Horse breeders would become eligible for emergency operating loans under provisions in the 2001 farm bill recently passed in the U. S. House of Representatives.

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and makes horse breeders eligible for loans from the Commodity Credit Corporation.

"This is the first time that all horse breeders have ever been considered eligible for disaster relief," said Ward Stutz, AQHA Director of Member Services and Public Policy.

The American Quarter Horse Association was active in adding favorable language to the house bill for horse owners and breeders. Each year, AQHA Public Policy Council Members and selected AQHA staff make regular visits to lawmakers in Washington, D. C. and discuss items important to the industry and breed.

The farm bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for vote. If it passes there, it would go the President for his signature before becoming law.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas), who supported the horse relief, said the Oct. 5 house vote provides "predictability" in farm policy. "We are exactly at the point where I wanted to be two years ago, when I set out to make needed permanent improvements to our farm policy," Combest said.

Initially, Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R-Ky) requested relief in the 2000 Agriculture Supplemental Bill for horse breeders who had suffered losses from Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome. However, Chairman Combest repositioned the request into the 2001 Farm Bill. At the same time Combest, Colin Peterson (D-MN) and Fletcher sponsored an amendment to make horses eligible for emergency assistance in future times of need.

Such relief has been a longstanding goal of the American Horse Council and supported by the American Quarter Horse Association.