The United States Trotting Association, which is the body that governs and registers Standardbreds, has adopted the practice of micro-chipping horses for identification, rather than freeze branding, which had replaced lip tattoos. Sadly, this will put thousands of our horses in peril, as too many of these wonderful animals, wind up in kill pens, awaiting slaughter. We owe these horses a chance to escape such a fate. Many organizations across the country have identified and pulled horses from this disgusting and horrifying end. Without a way to identify them visually as Standardbreds, it will severely curtail their efforts to save them. We owe a great debt to this breed and it is despicable that after being used for our entertainment and income, or service as in the Amish community, many are discarded and dumped, scared, confused, often mal-nourished and hurt, to face this horrific end. While it is understandable that the ease and reliability of reading a microchip is great for identification, it is not so great for the future of these horses. Please sign this petition to ask the USTA to do both a visual ID, along with the microchip.