United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a decision denying the United States Department of Agriculture motion to change venue from the Amarillo division to the Dallas division. The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and Tennessee Walking Horse owners Kimberly Lewis and Tom Gould filed a lawsuit challenging the Horse Protection rule that is set to go into effect February 1st .

In addition, Judge Kacsmaryk denied the Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) motion to intervene. Judge Kacsmaryk’s rationale for denying the motion to intervene relied largely on the arguments in the industry’s briefs filed by the lawyers at Torridon Law. In both orders, Judge Kacsmaryk acknowledged the new rule is set to take effect February 1, 2025.

A decision on the industry’s challenge to the new rule is expected from Judge Kacsmaryk prior to the February 1st effective date.

Click here to see the order denying the change of venue.

Click here to see the order denying intervention by HSUS.