MEMORANDUM

To: State Horse Councils

From: American Horse Council

Re: Disaster Relief for Horses

Date: June 6, 2007

The House Agriculture Committee will be considering very soon the 2007 Farm Bill. This is an opportunity to put the horse industry on equal footing with other livestock industries with respect to federal disaster assistance by including “equine” within the definition of livestock eligible for federal disaster relief.

As you know, the horse industry has been working to make horses eligible for disaster relief in the upcoming farm bill. The American Horse Council has met with staff members of the House Agriculture Committee and proposed language that would make equines eligible for disaster relief.

We are asking organizations to write Members of the House Agriculture Committee and ask them to include language for horses. We are attaching a sample letter that you can fax to your Representative on the Agriculture Committee regarding disaster relief for horses. Also attached is a list of the Members of the House Agriculture Committee with fax numbers. Please fax the American Horse Council (202-296-1970) a copy of your letter. Thank you.

SAMPLE LETTER TO HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dear [Representative’s name]:

I am writing on behalf of the [association name]. We have XX members in [State].

The House Agriculture Committee will be considering the 2007 Farm Bill shortly. This is an opportunity to put the horse industry on equal footing with other livestock industries with respect to federal disaster assistance by including “equine” within the definition of livestock eligible for federal disaster relief.

Like all livestock industries, the horse industry is hurt by floods, droughts, ice storms and hurricanes. If a breeding farm or ranch loses horses because of floods, tornadoes or other natural disasters, it has lost its “crop” and has nothing to sell. When grazing lands are lost because of flood or drought, and feed must be purchased for horses, a breeder might have to sell his horses at distressed prices because he could no longer afford to provide for them.

The 109th Congress passed legislation providing that horses would be eligible for some federal emergency assistance program, just like other livestock producers. But more needs to be done to make horse owners eligible for federal emergency monies under the same programs that producers of other livestock enjoy. The 2007 Farm Bill provides an opportunity to rectify the unfair situation facing horse owners and breeders following a natural disaster.

The following limited language would clarify that horse owners involved in production agriculture would be eligible for federal assistance:

“Eligible livestock” includes equine maintained for commercial use as part of a farming or ranching operation on the beginning date of the disaster period or the day they died; for purposes of these provisions, equine maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming or ranching operation, including but not limited to wild free roaming animals or animals used for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, sport, hunting, or for show on the pertinent date shall not be eligible.

We urge you to include this important clarification in the agricultural disaster provisions in the Farm Bill reauthorization.

Sincerely,

(insert your name here)

Your Constituent

House Agriculture Committee