Two Industry Reform Groups Merge

Two organizations formed to push for reforms in the equine auction marketplace have merged.

The Alliance for Industry Reform and Horse Owners' Protective Association will both operate in the future under HOPA's name.

The Alliance for Industry Reform (AIR) was founded by Padua Stables owner Satish Sanan in 2004, while HOPA was founded by Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson in 2005.

Both organizations have pushed for industry reform at public auctions in the areas of transparency, disclosure, and dual agency. Partially because of AIR, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association formed a Sales Integrity Task Force to examine auction practices.

HOPA and Jackson worked through legislative channels to pass a bill in Kentucky last year addressing dual agency. This year, a bill was introduced seeking the creation of laws to require disclosure of ownership, requiring a record of veterinary history for each horse, and seeking the licensing of agents and consignors. The bill was tabled after a compromise was reached, basically allowing various interests a year to meet in an attempt to work out a consensus on issues.