It's absolutely time for the government to do more.
We need immediate financial support. We mentioned that 60% of the businesses that responded to our survey are already strapped for cash to keep their businesses afloat. Owners are selling their businesses or closing their doors. Horses are being sent to the slaughterhouse. What's more, it can take a few months for support to materialize under the current program. Timely support is crucial.
Another important consideration is the ability of business owners to access federal programs. Ms. House was saying earlier that the current rules are almost always based on two questions: Is it a duly registered agricultural business? Does the activity in question generate farm income?
That is really a huge obstacle. Many of the activities provided by equine businesses—in essence, how they earn their revenue—prevent businesses from qualifying for any of the support measures. All the government has to do is relax the current requirements in order to provide businesses with immediate support.