AMARILLO, TEXAS — Plaintiffs Tom Gould, Ann Mills, and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in federal court to halt the enforcement of three key rules by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they argue violate federal law and due process protections.

The plaintiffs claim the USDA is enforcing unlawful regulations under the Horse Protection Act (HPA) that disqualify horses from competition even when they are not sore and fail to offer any appeal mechanism for those disqualifications. The rules in question—the “No-Showback Rule,” the “Scar Rule,” and the absence of a due process review—are being challenged ahead of the industry’s premier event, the 2025 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, scheduled for August 20–30.

Key Allegations:

• No-Showback Rule: Plaintiffs argue this USDA policy bans horses from competing for the duration of a multi-day show if they are disqualified even once—regardless of whether the horse is sound and can pass future inspections. They assert that the rule exceeds USDA’s authority and contradicts the HPA’s requirement that only “sore” horses be disqualified.

• Scar Rule: The plaintiffs contend that the Scar Rule, which disqualifies horses based on certain skin conditions, redefines the legal standard of “sore” and leads to arbitrary enforcement. USDA’s own commissioned research by the National Academy of Sciences found no scientific basis for the rule, labeling it unreliable and unenforceable.

• Due Process Violations: According to the filing, horse owners and show organizers have no meaningful opportunity to appeal disqualification decisions. The plaintiffs argue this lack of pre-deprivation review violates the Fifth Amendment, with disqualifications immediately stripping competitors of the chance to participate, earn prize money, and gain industry recognition.

The plaintiffs assert that unless the court intervenes, they will suffer irreparable harm at this year’s Celebration. At the 2024 event, USDA disqualified 57% of horses it inspected, according to the motion, dramatically affecting show quality, entries, and revenue.

“This lawsuit is not about evading regulation,” said a representative for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association. “It’s about enforcing rules that are lawful, fair, and scientifically sound. The USDA’s current practices unfairly punish horses and owners without proper evidence or any way to appeal. We believe this legal action will ultimately strengthen the Horse Protection Act by ensuring that enforcement is fair, consistent, and based on sound science—making the HPA more effective and equitable for all.” The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division (Case No. 2:25-cv-147-Z). Plaintiffs request the court to bar USDA from enforcing the challenged rules at the upcoming show and any future events.