A typical argument the Lickers have been using to discredit the PAST Act is the term "weighted shoes." They tell people that this means it will eliminate shoes from all divisions of the TWH industry, and that horses will only be allowed to go barefoot or wear aluminum shoes. They express outrage over even their trail horses not being able to wear shoes.
This is far from the truth. It has already been stated that the USDA would be given jurisdiction to determine the definition of a "weighted shoe." The USDA has no problem with NWHA's shoeing rules, so it is quite possible they will allow the Plantation shoe, the 1 1/2" to 1" shoe, at the max. But of course, the industry ignores this information and pretends it was never said.
On Friday, Congressmen Ed Whitfield and Steve Cohen sent this letter to TWHBEA explaining what will be done concerning the term "weighted shoes." They make it perfectly clear that not only will shoes not be eliminated from the show ring, but the PAST Act does not dictate what people can use on their trail horses or breeding horses. This is basically the official information on how the PAST Act will be handled once it's passed. Click here for a pdf of this document, and feel free to share it around!
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