An Act to revise and extend the Horse Protection Act of 1970.
PL 94-360 (S.811), enacted 07/13/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
90 STAT. 915 
Public Law 94-360 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To revise and extend the Horse Protection Act of 1970. 
Be it enojcted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled, 
SECTION 1. (a) This Act may be cited as the "Horse Protection Act 
Amendments of 1976", 
(b) Whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of 
an amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Horse 
Protection Act of 1970. 
SEC. 2. The first section is amended by striking out "of 1970". 
SEC. 3. Section 2 (15 U.S.C. 1821) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 2. As used in this Act unless the context otherwise requires: 
"(1) The term 'management' means any person who organizes, 
exercises control over, or administers or who is responsible for 
organizing, directing, or administering. 
"(2) The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture. 
' (3) The term 'sore' when used to describe a horse means that— 
"(A) an irritating or blistering agent has been applied, 
internally or externally, by a person to any limb of a horse, 
"(B) any burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted by a 
person on any limb of a horse, 
"(C) any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent has been 
injected by a person into or used by a person on any limb of 
a horse, or 
"(D) any other substance or device has been used by a 
person on any limb of a horse or a person has engaged in a 
practice involving a horse, 
and, as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or 
practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, 
physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, 
trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not 
include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in 
connection with the therapeutic treatment of a horse by or under 
the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medi-
cine in the State in which such treatment was given. 
"(4) The term 'State' means any of the several States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands.". 
SEC. 4. Section 3 (15 U.S.C. 1822) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. The Congress finds and declares that— 
" (1 ^ the soring of horses is cruel and inhumane; 
"(2) horses shown or exhibited which are sore, where such 
soreness improves the performance of such horse, compete 
unfairly with horses which are not sore; 
"(3) the movement, showing, exhibition, or sale of sore horses 
in intrastate commerce adversely affects and burdens interstate 
and foreign commerce ; 
July 13, 1976 
[S. 811] 
Horse Protection 
Act Amendments 
of 1976. 
15 u s e 1821 
note. 
15 u s e 1821 
note. 
Definitions. 
90 STAT. 916 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
"(4) all horses which are subject to regulation under this Act 
are either in interstate or foreign commerce or substantially 
V 
affect such commerce; and 
"(5) regulation under this Act by the Secretary is appropriate 
to prevent and eliminate burdens upon commerce and to effectively 
regulate commerce.". 
SEC. 5. Section 4 (15 U.S.C. 1823) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 4. (a) The management of any horse show or hoi-se exhibition 
shall disqualify any horse from being shown or exhibited (1) which 
is sore or (2) if the management has been notified by a person 
appointed in accordance with regulations under subsection (c) or by 
the Secretary that the horse is sore. 
"(b) The management of any horse sale or auction shall prohibit the 
sale or auction or exhibition for the purpose of sale of any horse (1) 
which is sore or (2) if the management has been notified by a person 
appointed in accordance with regulations under subsection (c) or by 
the Secretary that the horse is sore. 
Regulations. 
"(c) The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation requirements for 
the appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibi-
tion, or horse sale or auction of persons qualified to detect and 
diagnose a horse which is sore or to otherwise inspect horses for the 
purposes of enforcing this Act. Such requirements shall prohibit the 
appointment of persons who, after notice and opportunity for a hear-
ing, have been disqualified by the Secretary to make such detection, 
diagnosis, or inspection. Appointment of a person in accordance with 
the requirements prescribed under this subsection shall not be con-
strued as authorizing such person to conduct inspections in a manner 
other than that prescribed for inspections by the Secretary (or the 
Secretary's representative) under subsection (e). 
Records. 
"(d) The management of a horse show, horse exhibition, or horse 
sale or auction shall establish and maintain such records, make such 
reports, and provide such information as the Secretary may by regu-
lation reasonably require for the purposes of implementing this Act 
or to determine compliance with this Act. Upon request of an officer 
or employee duly designated by the Secretary, such management shall 
permit entry at all reasonable times for the inspection and copying 
(on or off the premises) of records required to be maintained under 
this subsection. 
Inspection. 
"(e) For purposes of enforcement of this Act (including any reg-
ulation promulgated under this Act) the Secretary, or any representa-
tive of the Secretary duly designated by the Secretary, may inspect 
any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction or any horse 
at any such show, exhibition, sale, or auction. Such an inspection may 
only be made upon presenting appropriate credentials. Each such 
inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable prompt-
ness and shall be conducted within reasonable limits and in a reason-
able manner. An inspection under this subsection shall extend to all 
things (including records) bearing on whether the requirements of 
this Act have been complied with.". 
Prohibited 
SEC. 6. Section 5 (15 U.S.C. 1824) is amended to read as follows: 
conduct. 
"SEC. 5. The following conduct is prohibited: 
"(1) The shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, or 
receiving of any horse which is sore with reason to believe that 
such horse while it is sore may be shown, exhibited, entered for 
the purpose of being shown or exhibited, sold, auctioned, or offered 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
' 
90 STAT. 917 
for sale, in any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or 
• * 
auction; except that this paragraph does not apply to the ship-
ping, transporting, moving, delivering, or receiving of any horse 
' 
- -
by a common or contract carrier or an employee thereof in the 
usual course of the carrier's business or employee's employment 
unless the carrier or employee has reason to believe that such 
horse is sore. 
"(2) The (A) showing or exhibiting, in any horse show or 
horse exhibition, of any horse which is sore, (B) entering for the 
purpose of showing or exhibiting in any horse show or horse 
exhibition, any horse which is sore, (C) selling, auctioning, or 
offering for sale, in any hoi'se sale or auction, any horse which is 
sore, and (D) allowing any activity described in clause (A), (B), 
or (C) respecting a horse which is sore by the owner of such horse. 
"' (3) The failure by the management of any horse show or horse 
'• 
•
•
" 
exhibition, which does not appoint and retain a pei-son in accord-
ance with section 4(c) of this Act, to disqualify from being shown Ante, p. 916. 
or exhibited any horse which is sore. 
"(4) The failure by the management of any horse sale or auc-
tion, which does not appoint and retain a qualified person in 
accordance with section 4(c) of this Act, to prohibit the sale, 
offering for sale, or auction of any horee which is sore. 
" (5) The failure by the management of any horse show or horse 
exhibition, which has appointed and retained a person in accord-
ance with section 4(c) of this Act, to disqualify from being shown 
or exhibited any horse (A) which is sore, and (B) after having 
been notified by such pei-son or the Secretary that the horse is sore 
or after otherwise having knowledge that the horse is sore. 
"(6) The failure by the management of any horse sale or auc-
tion which has appointed and retained a person in accordance 
with section 4(c) of this Act, to prohibit the sale, offering for sale, 
or auction of any horse (A) which is sore, and (B) after having 
been notified by such person or the Secretary or after otherwise 
having knowledge that the horse is sore. 
"(7) The showing or exhibiting at a horse show or horse exhi-
bition; the selling or auctioning at a horse sale or auction; the 
allowing to be shown, exhibited, or sold at a horse show, horse 
exhibition, or hoi"Se sale or auction; the entering for the purpose 
oi showing or exhibiting in any horse show or horse exhibition; 
' 
or offering for sale at a horse sale or auction, any horse which is 
wearing or bearing any equipment, device, paraphernalia, or 
substance which the Secretary by regulation under section 9 pro- 15 USC 1829. 
hibits to prevent the soring of horses. 
"(8) The failing to establish, maintain, or submit records, 
notices, reports, or other information required under section 4. 
"(9) The failure or refusal to permit access to or copying of 
records, or the failure or refusal to permit entry or inspection, as 
required by section 4. 
; 
.,: • ; 
"(10) The removal of any marking required by the Secretary 
to identify a horse as being detained. 
"(11) The failure or refusal to provide the Secretary with ade-
quate space or facilities, as the Secretary may by regulation under 
section 9 prescribe, in which to conduct inspections or any other 
activity authorized to be performed by the Secretary under this 
Act". 
90 STAT. 918 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
Penalties. 
SEC. 7. Section 6 (15 U.S.C. 1825) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 6. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this sub-
Ante, p. 916. 
section, any person AVIIO knowingly violates section 5 shall, upon con-
viction thereof, be fined not more than $3,000, or imprisoned for not 
more than one year, or both. 
"(2) (A) If any person knowingly violates section 5, after one or 
more prior convictions of such person for such a violation have become 
final, such person shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than 
$5,000, or imp)risoncd foi- not more than two years, or both. 
"(B) Any person who knowingly makes, or causes to be made, a 
false entry or statement in any i-eport required under this Act; who 
knowingly makes, or causes to be made, any false entry in any account, 
record, or memorandum required to be established and maintained by 
any person or in any notification or other infonnation required to be 
Ante, p. 916. 
submitted to the Secretary under section 4 of this Act; who knowingly 
neglects or fails to make or cause to be made, full, true, and correct 
' 
entries in such accounts, records, memoranda, notification, or other 
materials; who knowingly removes any such documentary evidence 
out of the jurisdiction of i/he United States; who knowingly mutilates, 
, 
alters, or by any other means falsifies any such documentai-y evidence; 
or who knowingly refuses to submit any such documentary evidence 
to the Secretary for inspection and copying shall be guilty of an 
offense against the United States, and upon conviction thereof shall 
be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned for not more than three 
years, or both. 
''(C) Any person who forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, 
intimidates, or interferes with any per-son while engaged in or on 
account of the perfor-mance of his official duties under this Act shall 
be firred not mor-e than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than three year-s, 
or both. Whoever, in the commission of such acts, uses a deadly or 
dangerous weapon shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned 
not more than terr year-s, or both. Whoever kills any person while 
errgaged in or on account of the per-for-mance of his official duties under 
this Act shall be punishable as provided under sections 1111 and 1112 
, ' 
of title 18, United States Code. 
''(b)(1) Any person who violates section 5 of this Act shall be 
liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 
Notice and 
for each violatiorr. No penalty shall be assessed unless such per-son is 
hearing. 
giverr notice and opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with 
respect to srrch violation. The amount of such civil penalty shall be 
assessed by the Secretary by written order. Irr determining the amourrt 
of such penalty, the Secretary shall take into account all factors rele-
vant to such determination, including the nature, circumstances, extent, 
and gravity of the prohibited conduct and, with respect to the person 
found to have engaged in such conduct, the degree of culpability, any 
history of prior offenses, ability to pay, effect on ability to continue 
to do business, and such other matters as justice may require. 
Notice of appeal. 
"(2) Any person against whoirr a violation is found and a civil 
penalty assessed under paragraph (1) of this subsection may obtain 
review^ in the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in 
which such person resides or has his place of business or in the United 
States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by filing 
a notice of appeal in such court within 30 days from the date of such 
order and by simultaneously sending a copy of such notice by certified 
mail to the Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly file in such court 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
90 STAT. 919 
a certified copy of the record upon which such violation was found 
and such penalty assessed, as provided in section 2112 of title 28, 
United States Code. The findings of the Secretary shall be set aside 
if found to be unsupported by substantial evidence. 
"(3) If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty 
after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the appro-
priate court of appeals has entered final judgment in favor of the 
Secretary, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney Gen-
eral, who shall recover the amount assessed in any appropriate district 
court of the United States. In such action, the validity and appropri-
ateness of the final order imposing the civil penalty shall not be 
subject to review. 
"(4) The Secretary may, in his discretion, compromise, modify, or 
remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty assessed under 
this subsection. 
"(c) In addition to any fine, imprisonment, or civil penalty author-
ized under this section, any person who was convicted under subsection 
(a) or who paid a civil penalty assessed under subsection (b) or is 
subject to a final order under such subsection assessing a civil penalty 
for any violation of any provision of this Act or any regulation issued 
under this Act may be disqualified by order of the Secretary, after 
notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary, from 
showing or exhibiting any horse, judging or managing any horse show, 
horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction for a period of not less than 
one year for the first violation and not less than five years for any 
subsequent violation. Any person who knowingly fails to obey an order 
of disqualification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than 
$3,000 for each violation. Any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse 
sale or auction, or the management thereof, collectively and severally, 
w^hich knowingly allows any person who is under an order of dis-
qualification to show or exhibit any horse, to enter for the purpose of 
showing or exhibiting any horse, to take part in managing or judging, 
or otherwise to participate in any horse show, horse exhibition, or 
horse sale or auction in violation of an order shall be subject to a civil 
penalty of not more than $3,000 for each violation. The provisions of 
subsection (b) respecting the assessment, review, collection, and com-
promise, modification, and remission of a civil penalty apply with 
respect to civil penalties under this subsection. 
"(d) (1) The Secretary may require by subpena the attendance and 
testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and docu-
ments relating to any matter under investigation or the subject of a 
proceeding. Witnesses summoned before the Secretary shall be paid 
the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the 
United States. 
"(2) The attendance of witnesses, and the production of books, 
papers, and documents, may be required at any designated place from 
any place in the United States. In case of disobedience to a subpena 
the Secretary, or any party to a proceeding before the Secretary, may 
invoke the aid of any appro^jriate district court of the United States 
in requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production 
of such books, papers, and documents under the provisions of this Act. 
"(3) The Secretary may order testimony to be taken by deposition 
under oath in any proceeding or investigation pending before him, at 
any stage of the proceeding or investigation. Depositions may be taken 
Referral to 
Attorney 
General. 
Subpena of 
witnesses and 
records. 
Witness fees. 
90 STAT. 920 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
Detention for 
examination. 
Technical and 
other 
nonftnancial 
assistance. 
Ante, p. 916. 
before any person designated by the Secretary who has power to 
administer oaths. The Secretary may also require the production of 
books, papers, and documents at the taking of depositions. 
" (4) Witnesses whose depositions are taken and the persons taking 
them shall be entitled to the same fees as paid for like services in the 
courts of the United States or in other jurisdictions in which they 
may appear. 
" (5) In any civil or criminal action to enforce this Act or any regu-
lation under this Act a horse shall be presumed to be a horse which is 
sore if it manifests abnormal sensitivity or inflammation in both of its 
f 
orelimbs or both of its hindlimbs. 
"(6) The United States district courts, the District Court of Guam, 
the District Couit of the Virgin Islands, the highest court of Amer-
ican Samoa, and the United States courts of the other territories, are 
vested with jurisdiction specifically to enforce, and to prevent and 
restrain violations of this Act, and shall have jurisdiction in all other 
kinds of cases arising under this Act, except as provided in subsection 
(b) of this section. 
"(e)(1) The Secretary may detain (for a period not to exceed 
twenty-four hours) for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence, 
any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction 
which is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is 
sore. The Secretary may require the temporary marking of any horse 
during the period of its detention for the purpose of identifying the 
horse as detained. A horse w^hioh is detained subject to this paragraph 
shall not be moved by any person from the place it is so detained 
except as authorized by the Secretary or until the expiration of the 
detention period applicable to the horse. 
"(2) Any equipment, device, paraphernalia, or substance which 
was used in violation of any provision of this Act or any regulation 
issued under this Act or which contributed to the soring of any horse 
at or prior to any hoi-se show, horse exhibition, or horee sale or auction, 
shall be liable to be proceeded against, by process of libel for the 
seizure and condemnation of such equipment, device, paraphernalia, 
or substance, in any United States district court within the jurisdic-
tion of which such equipment, device, paraphernalia, or substance is 
found. Such proceedings shall conform as nearly as possible to proceed-
ings in rem in admiralty.". 
SEC. 8. Section 8 (15 U.S.C. 1827) is amended by inserting "(a)" 
after "SEC. 8." and by adding at the end of such section the following: 
"(b) The Secretary may, upon request, provide technical and other 
nonfinancial assistance (including the lending of equipment on such 
terms and conditions as the Secretary determines is appropriate) to 
any State to assist it in administering and enforcing any law of such 
State designed to prohibit conduct described in section 5.". 
SEC. 9. Section 11 (15 U.S.C. 1830) is amended by striking out 
"twenty-four calendar-month period" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"twelve calendar months". 
PUBLIC LAW 94-360—JULY 13, 1976 
90 STAT. 921 
SEC. 10. Effective July 1, 1976, section 12 (15 U.S.C. 1831) is 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 12. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
Act $125,000 for the period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending Sep-
tember 30, 1976; and for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1976, 
and for each fiscal year thereafter there are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums, not to exceed $500,000, as may be necessary to carry 
out this Act.". 
Approved July 13, 1976. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Effective date. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-1174 accompanying H.R. 13711 (Comm. on Interstate and 
Foreign Commerce). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-418 (Comm. on Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 121 (1975): Oct. 9, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 122 (1976): June 21, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of 
H.R. 13711. 
June 24, Senate concurred in House amendments. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 12, No. 29: 
July 14, Presidential statement.