SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Three Tennessee walking horse groups have missed a deadline for adopting tougher inspection rules.
If they don't comply, the groups could lose their certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which allows them to inspect for violations of the Horse Protection Act, including soring. That is the practice of causing injuries to a horse's legs or hooves to make it step higher at horse shows.
The new rules came after a graphic undercover video released in May by the Humane Society of the United States showed horses being beaten and sored with chemicals.
One of the groups that has not submitted an amended rulebook is SHOW Inc. That group has sued federal officials, claiming that the inclusion of mandatory penalties in the new rules is unconstitutional.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
