The Youth Equine Support Show, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 8 in Lynchburg, Tennessee has rescheduled for Saturday, May 13, due to weather.

José Rafael Rigual, M.D., “Chico”, age 96, passed away March 31, 2023 in Oklahoma City. Chico was born June 8, 1926, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.
Chico was an accomplished student and physician in Oklahoma City; also certified to practice medicine and surgery in Puerto Rico. He received his Oklahoma State Medical license in 1950, Residency of Otorhinolaryngology in 1955-1958, American Board of Otolaryngology in 1965, was a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in 1964 and fellow of American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. After practicing medicine for over 50 years, he took over his father ‘s business in Puerto Rico, eventually returning to Oklahoma City.

Chico served his country in the United States Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal for being a Ground Operations and Commander in the Korean War.

He loved spending time with his devoted wife Pat, family, and friends. He was an avid OU football fan, enjoying traveling and life. Chico had a unique style of storytelling, being a jokester and entertaining everyone.

Pat and Chico owned several World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking horses and was recognized for his contribution to the breed and inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration Hall of Fame.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose Rafael Rigual and Rosaura Capre of Puerto Rico, and two sisters. He is survived by wife, Pat; daughter, Maria Antonia Hill; son, Jose, R. Rigual III; daughter Angela Renee Smith, husband Kevin; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Chico was truly a great man whose impact will be forever felt by his family and always carry his memory in our hearts.
A private memorial service for immediate family was held.

The Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse industries find themselves in a waiting period as a Washington D.C. Circuit judge will soon rule on what to do with the old 2017 HPA rulemaking.  The briefing on the case concluded on March 22, 2022, and now awaits a decision.

The original 2017 rule, worked on during the Obama administration would eliminate the use of any pad, action device, weighted shoe and hoof band, as well as eliminate all Horse Industry Organizations and turn all inspections and enforcement over to the United States Department of Agriculture.  When President Trump was elected, he immediately froze all rules that has not already been published in the Federal Register, which has been precedent for many years for incoming administrations.

After waiting nearly two years, the Humane Society of the United States sued the USDA to force implementation of the 2017 rule.  In the original case, USDA filed for dismissal of the HSUS suit and won in the district court.  The HSUS filed an appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and won the appeal, meaning the rule had met the threshold in the court’s view to be final and thus when USDA formally withdrew the rule they had done so illegally, meaning without a notice and comment period.

The USDA appealed the Court of Appeals decision and the Celebration, on behalf of the show horse industry, filed to intervene.  The USDA lost that appeal and the Celebration was not granted intervention.  However, in the Court of Appeals decision that remanded the case back to the District Court, it suggested that the lower court could consider all remedies in the case, including remand without vacatur, meaning the rule would not have to be forced into implementation.

During the briefing phase in the district court, which just concluded on March 22, the HSUS argued in their briefs that the court must force USDA to implement the rule and granted a grace period, which suggested implementation in July 2022.  The USDA also filed briefs in the case arguing that the court is not forced by precedent to vacate the withdrawal and the court should allow the USDA to focus its intention on the new rule, which would make needed improvements to the old rule for regulation of the horse industry.  Those improvements included recommendations from the National Academies of Science study on the inspection methods.  The USDA also argued that it would not be able to implement the old rule without time to make the needed changes and adjustments in the department to launch a full enforcement scheme and staffing required to carry that out.

The Celebration, again on behalf of the industry, participated in the briefing phase represented by Ellis George Cipollone, arguing in support of the USDA and not vacating the USDA’s withdrawal of the old rule.  The Ellis George Cipollone firm had initially been retained to file the comments on the new USDA rulemaking, but has been needed in the proceedings relating to the possible implementation of the old rule.

There is no timetable for when the judge will rule on the 2017 rule.  The industry is prepared to respond once the judge makes the ruling.  Those possibilities include filing a stay against the implementation of the 2017 rule and then bringing legal action against its implementation, challenging many of the aspects of the rule changes.  If the rule is not forced into implementation, the firm will represent the industry in the comment phase when the new rule is published.  This new rule is still under review at the Office of Management and Budget and could be published at any time, however it is most likely that a decision on the old 2017 rule will come first, and then if needed, the new rule be published or modified.