The Kentucky Walking Horse Association (KWHA) Horse Industry Organization (HIO) has become a signatory to the USDA Mandatory Penalties.  Originally, the Kentucky HIO did not agree to sign the mandatory penalties but after receiving the decertification letter from the USDA the board decided to sign the mandatory penalties.

The decision by the KWHA HIO now leaves PRIDE, SHOW and Heart of America as the only three HIOs not to sign the Mandatory Penalties.  SHOW has previously filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Fort Worth, Texas to challenged the constitutionality of the new rule.