Speaker: Chelsea Perez - The Humane Society of the United States, Senior Program Manager
Topic: Equine Soring & Doping: Considerations for Fraud Investigators
Description:
Note: This is part one of a two-part event series focusing on equine-related investigations. See our April event here. In this session on equine soring and doping, while the presenters will be focusing on the investigative aspects of the topic, please be advised that the underlying theme and some content is sensitive.
Soring involves the intentional infliction of pain to a horse's legs or hooves in order to force the horse to perform an artificial, exaggerated gait. Horse “doping” is the administration of illicit substances to manipulate a horse’s performance. In this class, attendees will learn about the criminal aspects of these enterprises, and how investigations into these cases are conducted. This will include providing an overview of the legal framework that allows law enforcement to seize horses, how law enforcement can work with animal organizations and rescue groups to process and manage seized horses, and how evidence is collected and utilized in the investigation.
Chelsea Perez is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in legal investigations, enforcement, and equine welfare advocacy. As Senior Program Manager for Equine Protection at The Humane Society of the United States, she leads efforts addressing critical equine welfare issues, including horse soring, doping racehorses, and slaughter.
CPE: 1.5 hours
CPE credits are based on a 50-minute hour. CPE is offered through the ACFE as well as the Accountancy Board of Ohio (sponsor number CPE.00467). Attendees must attend 75 minutes of the meeting and answer 5 polling questions during the meeting to validate attendance.
Learning Objectives:
- Provide an introduction to the concept of equine welfare and explain the key areas of concern related to soring and doping and seizure procedures
-Outline the legal framework governing these practices, including relevant legislation like the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)
- Review basic procedures for collecting evidence and seizing horses
Prerequisites: None
Speaker Bio:
Chelsea’s experience includes handling complex legal cases during her tenure as an Enforcement Officer with Canada’s Antitrust Agency, where she conducted search warrants, managed evidence, and advised on policies related to electronic evidence. Chelsea combines her background with her deep understanding of equine welfare issues, shaped by a lifetime as an active participant in the horse industry, with a focus on dressage riding and training.
