In June I had the honor of representing AERC at the American Horse Council's Welfare of the Horse national issues forum in Washington, D.C.

The AHC, which, in words from its website, "promotes horse breeds, disciplines and interests by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry itself," hosted representatives from the horse industry who shared ideas and issues associated with the welfare of horses.

While at the forum, I sat in on the AHC's Animal Welfare Committee meeting where the agenda included discussion on pending legislation regarding the transportation of horses. I learned that while double-decker trucks appear inhumane and it seemed that banning them in the transportation of horses was a no-brainer, the rodeo industry routinely uses retrofitted double-deckers to transport valuable bucking stock with no history of trauma or injury to the animals. First lesson learned: sweeping generalizations are quite often wrong.

At this same meeting I learned that many sports do not have a current drug/medications policy. In fact, the cutting horse industry, which awards the second-highest purses in equine sports (behind the racing industries), has no policy or, of course, drug testing.

We are all painfully aware of the lack of a medications policy in the sport of polo and the aftermath of a catastrophic event in that sport, but I was surprised to learn that non-FEI reining, rodeo and other major sports are lacking what we at AERC take for granted. All of these industries are looking toward drug and medication policies now.

AERC has had a policy for many years. It has recently been rewritten and updated, while the associated testing has been improved by outsourcing it to USEF.

I hate to admit this, but I thought that AERC, with its small membership, its "extreme sport" reputation, and its country, backwoods sort of appeal, might well be the redheaded stepchild of the horse industry. I went to Washington expecting to defend our "honor." What I found was that we are truly on the cutting edge of the welfare of our equine partners.

AERC "has it together" and while other sports have been quick to respond to the catastrophic events that shaped their public persona, such as the polo horse deaths and the breakdowns of Barbaro and Eight Belles, AERC has a zero tolerance drug policy, drug testing, open and transparent fatality reporting, and our upcoming research summit in place­ -- all without sustaining a cataclysmic event. I left that meeting on the first day proud to represent AERC.

On the second day in Washington there were panels for competition/sport horses, racing, showing, and work/sales/research. Panels included speakers from Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, American Quarter Horse Association, eventing, hunter/jumper, carriage operators, the American Humane Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

I was part of the competition/sport horses panel. The other participants included a representative from polo and from rodeo. Each panelist was given 10 minutes to present their industry's welfare initiatives and concerns. A clip of the entire day, with keynote speakers, can be found at www.horsetv.com/hspan_ahc1.htm.

I spoke about AERC's drug policy and fatality reporting. I was proud to report on those issues and to say that we are furthering our understanding of the welfare of our horses with our upcoming research summit.

Ideas abounded at the AHC's National Issues Forum: Welfare of the Horse. I will tell about what other industries are doing, and how we may benefit from their ideas, next month.

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