Working Carriage Horses Win in NYC - For Now

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Martha Drum

As responsible horse and hound owners, who enjoy the benefits of human-animal interaction, many foxhunters have followed attempts by New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, to eliminate the iconic horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. While hauling tourists through Manhattan may seem a far cry from the rural setting of many hunt clubs, the carriage drivers caution that their industry is "the canary in the coal mine" for future efforts by animal rights extremists to restrict or outlaw other equestrian activities. A recent City Council decision signaled a victory - for now - for these hardworking horsemen.

Support S. 405, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act

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Cheryl Microutsicos

Anti-hunting forces, in an attempt to derail the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, sent Humane Society of the United States' Wayne Pacelle to Capitol Hill to testify in opposition to this pro-hunting, pro-sportsmen legislation. It is imperative that your senators hear from you in support of this bipartisan bill - the most important proactive piece of legislation to hunters and sportsmen in a generation.

Sunday Hunting Draws Bead on Community Divisions

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Marcia Brody

Meredith Park photoFoxhunters in Virginia and Maryland are actively debating the legislative question of whether hunting with weapons should be permitted in their states and counties on Sundays. The issue is complex for organized foxhunting. On the one hand, in some areas during gun seasons, foxhunters and others like recreational trail riders, are not able to engage in their pursuits on days when shooting is legal. That can mean the only day hunts can hunt is Sunday. When deer seasons are extended, that may mean little or no season remains for mounted hunting. On the other hand, foxhunters as an organized group do not wish to antagonize their well-organized and much more politically powerful deer hunting brethren.

Major Milestone for Families Afield - 1 Million New Hunters!

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US Sportsmen'a Alliance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Evan Heusinkveld (614) 888-4868
Doug Jeanneret (614) 888-4868

National Program Reduced Barriers, Created Opportunities for Newcomers

NEWTOWN, Conn. –The future of hunting is brighter today than it was nearly a decade ago thanks to the extraordinary success of Families Afield, an innovative program that has introduced 1 million newcomers to hunting.
This impressive number demonstrates that interest in hunting remains high and that what’s needed to spark a lifelong passion for hunting is a proper introduction enabled by state regulations. With success in hand, Families Afield’s call to action is this: If your state offers an apprentice hunting license, make it a point to bring a newcomer along this hunting season; or if you’ve never gone hunting before, seek out a mentor and give it a try.

Concerns for Public Health, Food Safety, Trickle Down to Horse Owners

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Marcia Brody

Regulatory strategies to control the spread of animal disease, as well as to restrict the availability and use of animal drugs on the farm, at the racetrack, and in other competitive venues are likely to reach out and tickle recreational horse owners in the coming months. Increased veterinary oversight is likely to be a result of these trends.

The Food and Drug Administration is in the process of moving medically-important antimicrobial agents to veterinary prescription status, due to concern for antibiotic resistance in the human population. As a result, some common therapies like penicillin may no longer be available on feed store shelves. The Food and Drug Administration is holding a series of regional meetings through June, and will likely issue revised draft regulations a few months later.