It is our belief that a lip chain is a TOOL used for the control of our horses in the event that they experience fear or excitement in the highly charged atmosphere of showing.  As with any tool there can be abuse in its handling.  It has been proven that used correctly a lip chain does NOT inflict pain but releases relaxing endorphins in the horse.

No matter what training level; a horse that experiences fear will follow their natural instincts at flight or fight.  Given the ratio of a horse’s body weight and strength in correlation to a human with a horse in unfamiliar surroundings and amongst many other horses and exhibitors during this experience, this device is a necessary SAFETY tool. 

Many of our exhibitors are young, aged or may have physical issues that make handling horses especially difficult but they love to show and halter horses present the only avenue they have to enjoy exhibiting with their physical limitations.  A lip chain is a necessity for them.

This petition respectfully requests that the AQHA Executive Committee’s decision to ban all lip chains in all show events be reconsidered and rescinded leaving the current use of lip chains for Amateurs, Youth and stallion exhibitors.