Many horse owners across the country are beginning to receive letters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) informing them that they have been randomly selected to participate in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Equine 2026 Study. If you receive one of these letters, don’t panic. This is not a regulatory notice or an enforcement action. (At least not yet!) At this time, this notice claims to be an invitation to voluntarily participate in a nationwide survey intended to collect information about the health and management of America’s equine population.
According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the study claims it is designed to gather updated information on equine health, disease occurrence, veterinary care, emergency preparedness, and general management practices.
The last comprehensive NAHMS equine study was conducted more than a decade ago, and USDA believes updated information will help identify trends and better understand the needs of the nation’s equine industry.
From a research standpoint, there may be legitimate reasons for conducting this type of study. Reliable national data can assist veterinarians, universities, researchers, industry organizations, and policymakers in
understanding disease trends, access to veterinary care, emergency preparedness, and other issues affecting horse owners. Good data can lead to better educational resources, improved disease prevention strategies, and more informed decision-making. However, our concern, ALWAYS, is that the data could be skewed by animal activist groups who USDA considers to be equal “stakeholders.”
While this study does not create new regulatory authority over horse owners at this time, information collected today often helps inform public policy discussions for tomorrow. That does not mean new regulations are inevitable, but it does mean horse owners should understand why information is being collected and how it could potentially be used in the future.
One portion of USDA’s announcement generated particular interest to our team. The agency states that the study will examine issues affecting “at-risk” equines and those in “vocational transition.” USDA has not defined either term in its announcement.
Most people within the equine industry understand “vocational transition” to mean horses moving from one career or purpose to another. This may include racehorses entering second careers, retired ranch horses, former show horses, mounted patrol horses, carriage horses, or other working horses transitioning into retirement or a different discipline.
That said, The Cavalry Group believes it is important that any discussion involving horses in “vocational transition” recognizes the tremendous value of America’s working horses. Working horses have been an essential part of our nation’s agricultural heritage, transportation, public safety, recreation, and tourism for generations. Whether they are pulling carriages, working cattle on ranches, competing in rodeos, serving in mounted patrol units, participating in therapeutic riding programs, or competing in equestrian sports, these horses deserve to be evaluated based on sound science and responsible husbandry, not on political ideology or campaigns seeking to eliminate the human-animal partnership.
We will continue to monitor how USDA defines and applies the concept of “vocational transition” as more information becomes available.
Similarly, USDA has not defined what it considers an “at-risk” equine. The phrase could encompass horses affected by economic hardship, natural disasters, neglect, abandonment, or other circumstances that make them vulnerable.
Until USDA releases additional information or the actual questionnaire, it would be inappropriate to speculate beyond the language contained in the agency’s announcement.
For organizations like The Cavalry Group, the most important document will not be the press release, it will be the survey itself. The actual questions asked of horse owners will provide a much clearer picture of USDA’s research priorities than the broad summary contained in their announcement.
Currently, USDA’s authority over privately owned horses remains relatively limited. Outside of specific federal programs, such as enforcement of the Horse Protection Act at regulated Tennessee Walking Horse events and certain animal disease control activities, the care and management of privately owned horses generally remains a matter of state law and private ownership, as it should.
The Cavalry Group has long encouraged animal owners to stay informed whenever government agencies undertake large-scale data collection efforts. Research and statistical surveys can be valuable tools, but history has also shown us that information gathered today may influence tomorrow’s discussions about funding priorities, educational initiatives, voluntary best management practices, and, in some instances, future legislative or regulatory proposals. Staying informed is simply part of being a responsible steward of both our animals and our constitutional liberties.
If you receive this survey, take the time to read it carefully. Understand the questions being asked and the purpose of the study before deciding whether participation is right for you. USDA has emphasized that participation is voluntary, responses are confidential, and the results will be reported only as combined statistical information.
The Cavalry Group will continue following the Equine 2026 Study as additional information becomes available, including the release of the survey questionnaire and USDA’s published findings. Our mission has always been to ensure that responsible animal owners remain informed, engaged, and prepared whenever government actions have the potential to affect our industries.
Be sure to visit The Cavalry Group’s website and become a member to support our mission! TheCavalryGroup.com
