In a letter to show management, USDA-APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea reiterated what is required of show management at events when USDA personnel is present. Specifically, Shea decided to eliminate the second person allowed in inspection with the horse to videotape the inspection. Previously, Shea and the USDA had made a policy to allow this in a letter dated January 12, 2015. This policy allowing the videotaping was in an effort to keep inspections transparent and to allow exhibitors to confirm the findings on their horse in inspection.
The decision to eliminate this policy came as a result of safety concerns according to Shea. In the letter Shea stated, “In less than a year, two APHIS employees, carrying out official duties under the HPA, have been subject of groundless complaints purportedly involving assault.”
Click Here to view the entire letter.