We're Not Redefining the Horse - We're Defining the Crime.
OHIO HORSES FIRST
THE CURRENT LAW
An Outdated View of Horses
Under the current Ohio's Animal Cruelty Law, horses are classified as livestock—the same category used for animals raised primarily for food or agricultural production. This outdated designation fails to recognize the unique bond humans share with horses, and it limits the legal protections horses receive.
Because of this classification in Ohio's Animal Cruelty Section:
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Cruelty, neglect, and abuse toward horses are often charged only as misdemeanors
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Horses are treated legally as commodities rather than companions or partners
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Trainers, riders, and caretakers who build trust-based relationships with horses have no legal framework that acknowledges the nature of that partnership
This means that even in clear cases of harm—starvation, physical abuse, abandonment—the penalties are minimal, and justice is often elusive.
OUR MISSION
What the Equine Partner Protection Act Proposes
We are calling for a meaningful update to Ohio's Animal Cruelty law that will better reflect modern standards of equine care, training, and welfare.
The Equine Protection Act of 2025 seeks to:
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Create a new legal category under Ohio's Animal Cruelty Laws for horses as “Equine Partners” — recognizing their role beyond livestock in cruelty cases. They are also trusted companions, therapy animals, and athletes trained through communication and trust.
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Reclassify serious abuse and neglect as felonies, not misdemeanors — aligning equine welfare with the laws that protect dogs, cats, and other companion animals in the state.
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Strengthen legal accountability for those who harm horses — ensuring courts have the tools to issue meaningful consequences in cases of cruelty or abandonment.
Why It’s Needed
Horses are not raised for slaughter or consumption in Ohio, though they would still be considered livestock for tax purposes.
They are:
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Working partners in therapy, police, and equine-assisted learning
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Athletes in sport, often trained for years through non-coercive methods
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Companions in rural homes, boarding barns, and farms
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Veterans of past abuse and neglect, living in sanctuaries and rescues
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Sentient beings who communicate, feel, and bond with their caretakers
The current laws fail to reflect this reality. That failure leaves horses vulnerable. Felony-level charges will not only increase accountability—they will also deter abuse, attract better enforcement, and signal that Ohio values its horses as more than property.
Who Supports the Act
This movement is built by and for the people who know horses best.
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Veterinarians — who treat the physical and emotional trauma left by cruelty and neglect
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Trainers & Riders — who rely on mutual respect and non-forceful communication to build relationships with their horses
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Horse Owners — who see horses as family, not livestock
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Rescue Organizations — who rehabilitate horses after suffering in legal gray areas
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Legal Advocates — who believe Ohio law should reflect current standards of animal welfare
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The Public — who overwhelmingly support stronger protections for animals
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Barn Owners
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Facility Owners
What this Act is Not:
Let's be just as clear about what this bill is not—because that matters just as much.
This bill is not a change to farm tax laws.
We are not touching your sales tax exemptions, your CAUV qualification, or anything related to how horses are taxed or valued on your land. If you breed, raise, or train horses as part of your farm operation, that still qualifies as agriculture. Nothing in this bill changes that. If you were exempt before, you’re still exempt.
This bill is not saying horses are pets.
This isn’t about calling horses “pets” or trying to turn them into companion animals in the eyes of Ohio law across the board. Horses used for farming and breeding are still livestock. This bill only adds stronger protections against cruelty for horses used for sport or recreation—it does not redefine them everywhere else. This adds a Legal Definition in the Ohio Cruelty Laws when it comes to Sport Horses.
This bill is not aimed at how you care for animals on the farm.
We know farm life. We know that you feed, shelter, and care for your animals every day. This bill is not about micromanaging normal farm practices. It is aimed at clear cases of abuse—intentional harm, neglect, or violence. We trust farmers to treat animals with decency, and we’re not here to criminalize everyday care.
This bill is not a backdoor into zoning or regulation.
Some of you might wonder if this opens the door to new zoning restrictions or changing whether you can build horse barns or keep horses on your land. The answer is no. This bill doesn’t touch zoning laws. Horses remain agricultural animals under zoning and building rules, just like they always have.
Bottom line: This bill is about protecting horses from cruelty—not about changing how Ohio farms operate. We’re not changing tax law, farm law, or your way of life. We’re focused on stopping abuse
Who Should Support This Bill
1. Horse Owners Who Love and Care for Their Animals
If you ride, train, show, or enjoy horses for recreation, sport, or companionship—and you treat them well—this bill is for you. It helps protect horses from intentional abuse and cruel treatment, with penalties similar to those for harming a dog or cat.
2. Farmers and Breeders Who Use Horses Responsibly
If you use horses as part of your farm—whether for breeding, training, or riding—and treat them with the care they deserve, this bill won’t harm your operation and won’t change your tax benefits. It protects the value and dignity of horses without affecting your rights as a landowner or livestock operator.
3. Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
Sheriffs, humane agents, and local prosecutors often see cases of animal cruelty, but current laws don’t always provide strong tools when it comes to horses. This bill closes that gap and gives law enforcement a better way to hold abusers accountable.
4. Veterinarians and Equine Professionals
Those who work with horses professionally—vets, trainers, farriers—know the signs of abuse and neglect. This bill helps ensure that when abuse happens, it’s treated seriously and penalized appropriately.
5. Animal Welfare Advocates Who Respect Farm Life
People who care about animal protection but also understand the realities of farming should support this bill. It doesn’t interfere with agriculture—it just stops clear, intentional cruelty toward sport and recreational horses.
Who Should Not Support This Bill
1. Anyone Looking to Redefine Horses as Pets for All Legal Purposes
If someone wants to turn all horses into “companion animals” under every law—tax, zoning, livestock regulation—they might be disappointed. This bill does not do that. It’s narrowly focused on cruelty protections and avoids changing how horses are treated under tax or farm laws.
2. People Who Think Animal Cruelty Isn’t a Serious Offense
If you don’t believe abuse of a horse—whether kicking, starving, or tormenting it—deserves a felony charge, then you may oppose this bill. This legislation is based on the idea that cruelty to horses is serious and should be punished accordingly.
3. Those Hoping to Restrict Livestock Practices or Limit Farming
This is not an anti-farming bill. It does not tell farmers how to feed, house, or handle animals within the normal scope of agriculture. If your goal is to limit farming practices across Ohio, this is not your bill.
Support this bill if you care about protecting horses from abuse without harming Ohio’s farms. Oppose it only if your goal is to weaken animal cruelty laws or completely redefine horses under state law, which this bill does not do. This is a balanced approach—protecting animals without punishing good farmers.