The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is considering awarding a grant to help fund a Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) study aimed at developing objective ways to detect soring in Tennessee Walking Horses. However, some equine welfare advocates have asked the state’s agriculture commissioner to deny the award.

Soring is prohibited by the Horse Protection Act of 1970 (HPA), which is enforced by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). But soring has continued in the training and exhibition of some horses, APHIS compliance records show.

Corinne Gould, TDA assistant commissioner for public affairs, said TWHBEA leaders approached Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton to discuss the best way forward for the breed.

“TWHBEA proposed an independent study to develop objective, science-based testing to detect any evidence of soring of show horses,” Gould said. “No agreement has been finalized and no dollar amount has been determined