USDA Disqualifications Increase by Over 850% at Celebration
Friday, September 4, 2015
Although each horse presented for inspection on Thursday evening had previously passed inspection at this year’s Celebration, United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) disqualified an additional 13 horses that passed SHOW Designated Qualified Person (DQP) inspection last night. That brings the total horses disqualified to 138 that had previously passed inspection by the DQPs.
The 13 horses disqualified on Thursday evening had previously passed inspection 72 times in 2015 with USDA VMOs in attendance for 54, or 75%, of those inspections. For the Celebration, the 138 horses disqualified by USDA have passed 622 inspections with the USDA present for 384 of those inspections.
Despite during the year USDA VMOs taking information on just 52 horses for potential scar rule violations in 4397 entries (1.2%), the VMOs have taken information on 110 potential scar rule violations on just 954 entries at this year’s Celebration evening performances, or 11.5%. That is an increase of 858% in USDA potential scar rule violations at The Celebration.
Despite claims by USDA that nothing has changed in their inspections at The Celebration, the numbers simply don’t support their claims. Dr. Chester Gipson with the USDA summed it up with Rep. Scott DesJarlais when he told the Congressman, “There are a lot of injustices in this world.”
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