USDA’s Horse Safety Rules Are Excessive, Federal Court Rules

Several aspects of the US Department of Agriculture’s new horse protection rule exceeded the agency’s statutory authority and must be vacated, a Texas federal district court said.

Four provisions of the rule, including one that banned use of action devices and pads used to help horses train for competitions, exceeded the USDA’s authority under the Horse Protection Act, Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas said. The Jan. 31 opinion partially granted summary judgment to plaintiff Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association.

The association sued July 1, shortly after the US ...