08/08/2026
The Farm Bill reached the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture today. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) will be offering an amendment to add the SAFE (Save America’s Forgotten Equines) Act to the Farm Bill.
While equine safety is important to our industry, the proposed amendment creates significant uncertainty regarding:
- When and why a horse trailer could be stopped or inspected.
- What documentation horse owners and haulers would be required to carry.
- How a “knowing violation” would be determined.
- What responsibilities and potential liabilities could fall on horse owners, trainers and professional haulers.
- How the law could affect the routine movement of horses across state lines.
The lack of clarity surrounding these scenarios is concerning and could lead to increased delays, uncertainty and risks for horse owners, trainers, breeders, exhibitors and professional haulers.
Beyond these concerns, the SAFE Act would have a much broader impact than its name suggests. The legislation would completely outlaw horse processing in the United States and prohibit the shipping of horses from the United States across our borders to be humanely processed for consumption.
These implications deserve serious consideration as the amendment is considered as part of the Farm Bill.
Please call 1-202-224-3121, ask for your Senator's office, and request that they oppose Senator Luján's amendment to add the SAFE Act to the Farm Bill.
Your voice matters.
Do not let this affect the western way of life. As owners, trainers, breeders, exhibitors, competitors, and professionals we cannot risk losing the rights we have as horse owners.
