APHIS chart show events to be inspected by USDA

Horse Protection Act

In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published new Horse Protection Act (HPA) rules, which will be implemented and enforced in February 2025.  The new rules have expanded the scope of the HPA far beyond its original intent when it was voted into law in 1970.

In plain words, the new language amounts to an egregious overreach. The new language impacts the personal privacy of US Citizens involved in the horse industry, every breed of horse, and every sector, from youth events like 4H and FFA competitions to small community horse shows, rodeos, barrel races, and large association events that occur annually on the national level. 

 



Trump Continues to Build USDA Team, Names Stephen Vaden as Deputy Secretary

Trump Continues to Build USDA Team, Names Stephen Vaden as Deputy Secretary

As the Trump administration prepares to return to the White House, these appointments signal a continuation of its previous agricultural policies and priorities, with experienced individuals who have both legal expertise and connections to the farming community.

Jim Wiesemeyer

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December 22, 2024 06:04 PM
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(USDA Flick/Photo by Lance Cheung.
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President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Stephen Vaden as deputy secretary of USDA for his upcoming administration. Vaden, who served as general counsel for USDA during Trump’s first term, brings extensive legal expertise and a personal connection to farming.

Trump comments: “I am pleased to nominate Stephen Alexander Vaden to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, where he will work with our Great United States Secretary of Agriculture Nominee, Brooke Rollins,” Trump said in his announcement.

“In my First Term, Stephen was the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, and a Member of the Board of the Commodity Credit Corporation, where he won two cases before the United States Supreme Court, relocated and reorganized the Agencies that comprise the Department to better serve Rural America, and engaged in substantial regulatory reform. Stephen joined the USDA on Day One of my First Term, and left in December 2020 after I nominated him, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him, to continue to serve the American People as an Article III Judge on the Court of International Trade. Judge Stephen Vaden resides in Union City, Tennessee, where he helps manage his family farm. Congratulations Stephen!”

Vaden’s Background

Vaden’s accomplishments include winning Supreme Court cases, leading USDA reforms, and implementing key policies such as the 2018 Farm Bill and hemp legalization. His appointment comes alongside Brooke Rollins as USDA secretary.

Vaden holds a law degree from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Prior to his government service, Vaden worked at prominent Washington law firms, including Jones Day and Patton Boggs.

He currently serves as a judge on the United States Court of International Trade, a position he has held since December 2020.

During his tenure as USDA’s general counsel, Vaden achieved several notable successes:

  1. Won two cases before the United States Supreme Court;
  2. Oversaw the relocation and reorganization of USDA agencies to better serve rural America;
  3. Engaged in substantial regulatory reform;
  4. Implemented the 2018 Farm Bill;
  5. Managed rules for the legalization of industrial hemp and regulation of bioengineered crops.

Vaden maintains strong ties to agriculture, living in Union City, Tennessee, where he helps manage his family farm. This personal connection to farming likely provides him with valuable insights into the challenges and needs of rural America.

New Leadership Team at USDA Secretary

Rollins, who previously served as a White House adviser and currently leads the America First Policy Institute, brings her own set of qualifications to USDA secretary role, including a law degree and a background in agricultural development from Texas A&M University.

This leadership team at USDA will be responsible for overseeing a wide range of policies, regulations, and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality, and nutrition. Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, which will be controlled by Republicans. Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025.

Bottom line:

As the Trump administration prepares to return to the White House, these appointments signal a continuation of its previous agricultural policies and priorities, with experienced individuals who have both legal expertise and connections to the farming community.



TWHBEA elects Executive Committee for 2025 Sunday, December 8, 2024



The International Board of Directors for the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association met today and elected their Executive Committee for the coming year. The slate that was presented by the Nominating Committee was elected without opposition.Executive Committee Members elected for two-year terms are:
Advocacy Vice-President: Bill Stricklend (AL)
Bylaws & Enforcement Vice-President: Tom Kakassy (SC)
Membership & Registry Vice-President: Nathan Clark (AL)
Show Horse Vice-President: Lance Meisenheimer (IL)
Versatility & Trail Vice-President: Lyn Montgomery (CA)
Youth Vice-President: Nicole Tolle (CO)The following will continue their service on the Executive Committee for one-year to complete their EC term:
President: Amanda Wright (TN)
Senior Vice-President: David Williams (TN)
Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice-President: Kasey Kesselring (TN)
Marketing & Communications Vice-President: Dale Daniels (AR)
International Vice-President: Denise Bader (Germany)
Trainers Vice-President: Dee Cantrell (AL)Following the meeting the Executive Committee held their first meeting where they appointed Kasey Kesselring to a dual role as secretary. A complete recap of the meeting will be in a future issue of the VOICE Magazine.



Obituary – Charles Eugene Batten Tuesday, December 10, 2024

 

Charles Eugene Leondus Batten, 82, of Winchester, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2024. Born on November 15, 1942, in Troy, North Caroline, he was the beloved son of Charles Gus and LaRue Atkins Batten.

Gene is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Patricia Ann Alexander Batten; his loving daughters, Susan Patrick and husband Stephen, and Nancy Arnett and husband Steve; and his cherished grandchildren, Ricky Arnett and wife Amanda, Steven Arnett and wife Danielle, and Travis Arnett. He was also blessed with one great-granddaughter, Madison Arnett. Gene is also survived by his sisters, Delilah Mayhue and Marie Green, and his brother, Ted Batten.

He is preceded in death by grandson, Shawn Patrick, and his brother, William Batten.

At the age of 13, Gene discovered a passion for horses that blossomed into a lifelong career. He dedicated his life to training and exhibiting Tennessee Walking Horses, earning admiration and respect in the equestrian community and was affectionately given the nick-name Battman. Outside of his work, Gene found joy in fishing and spending time outdoors, embracing the beauty of nature. Gene will be remembered for his love of family, his dedication to his craft, and his deep connection to the outdoors.

Funeral services with be held Friday, December 13, 2024, at Scobee Funeral Home, 219 West Lexington Avenue, Winchester, KY 40391. Visitation begins at 11:00 a.m., service begins at noon. Burial will be at the Patrick Family Cemetery, Irvine, KY.

Pallbears are Stephen Patrick, Steve Arnett, Ricky Arnett, Travis Arnett, Vincent Hall. Honorary pallbearer Steven Dale Arnett.

Rest in peace, Gene, in the fields of eternity, surrounded by the horses and natural beauty you loved so dearly.



Obituary – Truman Volkart Monday

 

Truman Volkart, 78, of, Tipton, MO passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Resthaven Convalescent Care in Sedalia, MO.  He was born on December 7, 1945 in Hanover, IL the son of Chris Volkart and Minnie (Bolinger) Volkart both of whom preceded him in death. Truman enjoyed shoeing horses, training horses, horse shows, horse sales, coon hunting and was a professional trader. He is survived by his son, Harold Volkart and wife Ruthie of Tipton, MO; 4 grandchildren, Ashley Steck, Morgan Carlson, Kristina Wright, and Laura McCollom; 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded by his son, Max Allen Volkart, 3 brothers, 1 sister and 2 half brothers.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 from 10-11A.M. with a Memorial Service starting at 11:00 A.M. all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals c/o the funeral home.  Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services of California, MO.


Mark your calendar for the WHTA Annual Awards Banquet & Country Extravaganza

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association will host their Annual Awards Banquet on February 14 & 15, 2025, at the Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tennessee. The hotel reservation deadline is January 8, 2025. The room rate discount is $172 per night. Rooms can be booked using the link or by calling 615-515-5151. Complimentary parking is offered to all attending.

The dinner reservation deadline is February 1, 2025. Tickets are $100 each and children 11 & under eat free. Call 931-684-5866 to order your tickets and reserve your seating preferences.

A silent auction will again be offered on-line and on site. Call Spencer Benedict at 271-590-5235 or Edgar Abernathy at 901-212-0822 to donate items.

The Friday Night Special is a Country Extravaganza so wear your favorite country style attire. There will be a  voted (monetary donation) Country-lip-sync contest with all proceeds supporting our legal fund. Contact the Trainers Office at 931-684-5866 to enter. Riders’ Cup and Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary awards will also be presented on Friday night. The Riders’ Cup payback will be mailed in December.

The grand prize giveaway will be announced soon…stay tuned! Make your plans now to come and enjoy the fun and fellowship with the Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary!



TODAYS HPA RULE BROADCAST- PLEASE REGISTER

CLICK LINK BELOW TO REGISTER FOR WEB BROADCAST ON HPA RULE

 

Click Here for USDA WEB BROADCAST

 



TWH industry mourns Mona Dean

Mona Faye Horton Dean, 88, of Lizard Lick, passed away November 28, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 28, 1936, in Wake County to the late Earl Horton and Pearl Johnson Horton. Mona was a lifelong resident of Wendell and a proud graduate of Wakelon High School in Zebulon. She furthered her education by earning a bachelor’s degree from Meredith College, a testament to her dedication to both learning and her community.

Mona loved the town of Wendell and all it had to offer. She became an active member of the Wendell Garden Club, where she found joy in nature and working alongside friends. Mona’s deep appreciation for local history led her to become a devoted sponsor of the Wendell History Museum.

In her professional life, Mona worked alongside her husband at C. Proc Dean Inc. and Wendell Transport, where they made significant contributions to the local economy and community.

Mona had a lifelong love for Tennessee Walking Horses, a passion she devoted much of her time to. She was a proud member of the North Carolina Walking Horse Association and was known for her skill and dedication in the show ring. Throughout her career, Mona was the proud owner of several world champion horses, including two world-grand champion horses.

Mona is survived by her son, Carl Proctor Dean II (Amy); grandchildren, Jordan Elizabeth Dean and Carl Proctor Dean III (Alexis); great-granddaughter, Graycen Louelle Dean; sisters-in-law, Janet Sassnet and Peggy Dean; nieces and nephews, Earl Oliver Horton III (Nela), Griselda Goodwin (Neal), Bonita Arvizu (Henry), Leigh Tetterton (Bobby), Paul Sassnet (Marcy), and Pam Gambill (Arnold); and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Proc Dean, and her brother, Oliver Horton.

A visitation will be held from 12:45-1:45 pm, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Wendell United Methodist Church, 129 N Main St, Wendell, NC 27591, with a funeral service starting at 2:00 pm. Burial will take place at Greenmount Cemetery, 536 W Academy St, Wendell, NC 27591, immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wendell United Methodist Church, 129 N Main St, Wendell, NC 27591 or to the NC Walking Horse Association Scholarship Fund (NCWHA), 213 Lindsay Creed Lane, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.



Tennessee Delegation Members lead letter with Rep. Rose to USDA defending Tennessee Walking Horse Industry Friday, August 9, 2024

Tennessee Delegation Members lead letter with Rep. Rose to USDA defending Tennessee Walking Horse Industry
Friday, August 9, 2024

 U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) and six other Members of Congress, five from the Tennessee Delegation, led a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlining serious concerns about USDA Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) inspections and violation reports from recent Tennessee Walking Horse shows.

Representative Rose, who has spearheaded the defense of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry in Congress, urged USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Michael Watson to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams in the letter.

U.S. Rep. John Rose released the following statement:

“Despite attempts by USDA to decimate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and those that depend on it, they will not go down without a fight,” said Rep. Rose. “The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry is rooted in tradition and strives to uphold the sensible and reasonable regulations in the Horse Protection Act. The industry condemns bad actors who are tarnishing its reputation. However, USDA is overstepping its boundaries and must reconsider the science behind horse inspections and VMOs’ authority and allow the Tennessee Waking Horse Industry the ability to continue to thrive.”

Read an excerpt from the letter here:

“Since the first notable Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1939, the Walking Horse industry has evolved and has embraced the provisions established in the HPA. Tennessee Walking Horse shows are the most regulated equestrian events across the U.S. Each animal exhibited is thoroughly inspected by a USDA-approved Designated Qualified Person (DQP) or Horse Industry Organization (HIO) representative or APHIS VMO prior to competing.

“The Tennessee Walking Horse and National Celebration event are vital contributors to the U.S. job market and economy. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry provides approximately 20,000 jobs to the market and has a nearly $3.2 billion economic impact. Walking Horses reside in all 50 states, and shows are held across the U.S. annually.  The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is the largest Walking Horse show globally, hosting roughly 100,000 fans from more than 40 states annually over eleven days in Shelbyville, TN.  With over 1,300 animals expected, the late August event is a widely respected national show with nearly a century of deep-rooted traditions.

“As we approach the historic Celebration, breeders, trainers, exhibitors, and supporters are threatened by erroneous inspections. Compliance, safety, and wellness are integral to the traditions and standards upheld by the Walking Horse industry. However, outlier inspectors are using aggressively subjective measures of inspection and disqualifying compliant horses. We urge you to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams. Thank you for your immediate consideration of this important issue.”

Read the full letter here.

The letter was also led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Andy Ogles (TN-05), and Mark Green (TN-06). Rep. Harold Rogers (KY-05) also signed the letter.

Background:

The Horse Protection Act (HPA) was enacted in 1970 to outlaw the practice of “soring” horses. Despite being illegal for over 50 years, a very small, limited number of individuals still engage in soring, leading an overly ambitious USDA to establish stricter regulations for the compliant majority. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has embraced HPA provisions, and the shows are among the most heavily regulated equestrian events in the United States, with thorough inspections before and after competitions.

In March 2024 during the National Trainers’ Show, the USDA unexpectedly announced plans to change inspection tactics, which caused major confusion. Since then, two specific VMO inspectors, Kerry McHenry and Amy Adams, have issued a disproportionately high number of violations, disrupting standard protocols, leading Members to send this letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack and APHIS Administrator Watson.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee



Comer Calls on OIG to Initiate Review of USDA’s Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act

Comer Calls on OIG to Initiate Review of USDA’s Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act
Friday, August 9, 2024

Requests additional USDA documents and communications to better understand how the department has enforced the HPA

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is conducting oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and its promulgation of a final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments. Considering information obtained by the Oversight Committee and recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows, it appears the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has, at times, exceeded its HPA authority in inspections related to horse shows. In a letter to Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong, Chairman Comer requests the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the USDA’s policies and practices regarding implementation of the HPA and its impact on the horse show industry. In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, Chairman Comer seeks additional documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.

“According to information received by the Committee, USDA officials have in fact arbitrarily changed commonly accepted practices through e-mail updates mere hours before a competition, haphazardly disqualified horses based on inconsistent inspection methodology, and refused to engage with industry stakeholders in a context where there is no appeals process for USDA-disqualified horses. The Committee has also received allegations that USDA disqualified horses for a competition without basis and as retribution for a lawsuit filed against USDA by impacted stakeholders in the horse show industry. We ask that you undertake a review of any retaliatory actions taken against the horse show industry by USDA in response to critical observations of USDA’s stewardship of the HPA or its new final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments,” Chairman Comer wrote to Inspector General Fong.

Specifically, the Committee has received allegations that the Assistant Director of USDA’s APHIS, sent an e-mail to horse show representatives on new competition inspection requirements two hours prior to a competition without warning or prior notification of forthcoming guidance.

“USDA’s delegation of authority to APHIS to administer pre-and post-show horse inspections appears to have been used as retribution against horse owners’ and trainers’ efforts to exercise their legal rights and harmed their ability to earn a living,” Chairman Comer wrote to Secretary Vilsack. “The Committee has concerns regarding USDA’s compliance with the HPA in light of recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows. We write to request documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.”

Read the letter to USDA Inspector General Fong here.

Read the letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack here