Kentucky may mandate horse inspections

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A Kentucky legislator wants to stiffen penalties for people who injure walking horses to exaggerate the breed's gait in competitions.

Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, also wants to put inspections under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and require state inspectors at all events.

The shows are now regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the Lexington Herald-Leader reports government inspectors attend less than 10 percent of the shows and most are inspected by people hired by horse groups that sanction them.

Kentucky Walking Horse Association President Joe Herald declined comment, saying he had not seen Buford's bill.

--Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com