Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60

§1823 Horse Shows and Exhibitions

Title 15 › Chapter 44— PROTECTION OF HORSES › § 1823

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Managers must not let any horse that is "sore" be shown. They also must not let a sore horse be sold, auctioned, or shown for sale if someone appointed under the rules or the Secretary tells them the horse is sore. The Secretary will make rules for picking people who can check horses for soreness. People who have been disqualified after a hearing cannot be appointed. Managers must keep records and give information the Secretary asks for. The Secretary or a designated representative may inspect shows, sales, horses, and records. Inspectors must show ID, act promptly and reasonably, and may copy records on or off the premises.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1823

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The management of any horse show or horse 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.
(c)The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation requirements for the appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibition, 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 chapter. Such requirements shall prohibit the appointment of persons who, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, 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 construed 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).
(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 regulation reasonably require for the purposes of implementing this chapter or to determine compliance with this chapter. 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.
(e)For purposes of enforcement of this chapter (including any regulation promulgated under this chapter) the Secretary, or any representative 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 promptness and shall be conducted within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner. An inspection under this subsection shall extend to all things (including rec­ords) bearing on whether the requirements of this chapter have been complied with.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–360 substituted provisions relating to the inspection and disqualification of horses participating in horse shows and exhibitions, the issuance of

Regulations

by the Secretary, and the maintenance of records by horse show management, for provisions prohibiting as constituting unlawful acts the exhibition of sored horses, the transportation in commerce for purposes of exhibition of any horse that had been sored, and the conducting of any show or exhibition in which sored horses appear. Provisions now covering such unlawful acts are set out as section 1824 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1823

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60