The Humane Society of the United States will begin a television advertising campaign in Kentucky this weekend according to a press release.  The ad will continue HSUS’ use of misinformation and deception to advance its agenda against animal agriculture.  Click here to view the ad.

According to multiple Congressional offices, the HSUS used misinformation and deception to acquire co-sponsors on the H.R. 1518 and S. 1406 legislation.  In contrast to the HSUS and Congressman Whitfield, whose wife Connie Harriman Whitfield is a lobbyist for the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Congressman Marsha Blackburn introduced a bill that will use science and independent, expert oversight to further improve the care and treatment of horses and preserve the tradition of the Tennessee Walking Horse.  The HSUS/Whitfield bill (PAST Act) would simply eliminate the use of the pad, action device and weighted shoe eliminating 85% of the Tennessee Walking Horse show divisions.

The HSUS bill lacks any scientific basis for eliminating the equipment.  The only scientific study, the Auburn Study, conclusively proved that the pad and action device don’t harm the horse in any way.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Horse Council (AHC) all acknowledge this finding.  Many breeds associated with the American Horse Council use pads, action devices and/or weighted shoes that due to the HSUS language in the PAST Act could be affected as well in the future.  The American Horse Council to this point has failed to inform their members of this possibility.