Legislative Agenda
We believe it is within the realm of possibility to honor and protect equine welfare AND allow for their participation in sport. However, the latter must be preceded by stronger regulations, care, and humane approaches.
HORSEPOWER is working on legislation to:
Curtail the transportation of equines through New York to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. The Animal Welfare Institute estimates over 100,000 equines per year are loaded onto “meat wagon” tractor trailers and shipped out of the country for slaughter (primarily for consumption) using barbaric, inhumane and extraordinarily painful practices. While equines from many backgrounds meet such a demise, the overwhelming majority of them are Thoroughbreds deemed no longer suitable for racing. UPDATE: Bill Passed, June of 2021
Prohibit the selling of disabled Equidae. This bill will make it unlawful for any person holding an auctioneer's license to knowingly receive or offer for sale or sell at public auction, any Equidae which by reason of debility, disease, or lameness, or for any other cause, could not be worked in this state without violating the law against cruelty to animals. Once enacted, a violation
shall be deemed a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more one, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The current fine is $5.00. Bill Numbers: S1677 / A3552
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law to prohibit any person from slaughtering ANY horse where such person knows or has a reason to know that such horse will be used for human or animal consumption; prohibits any person from possessing, selling, or importing a horse or horseflesh if such person knows or should have known that any part of such horse or horseflesh will be used for human or animal consumption, and provides penalties for violation. Bill Numbers: S2163 / A5109
Create a robust funding stream for Thoroughbred rehabilitation, rescue, retraining and rehoming. Thoroughbreds begin their careers as early as two years old but often by age four, an age when most horses are just beginning their careers, they are considered past their prime. While they may no longer be fit for the high demands of horse racing, they are usually very well suited for other careers and with retraining and efforts to rehome, can go on to live fulfilling lives. Current Status: There are calls to apply a sales tax to the sale of all racehorses in the state, HORSEPWR, Inc advocates that any such tax should go to support aftercare of such horses.
Prohibit prescription of human hormone therapy drugs derived from pregnant mare urine. The conditions in which such urine is collected are inhumane and the safety of the product has been consistently called into question. The manufacturer’s own Box Label Warning reads “WARNING: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BREAST CANCER and PROBABLE DEMENTIA.”
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