HB128: relative to the treatment of horses.

CHAPTER 9

HB 128 - FINAL VERSION

20feb03...0170h

26mar03...1169eba

2003 SESSION

03-0123

08/10

HOUSE BILL 128

AN ACT relative to the treatment of horses.

SPONSORS: Rep. Rausch, Rock 77

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

ANALYSIS

This bill makes changes regarding the regulation of the care, shelter, and feeding of horses.

This bill is a request of the department of agriculture, markets and food.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20feb03...0170h

03-0123

08/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT relative to the treatment of horses.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

9:1 Treatment of Horses. Amend RSA 435:12-13 to read as follows:

435:12 Proper Care. No person shall overdrive, overwork or overload a horse in his or her care. No person shall buy, sell or exchange any horse that is unfit to be used for riding, driving, draft or reproduction purposes, unless it is for rehabilitation or slaughter. No person shall torture, beat, mutilate or abandon any horse, or aid in such abuse, or permit any horse in his or her care to be subject to abuse of any kind.

435:13 Proper Feeding. All horses shall receive roughage in proportion to their size, age, temperament and amount of work they are required to perform. Grain may also be required when roughage alone will not meet their daily nutritional requirements. All horses shall be fed on a regular daily schedule, and all food shall be clean and free from excessive moisture. All horses shall [always] have available a sufficient quantity of fresh water [and of salt in either loose or block form] to maintain hydration.

9:2 Treatment of Horses; Shelter. RSA 435:14-15 are repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

435:14 Shelter Available. Horses shall be provided either:

I. An adequately ventilated, dry barn with stalls of sufficient size so that the horse is able to lie down, and shall be provided adequate and suitable exercise in arenas, barn yards, paddocks or pastures; or

II. A roofed shelter, with at least 3 sides from November 1 through April 15, shall be provided for horses kept in paddocks or pastures, and said horses shall not be kept tied but shall be able to move around freely.

435:15 Veterinarian Services and Probable Cause Determinations.

I. A probable cause determination for seizing horses pursuant to a cruelty investigation shall be made only by the state veterinarian or a veterinarian licensed under the provisions of RSA 332-B. No seizing or taking of horses shall be made without a probable cause determination.

II. Pursuant to RSA 644:8, V, a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability for any decisions made for services rendered under the provisions of this subdivision.

9:3 New Section; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 435 by inserting after section 15 the following new section:

435:15-a Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, relative to the care, shelter, and feeding of horses, and the enforcement of this subdivision.

9:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 22, 2003)

(Effective Date: April 22, 2003)