U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) and six other Members of Congress, five from the Tennessee Delegation, led a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlining serious concerns about USDA Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) inspections and violation reports from recent Tennessee Walking Horse shows.

Representative Rose, who has spearheaded the defense of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry in Congress, urged USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Michael Watson to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams in the letter.

U.S. Rep. John Rose released the following statement:

“Despite attempts by USDA to decimate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and those that depend on it, they will not go down without a fight,” said Rep. Rose. “The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry is rooted in tradition and strives to uphold the sensible and reasonable regulations in the Horse Protection Act. The industry condemns bad actors who are tarnishing its reputation. However, USDA is overstepping its boundaries and must reconsider the science behind horse inspections and VMOs’ authority and allow the Tennessee Waking Horse Industry the ability to continue to thrive.”

Read an excerpt from the letter here:

“Since the first notable Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1939, the Walking Horse industry has evolved and has embraced the provisions established in the HPA. Tennessee Walking Horse shows are the most regulated equestrian events across the U.S. Each animal exhibited is thoroughly inspected by a USDA-approved Designated Qualified Person (DQP) or Horse Industry Organization (HIO) representative or APHIS VMO prior to competing.

“The Tennessee Walking Horse and National Celebration event are vital contributors to the U.S. job market and economy. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry provides approximately 20,000 jobs to the market and has a nearly $3.2 billion economic impact. Walking Horses reside in all 50 states, and shows are held across the U.S. annually.  The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is the largest Walking Horse show globally, hosting roughly 100,000 fans from more than 40 states annually over eleven days in Shelbyville, TN.  With over 1,300 animals expected, the late August event is a widely respected national show with nearly a century of deep-rooted traditions.

“As we approach the historic Celebration, breeders, trainers, exhibitors, and supporters are threatened by erroneous inspections. Compliance, safety, and wellness are integral to the traditions and standards upheld by the Walking Horse industry. However, outlier inspectors are using aggressively subjective measures of inspection and disqualifying compliant horses. We urge you to reconsider the assignments of VMO Kerry McHenry and VMO Amy Adams. Thank you for your immediate consideration of this important issue.”

Read the full letter here.

The letter was also led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Andy Ogles (TN-05), and Mark Green (TN-06). Rep. Harold Rogers (KY-05) also signed the letter.

Background:

The Horse Protection Act (HPA) was enacted in 1970 to outlaw the practice of "soring" horses. Despite being illegal for over 50 years, a very small, limited number of individuals still engage in soring, leading an overly ambitious USDA to establish stricter regulations for the compliant majority. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has embraced HPA provisions, and the shows are among the most heavily regulated equestrian events in the United States, with thorough inspections before and after competitions.

In March 2024 during the National Trainers’ Show, the USDA unexpectedly announced plans to change inspection tactics, which caused major confusion. Since then, two specific VMO inspectors, Kerry McHenry and Amy Adams, have issued a disproportionately high number of violations, disrupting standard protocols, leading Members to send this letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack and APHIS Administrator Watson.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee.