Shannon Arvin), Superior Sale (GT Werry), Appalachian Challenge (Tinia Creamer), CSU Sales (Craig Huffhines)
  • Health & Regulatory Committee; Dr. Nat White-NADPRP biosecurity project; USDA APHIS
  • Awards Luncheon: This year’s award winners to be announced, plus 2021 Hickey Award Dr. Peter Timoney; 2021 Rolapp Award – Senator Susan Collins (R-ME); 2020 Hickey Award Dr. G. Marvin Beeman; Van Ness Award Fred Sarver, and Rolapp Award Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
  • Racing Advisory Committee: Lisa Lazarus of Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
Please note that due to hotel logistics, this year committee meetings are taking place on Sunday and Tuesday.
The National Issues Forum will be held on Monday.

Also, attendees may be asked to show proof of vaccination and/or wear masks. Details to follow as date gets closer.

Hotel Reservations
View the amazing Omni Shoreham Omni Shoreham VIDEO

To make reservations go to https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/washington-dc-shoreham/meetings/2022-ahc-annual-meeting-and-national-issue-06012022

Conference Registration & Tentative Agenda
Go to Eventbrite
2022 American Horse Council Annual Conference Tickets, Sun, Jun 5, 2022 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

For the full conference schedule, please visit the on the AHC website at www.horsecouncil.org .

How to reopen your barn following the COVID19 quarantine

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American Horse Council publishes
Resources for Horse Owners
https://unitedhorsecoalition.org/covid-19-resources/#horse-owners

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for a complete shift in the daily lifestyle of everyone in the United States, including our horses. Living under quarantine, curfews, and learning how to work from home has reiterated how important barn visits are to mental health. As states across the country relax stay-at-home requirements, we have some tips on how to keep your horses, horse people, and your barn as healthy as possible.

  • Limit gatherings to as few people as possible, and continue to maintain the recommended social distancing protocols that include six (6) feet of separation between individuals. Just because the quarantine is being lifted doesn’t mean the threat is over.  COVID-19 can be detected in the air for up to 3 hours after being transmitted. Some stables have created a schedule where clients can reserve time slots for their visits, reducing the amount of people in the barn by only allowing 3-4 people present at once. This may be the most appropriate step forward for those barns in states that were forced to close outright.
  • Encourage proper hand-washing and provide as many locations/opportunities for people to do so. Due to the structure of the virus, washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds is the most effective way to prevent contamination. Hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
  • Make a daily or hourly cleaning chart to prevent virus transmission. Disinfect common contact areas regularly and avoid sharing equipment and supplies between people, COVID-19 can live on copper for up to four hours, cardboard for 24 hours, and plastic and stainless steel for up to 3 days.
    • Non-porous materials (leather bridles/saddles/halters, nylon halters/lead ropes, gate latches, door handles, spray nozzle) harbor the virus longer than porous materials (cotton lead ropes, saddle pads)
    • Clean communal leather tack daily with tack cleaner. Knowing how to properly disinfect tack is useful for any equestrian, be it for strangles or COVID-19. Aerosol sprays such as Lysol tend to strip leather of oils, so if you use an aerosol spray to disinfect your tack, be sure to let it dry completely and then recondition the leather to protect it. Soap and water is another effective way to break down the lining of bacteria and viruses and is often safe for most tack. Diluted bleach disinfects well, but leather may dry out and crack from repeated treatments.
    • Disinfect gate latches, spray nozzles, cross tie snaps, pitchforks, wheelbarrows, and other frequently used items regularly or after contact with personnel
    • Stall door latches, hose ends, light switches, faucets and feed scoops should be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
  • There may be state requirements to wear gloves or face coverings to reduce the risk of spreading germs. Many businesses will be looking to taking the temperature of those present in and will not allow anybody to come if they register a temperature or feel sick and this may go a long way to helping clients feel comfortable.
  • Long story short, nobody spends 2 months on the couch unscathed, so take it easy getting back into training. Many riding stables are closed to tenants and all equine events have been canceled in an effort to reduce the virus’s spread. Due to these closures, many horses are not receiving regular workout schedules, or maybe no exercise at all. While daily lifestyles are difficult for all during this pandemic, adapting a horse’s schedule to a life after quarantine can be equally as challenging. Exercise related injuries would be a terrible way to end the quarantine.

Making boarders and clients safe and secure will be critical in getting the horse industry back on its feet, and each facility, whether private or public, should have written policies regarding COVID-19 and expect all clients and professionals to adhere to them. Keeping our horses healthy has always been a priority, but without their owners you can’t keep the lights on. All of these tips, and more, can be found on the AHC COVID-19 Resource Page, please visit it here as we continue to update it during this transition.

Details: Contact Cliff Williamson at cwilliamson@horsecouncil.org

 

American Horse Council
1616 H Street NW  • 7th Floor •
Washington, DC 20006 • 202-296-4031

Southern States Equine Feed Recall

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Cargill has initiated a  voluntary recall of select Southern States® feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s standards. The affected products, which were manufactured in North Carolina and sold throughout the eastern United States, were removed from retail shelves throughout February, March, and April 2019. Aflatoxin is a byproduct of a mold, and exposed horses are at risk of several health hazards and even death. Aflatoxicosis affects the liver and horses suffering from aflatoxicosis show signs of cough, depression, fever, tremor, ataxia and lack of appetite.

The recall effects “Southern States Triple 10 (CN)”, 50 lb. feed bags with Lot Code “N9043” and Product Code”554270”. The feed was made in February and has a 60 day shelf life. The affected products were recalled from retail outlets and distributors, but consumers who have any of the affected product in their possession should return it to their local dealer or retailer for a replacement or full refund. For more information, call 800-822-1012 (Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cargill-conducts-voluntary-recall-select-southern-statesr-feed-due-highexcessiveor-elevated

Congress Clarifies That Horses are Not “Pets,” Advances Landmark Livestock Health Measures

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As the countdown to close the 115th Congress heads to the final stretch, on Wednesday, December 12, Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), sending the legislation to the president, who is expected to sign the bill into law this week.  Horse industry highlights include a revised statutory definition that excludes equines from a blanket definition of “pets” and funding for key livestock and international market development programs through Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.  In the wake of extensive horse industry outreach, lawmakers struck language in the senate version that defined horses as “pets” within the context of a “Pet and Women Safety” (PAWS) measure.  Industry requested that lawmakers delete “horses” from the proposed statutory definition of “pets,” but retain “horses” as a stand-alone category.  In response to industry messages communicated to congressional leaders during the past six months, the final conference report states that the bill “clarifies the definition of pet to include certain companion animals, while also providing protections for other animals such as horses, service animals, and emotional support animals.”   The revised definition helps preserve the long-standing classification of horses as “livestock,” while allowing equines to fall within the scope of property damage subject to compensation within the parameters of the PAWS Act.

A preliminary review of the legislation shows that lawmakers are moving in the right direction with respect to funding important animal health programs.  Unlike earlier versions of the bill, the legislation mandates rather than authorizes minimum appropriations totaling $150 million to fund the National Animal Vaccine Bank (NAVVCB), the National Animal Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), among other programs, for FY 2019 to 2023.  Of the $150 million of mandated funding, the bill stipulates that Congress will appropriate $112 million “to be allocated among the NAHLN, the NADPRP and the NAVVCB.”  With respect to the NAHLN, a major priority for the horse industry, the legislation further authorizes up to $30 million per year over the five-year span of the farm bill, matching industry’s authorization request.   Additionally, the legislation provides “$255 million in annual mandatory funding” for Foreign Market Development, the Market Access Program, and other programs that support the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).   To view a copy of the conference report to H.R. 2, please click here: https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20181210/CRPT-115hrpt1072.pdf.  For more information related to legislative activity, please contact AHC’s Bryan Brendle at 202-296-4031.

American Horse Council Launches Newly Designed Website

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Washington DC, August 28, 2018– The American Horse Council is proud to launch our newly redesigned website, www.horsecouncil.org starting Monday, August 27, 2018. We have redesigned it with horse enthusiasts in mind, streamlining menus, simplifying navigation, building a responsive layout for all platforms and providing more resources and information on our services and products.   In addition, the new site reflects who we are and boasts a clean, fresh look with some dynamic photos expressing the beauty and passion of all segments of the equine industry.

We encourage everyone to visit and explore the site, discovering the full spectrum of resources available including legislative and regulatory issues, health and welfare, and a number of industry initiatives underway.  We feature white papers, guides, templates and webinar content to help you make informed decisions on issues affecting the industry.

Visitors can visit, browse, and read excerpts from member focused content – with the option to easily join and gain access to exclusive news and updates. Members, if you have trouble logging in, you can easily reset your password online or feel free to reach out to us for help. To stay connected on social media, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

We’re really proud of the new website and feel it will create the experience you’re looking for when you visit.  A few pages are still in progress, but visit the site frequently as more content about our activities will become available.

If you have any questions or feedback you would like to share with our team, please do so by filling out the form on our Contact us page.

We look forward to staying connected.

 

About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.

 

The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen’s associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.

House Appropriators Score Win for Horse Industry, Advance H-2B Visa Cap Relief!

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July 26, 2018

House Appropriators Score Win for Horse Industry, Advance H-2B Visa Cap Relief!

On July 25, the House Appropriations Committee convened a mark-up for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  By voice vote, the committee approved an amendment that exempts returning workers from the 66,000 statutory cap imposed on the H-2B guest worker visa program, providing much needed H-2B visa cap relief advocated by the horse industry and its allies.  The amendment, offered by Congressional Horse Caucus Members Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD) and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), among others, applies to workers who have received guest worker visas during the previous two years.  Additionally, the provision also establishes a visa allocation system that disburses work permits on a quarterly basis.  Lawmakers believe that the quarterly system will create more flexibility for employers whose labor demands do not align with the semi-annual allocation system, whereby DHS awards permits on April 1 and October 1.  The horse industry and its allies in the H-2B Coalition fight for a variety of flexibility measures, including a straight-forward increase in the visa cap, or generous exemptions from the statutory cap, such as those for returning workers.

Pointing to another flexibility measure, Rep. Harris (R-MD) released a statement explaining the importance of a provision that allocates visas on a “proportional” rather than a “winner take all” basis.  Under this provision, DHS would award a portion of all timely, requested visas to all applicants, even in the event that “the higher limits authorized by [the] amendment are not enough to satisfy all the needs in a given year.”  To view a copy of Rep. Harris’s statement, please click here:  https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-appropriations-committee-approves-harris-language-repairing-h-2b-visa.

While the House spending bill advances the goal of effectively raising the H-2B visa cap, the Senate version of the bill doesn’t address the H-2B visa issue, setting up an item to be negotiated during a House and Senate conference.  Although lawmakers intend to finalize their spending measures before the current FY ends on September 30, this is a deadline that Congress rarely meets.   As in years past, Congress may pass a series of “continuing resolutions” to fund the federal government.  AHC will keep you posted on developments related to the H-2B measure as the FY2019 appropriations process moves forward.  To view a copy of the three-page amendment, please click here:  http://www.horsecouncil.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/07/HARRMD_037_xml-offered-2-1.pdf.

If you’d like more information related to the guest worker issue, including ongoing grassroots outreach from the horse industry, please contact Bryan Brendle at bbrendle@horsecouncil.org or 202-296-4031.
View Article on AHC Website

Farm Bill, Take 2! House Lawmakers Pass Ag Legislation, Boost Animal Health Programs

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In the wake of a failed vote on the 2018 farm bill on May 18 – largely precipitated by controversy surrounding unrelated immigration policy issues – on June 21, House lawmakers revisited the legislation and finally passed the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) by a vote of 213 to 211.  Since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that he plans to pass companion legislation in the upper chamber before July 4, Congress appears to be poised to finalize a bill prior to expiration of Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs on September 30.  During meetings on Capitol Hill the week of June 11, multiple senate offices echoed a commitment to the deadline, reminding members of the horse industry that the chamber is prepared to work into the August recess to complete its legislative business prior to the mid-term elections in the fall.

Fortunately for the horse industry, the $868 billion, five-year package includes provisions addressing some of AHC’s top priorities:  authorization of a new National Animal Disaster Preparedness and Response (NADPR) program; additional support for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network; and creation of the National Animal Health Vaccine Bank that will prioritize risks posed by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), among other threats.

A preliminary review of the bill shows that although lawmakers generally met industry’s full funding request – totaling $250 million for the priority issues outlined above – for FY2019 only, the bill reduces those funds during subsequent fiscal years.  For example, the horse industry and its partners requested $70 million each year to fund the NADPR, but received $30 million for 2020 and beyond.  Fortunately for the horse industry, the final bill authorizes $150 million for a “priority FMD vaccine bank,” opening the door for funding vaccines that will mitigate other diseases.

AHC will continue to advocate for industry priorities as the legislation moves forward.  To view a copy of the legislation, please click here: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2/BILLS-115hr2rh.pdf.

Supreme Court Opens State Sports Betting Flood Gates, Sen. Hatch Offers Federal Framework

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May 14, 2018

Today the Supreme Court released its opinion in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, rejecting the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal statute which effectively banned sports gambling in most state jurisdictions.  In a six to three opinion, the high court reversed a 2016 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which upheld the federal law.  Importantly, the court affirmed Congress’s authority to regulate sports betting directly.  However, the court struck PASPA on the grounds that the statute infringed on a state’s ability to “authorize” gambling within its jurisdiction, thereby violating the constitutional principle of “dual sovereignty.”  The court states that in the event Congress doesn’t place direct regulations on gambling, then states are free to enact betting laws as they see fit.

While today’s decision gives the green light for individual states to move forward with sports gambling schemes, Congress was quick to offer a legislative fix to address the role of the federal government in sports gambling activity.  Not long after the release of the Supreme Court decision, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced that he plans to introduce legislation that he states will remedy a “patchwork” of state laws that won’t adequately protect the “integrity of sports.”  As an original sponsor of PASPA when it was enacted in 1992, Sen. Hatch states that his legislation will “protect consumers, safeguard against underage and problem gambling, and help states who choose not to permit sports betting within their borders.”

“Until today, pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing has been the only legal form of sports wagering available throughout most of the United States at both physical locations and online. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled PASPA unconstitutional, states are free to regulate sports betting as they see fit. Horse racing must rise to the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by this expansion of sports betting,” stated Alex Waldrop, Chairman of AHC’s Racing Committee and President of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

AHC will provide a more detailed analysis of the Supreme Court decision and legislative responses during the days ahead.  To view a copy of the Supreme Court decision, please click here:  https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-476_dbfi.pdf.  To view a copy of Sen. Hatch’s (R-UT) announcement for a federal framework for sports gambling, please click here: https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ID=02C2FD7A-6D68-40B9-8002-BA458CF4DD4F