Rural Issue
Door begins reopening to horse processing
Language that ended domestic horse slaughter and processing in the United States has been stripped from the Ag Appropriations bill approved by the House/Senate Conference committee. Dave Duquette, President of the United Horsemen’s group, calls that a huge victory.
“The Moran amendment that was on the House bill that was still – that left the riders on the bill — the House version, was stripped off in conference (committee). And, the language has already come out – and – there’s no riders prohibiting the inspection of horse meat,” says Duquette.
The Senate bill did not contain those riders. As soon as the bill would pass and be signed by the President, which Duquette expects will happen, he says the market for horses in the U.S. can resume, “What it means is we’re going to be – we could – soon, I mean, somebody will be able to process horses right away.”
Duquette says he’s been told by many people that horse slaughter would never return to this country, “Many people that didn’t believe that horse processing would ever come back to the United States are gonna have to step back and take a look.”
Duquette tells Brownfield he’s been getting calls, texts and emails, thanking his not-for-profit group for getting through to Congress. “You know, I mean, we’ve all done it for the love of the horse, not for the money, which the other side would tell you it’s all about money,” Duquette adds, “It’s not about money for us.”
The United Horsemen and others blame the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups for getting Congress to approve those riders in 2007, effectively ending horse slaughter in the U.S. – which they say has led to LESS humane treatment of horses through increased abandonment and neglect. A vote on the ag appropriations bill is expected this week.
At the time of this posting, Brownfield had not heard back from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
AUDIO: Dave Duquette (3:00 mp3)
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Thank You!!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!! We need this!!!
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This is the best thing to happen in ag in a long time. The taxes and revenues that horse slaughter generates far out weigh the cost of inspectors so WAKE UP Suzanne, get out of your secular little perfect world of rose colored horses! I think she would be really surprised by how many Americans do eat horse meat even though it’s not on the store shelf! This will bring billions of dollars back into a devastated economy. Fantastic News!
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Horse Slaughter is a GOOD thing for horses. Like it or not horses ARE a commodity and a commodity without value soon crumbles in upon itself. By returning VALUE to the equine market you are returning value to ALL horses and thus create a *desired* asset. If gold were worth nothing people would toss it out with not a thought, but at $1500 an ounce Alaska is once again experiencing the biggest gold rush since the early 1900’s. By having required USDA inspection of carcases and USDA of slaughter facilities we can better assure that the horses will be slaughtered humanly and properly. Horses are still being slaughtered in Mexico and Canada, so slaughter never stopped it was just stopped in the US. Returning slaughtering to the USA offers a much better alternative. THANK YOU to everyone who has worked so hard to right the wrong that was done when slaughter was stopped in 2007.
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To me: the focus needs to be on humane transporting and euthanasia methods rather than whether or not we slaughter horses for meat. The rest of the world slaughters horses for meat, if we don’t allow it here; they will simply be subjected to longer inhumane hauling time to out of the country destinations for slaughter. Death with honor — the animal died to provide sustenance for another being. Transport them humanely, NO DOUBLE DECKERS!, no long hauls without food & water & rest. And once they have arrived house them humanely with feed & water. Check each horse for microchips & brands. DO NOT ALLOW THE SALE OR TRANSPORTION OF MICROCHIPED OR BRANDED HORSES WITHOUT PROPER CORRESPONDING OWNERSHIP PAPERS. Require and INSPECT records kept by the seller, hauler & slaughter house. And finally, EUTHANIZE HUMANELY. Come on people, we can put a man on the moon & build a fricken space station, we can come up with a humane way to euthanize a horse that keeps the meat edible for human consumption. Create a voluntary national micro-chip registry – not 20 different private organizations, and make it monetarily easy for all to access. Enforce the 20 year Rustling laws of old. You may not like the taste of horse meat but others around the world do. So get realistic about it! I don’t want to see my beloved gelding & friend of 10 years slaughtered, yet I would rather see my neighbor send his horses to slaughter for cash than let them starve to death without food and water as is his habit of the last 5 years. When there is no market for slaughter, people like him just let them die a very slow painful death unnoticed in a pasture somewhere. To me, humane euthanization is the better of choice of two evils. PS: don’t come at me with “report him” accusations. There are no controls out here for that, its part of our “freedom” here.
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Please understand there are hundreds of thousands of unwanted horses that used to meet a humaine and overseen end. They did not have their brands cut out, they did not starve because the owner couldnt even feed his kids, they did not get hauled to some strange place to be kicked out on the side of the road and left to fend for themselves, they were not hauled to MEXICO for slaughter, they were not left to rot to death in a dirt lot! There are for worse fates caused by the ellimination of the industry. This is quick, it is relatively painless ( I hear starving to death actually hurts) and it is far less evil than what the Rights activists lead these animals to.
Besides, why is it ok for americans to withhold a food source we do not utilize when so much of the world is going hungry?!?! Thats just cruel to mankind. Supply and demand…. more meat in the world market means lower prices on other protein sources, thus making food more affordable and more attainable to people around the world. That is blind evil greed. I bet you arent hungry right now are you Sazanne?
I want to know how many unwanted horses Suzanne has rescued and given a permanent home for in the last 4 years. Is she going to adopt them all? I know I can’t afford propper care for another horse ( I have 6 of my own). Can you? How about aprx. 250,000 head a year? Roughly 600,000 by now. Take them all Suzanna, save them all or let the rest of us do what is best for the animals we love and respect. -
First of all as animal rights groups would have everyone to think, the people that are pro slaughter aren’t cold heartless murders. Our main focus is restoring the horse industry in the U.S., providing jobs, and an outlet for all those aged, diseased, unwanted,neglected,abused,starved,overpopulated animals that are turned loose because no one wants to care for them. While at the same time it will boost the economy, and provide food for other countries. It will give the people who have made a living in this industry a chance to do that again, like the horse trainers/breeders who have had this passion and profession passed down to them! I love my horse, but that doesn’t mean i don’t see the necessity of horse processing for the greater good of the equine world! In my opinion it is more inhumane to dump a horse on a highway or national forest, or horse rescue which can’t find homes for the horses because of over population, and are under funded because of the economy and over population of horses! Wake up!!!!!!
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Sue Wallis does own horses! As per usual you bleeding hearts do not state the true facts…..you loons need to get a life!! Bring on horse processing and stop the sufferring of abandoned and neglected horses!!
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Well Suzanne, I have seven horses and I am fortunate enough to be able to afford the hay to feed them. Since 2007 horses in the southwest (I don’t know about the rest of the country) have been abandoned in the wilderness. People think that they can live like that, but if a horse isn’t left near water it won’t know where to drink. The price of alfalfa, grass mix, bermuda etc. has just reached an all time high of $18.00 a bale. The growers have been sitting on hay stock until the price goes even higher. Many people with only one horse are having a hard time feeding them and resort to desperate measures. Recently someone left an emaciated dead horse bound and dragged, in the middle of a road, so animal control could dispose of the body.
Right now most of America is worried about making it from paycheck to paycheck more than they worry about their pets. Take a look at any animal shelter, including the Humane Society, Ask them how many “pets” are being euthanized a day. Maybe as a “True Horseman” you could take on a few more as I have. You see I have seven horses that I ride, Vet, Feed, and groom every day. I also own a cattle ranch and have dedicated seven hundred acres to old and abandoned horses so they can live out their years in dignity. Now get off the “Rancher” because we don’t,and never have sent our horses to slaughter!
P.S. How do you expect someone in Maine for example, to get their old horse to the Mexican border in the first place?
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Suzanne,
why is it ok for people who don’t own horses to pass legislation against horse people? The humane treatment of ANY livestock, (which is what horses are) is a huge issue with ALL people in the Ag industry. The U.S. has the highest standards of any nation for the treatment of animals, weather it be for consumption0000 or not. Horses are not any better off now than pre-97 legislation against packing bans. “sanctuaries” are operating at up to 300% capacity, they are left to die with massive wounds or broken legs , and are not able to deal with harsh weather with out better nutrition provided by HUMANS. Deal with it. Don’t like it? leave. The meat is exported anyway. You can ride one of those ships out.
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Yeah Suzanne, it’s far better to have these animals “sold” for $50 or given away to people who have NO IDEA HOW TO CARE FOR THE ANIMAL only to have them starve to death in a patch of weeds. Better yet, let’s “save” the starving, dangerous, sick and broken down horses and send them to a “Horse Santuary” only to be abondened because there was to money to continue feeding and caring for them. Just let them die slowly. That’s way better, right?
Horses are NOT the “pet” that you animal rights nut cases have romanticized. They are LIVESTOCK. They DESERVE a base price in this country to provide them with a dollar VALUE. If people actually had to PAY FOR THEIR HORSE maybe they would be more responsible in caring for the animal. Back in the day, a decent horse cost $5000. And that is the cheapest part of owning a horse!!! Responsible owners KNOW THIS. But since horses have lost their value, anyone can have a horse.hat kept the market.
This has led to numerous other problems in the industry. Besides the HUGE INCREASE in reports of starving and neglected horses, there are completely irresponsible backyard breeders who are not gelding their colts. These colts are then breeding back their own dams producing a who-knows-what.
And training? Most of these idiots actually think that a horse is just born ready to go for a ride! They don’t realize (usually until it’s too late) that they are dealing with a 1000lb BEAST who would rather kill you than take you for a joy ride without proper training.
And if you nut balls actually think that you have stopped horse slaughter, you are DEAD WRONG. You have only made it worse. Horses are still being slaughtered, only they are packed into trailers like chickens and hauled to Mexico and butchered alive.THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! For all that is being done to bring back humane US horse slaughter. It’s about time.
From a responsible horse owner and breeder in the Midwest
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Yeah Suzanne, it’s far better to have these animals “sold” for $50 or given away to people who have NO IDEA HOW TO CARE FOR THE ANIMAL only to have them starve to death in a patch of weeds. Better yet, let’s “save” the starving, dangerous, sick and broken down horses and send them to a “Horse” only to be abondened because there was to money to continue feeding and caring for them. Just let them die slowly. That’s way better, right?
Horses are NOT the “pet” that you animal rights nut cases have romanticized. They are LIVESTOCK. They DESERVE a base price in this country to provide them with a dollar VALUE. If people actually had to PAY FOR THEIR HORSE maybe they would be more responsible in caring for the animal. Back in the day, a decent horse cost $5000. And that is the cheapest part of owning a horse!!! Responsible owners KNOW THIS. But since horses have lost their value, anyone can have a horse.This has led to numerous other problems in the industry. Besides the HUGE INCREASE in reports of starving and neglected horses, there are completely irresponsible backyard breeders who are not gelding their colts. These colts are then breeding back their own dams producing a who-knows-what.
And training? Most of these idiots actually think that a horse is just born ready to go for a ride! They don’t realize (usually until it’s too late) that they are dealing with a 1000lb BEAST who would rather kill you than take you for a joy ride without proper training.
And if you nut balls actually think that you have stopped horse slaughter, you are DEAD WRONG. You have only made it worse. Horses are still being slaughtered, only they are packed into trailers like chickens and hauled to Mexico and butchered alive.THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! For all that is being done to bring back humane US horse slaughter. It’s about time.
From a responsible horse owner and breeder in the Midwest
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@ Suzanne….I eat horses and I am American….but people like you won’t allow me to eat them in my own country? that doesn’t seem right does it?
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Suzanne’s question was this “What I want to know is what are we REALLY going to do with all the “unwanted” abandoned and starving animals they keep talking about saving with slaughter when slaughter doesn’t help them?” …. that is a valid question and here is the answer. All of those starving and skinny horses will have to be fattened up before they can go to slaughter. The price that will be paid for them at the slaughter market will enable and encourage people to do just that. We will no longer have WORTHLESS horses in this country. If an animal has worth then people can afford to feed it and sell it……NOT JUST FOR SLAUGHTER EITHER. Wake up and use your common sense. Yes, it is a matter of economics. It doesn’t matter how many horses people would like to rescue if they can’t afford to do it. That’s why the slaughter issue isn’t just about the 1% that actually went to slaughter. It’s about the state of the Equine Industry in America. If the slaughter industry isn’t healthy and prosperous then neither is the rest of it. Every market/industry must have it’s starting value and the slaughter market sets the price for the very bottom dollar of the horse economy in our country. Without a bottom to the market a seller has very little option to set a price. That’s when it becomes “whatever you can get” which since the closing of the markets, has become NOTHING for most of the 1% and a lot less for the other 99%. Feed costs have gone up by over 50% and more in the last five years and will continue to rise with the pitiful mess that our country is in. Only with a healthy slaughter market can we hope to continue to have horses that most folks can afford. Otherwise, only the wealthy will be able to keep them and the rest of us will just have to suffer along without them.
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Thank God! Maybe, the horse economy has a chance to recover and horse owners who are no longer able to feed and care for their horses have a better alternative then turning them out in the “wild”
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I am so excited for this big step in the correct direction! And don’t let Suzanne mislead you, this is actually better for the environment. Hooved animals are quite rough on land, and horses must eat more due to their digestive systems not being very good and digesting roughage. So there will be less hooves pounding the ground, and eating all the grass down to nubs, causing the erosion of several million years worth of topsoil, and there will be fewer carcasses laying about decaying, spreading disease and filth. At least it will be redirected and provide sustenance for someone who needs and appreciates lean meat.
This will help equines be worth something again. Because if something isn’t worth $5, no nobody will want to take care or it. Let’s get horses back to the care they should be!
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The waking up & the lack of common sense is the problem.
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I am all for horse slaughter as long as the animals are treated as humanely and with as much dignity as possible. I also would have no issue with horse meat being made available for consumption as well, they are livestock and are no different than other animals we consume.
I am a responsible horse owner that feeds and cares for my horses everyday. Due to the horse market falling out b/c of the lack of horse slaughter we have had to give several of our horses away b/c no one was willing to offer a fair price for them. -
I am a horse owner and lover! However, as much as i would like to believe that the ending of horse slaughter would lead to all horses living long, wonderful, healthy, loving lives….I live in the real world! I have seen people desperate to get rid of horses even offering them for free with no success. These horses slowly starve to death, get no help when injured, set ‘free’ only to die a horrible death, or killed inhumanely because there are no other options and lets face it vetting is expensive! Having said that i do think there needs to be much more strict guidelines and supervision for the treatment of the animals going to slaughter. We have seen some pretty horrific things happen to these horses and THAT needs to STOP! As much as it pains me to think of any of my horses, my babies, going to slaughter the fact is they are livestock and there is a market for them, not one i plan to partake, God willing, in but its clear others do. And yes i will compare it to cattle slaughter because i HAVE had cattle, some of which have been my best buds, pets that i have spent hours with, groomed and fed and LOVED. But that does not mean that i am against the slaughter of cattle!
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I think a lot of people don’t really understand how many horses go to slaughter and are being hauled thousands of miles. If you go to a hores sale, which they are every weekend just here in Indiana, if you really pay attention, the killer buyers buy more than half the horses that go through. They buy them for next to nothing because no one else will even bid on them. No one has to out bid a killer buyer. They will only pay what they can afford to and still make money on the other end. You know when the killer buyer’s trailer is full because then the prices go to $10 a head. Have you ever been to a sale and at the end they couldn’t get a $10 bid? That’s because all the people who came to buy a horse, got one, the killer buyer filled his trailer.. and no one wants the rest that just keep running though. Not only will reopening the slaughter houses bring back up the price of horses for us all, but these unwanted animals will get a shorter trip, and supervised euthinasia!
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What a great guy Dave Duquette is. Why, it’s just purely out of love for horses that he wants to slaughter all the young, fat, healthy horses that he can get his hands on. He deserves the Nobel Prize! Gee, if it weren’t for big hearted (and tiny brained) people like ‘the duke of donk’, at-risk American horse would have to settle for being adopted into loving homes where they’re fed and treated with respect. Since 1% of America’s horses are categorized as ‘unwanted’, nice folks like Duquette and Sue Wallis, his sidekick are just what is needed. Why bother using a little class and intelligence to figure out how to cut back on over-breeding and other inside-the-industry problems. Let’s just kill off all the nice horses we can- and then sell the meat to other countries who are totally unaware that ALL American horses are pumped full of a chemical called bute- which is illegal to give to any meat animal. Let’s let people all over the world die of the aplastic anemia that bute causes… since we don’t want to bother just finding a way to take care of the extra horses while using a little self control in our breeding programs. What a great idea! (Is Duke-ette from North Korea, by chance? They want to do all the damage to America they can, so I wonder if maybe….. nah. Probably not. They’d want way smarter people- even for their dupes.)
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There will be less skinny and emaciated horses out there because it will benefit someone to actually take them to auction before they get to that point. With slaughter back in the US, we have our baseline back. The horse industry has been struggling without it. From what I understand, a lot of kill buyers are more than willing to work with someone who wants to purchase one of their horses they bought. If we have healthier, more robust horses going through the auction that gives everyone a better chance!
Rescues can’t do what they’ve been doing. It’s just not there anymore, in some cases “it” wasn’t there to begin with. In some cases the rescues really need rescuing and are some of the biggest offenders. Bringing slaughter back to the US isn’t going to be a cure all, but it sure will help a TON.
And Suzanne….is horse slaughter “disgusting, immoral, predatory, costly, bad for the environment, bad for communities” or is slaughter, in general, all of those things? If slaughter in general, is all of those things, then I must ask, do you know that steak is not made at the grocery store?
Also, you say horse slaughter created the problem. What problem did slaughter create?
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Elaine, not all horses are given bute. But there are also a ton of causes of aplastic anemia;
Exposure to toxic chemical such as those found in gasoline, pesticides and insecticides can cause injury to the bone marrow, leading to this condition. Autoimmune disorders, viral infections such as Epstein-Barr, Hepatitis, HIV and others that affect bone marrow can cause an onset of this type of anemia.
Here’s some irony, one of the treatments for AA, is derived from horse plasma.
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Elaine and Suzanne – If there were ‘loving’ homes for all the horses that have starved to death, why haven’t those ‘loving people’ stepped up? Of course, it’s true that those ‘loving people’ also need to be those who know at least the rudiments of horse care, but that doesn’t seem to figure into your mindset.
As to ‘humane euthanasia’ – why do you believe that chemical poisoning is any more humane than the bolt? Not only is it not more humane, but it also results in half a ton or so of toxic waste, which can neither be decently buried, nor butchered for *any* use.
As usual, the AR rhetoric sounds beautifully kind, but in reality, as with all their rhetoric, it fails in reality. More horses have suffered more since inspected slaughter in this country was stopped than at any time in this country’s history.
If you knew enough about horses to truly care about them, this would be as obvious to you as it is to us.
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Those that believe slaughter of any animal is humane should watch it happen especially an animal that you have cared for. When a pig-processing plant in NC can kill 3200 pigs in one day, do you really think they take their time and make sure each one is killed humanely? It is a numbers game. The more you kill, the higher the profit.
No worries, I will not check back to be cruificied so no sense in replying to me.
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What town wants a horse-slaughtering plant in it? The mayor of Kaufmann, TX wanted the one she had shut down. Have you thought of the smell, how do you get rid of the waste, your sewer system? Who do you think work in these facilities, most at minimum pay? I hear the crime rates go up. My husband fought to keep a turkey-processing plant out of town all for these reasons. Thank goodness he won, the town 50 miles away has these problems now.
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I laugh at the horsepeople selling horses for slaughter. You actually have come to believe that you are “business people“ merely entering into a transaction that benefits your economy. Here you sad sacks are selling your horses for $100 to the KB. In the meantime, the horse is worth about $18,000 to the slaughterhouse (600 lbs of meat at $30 per lb). Then the foreign-owned slaughterhouses sells the meat of animals not-raised-for-meat to foreigners, while you`ve walked away with about 1% of the profits. AND the taxpayer pays for the inspector at the same time. Quite the brainiacs you all are.
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Sarah,
Horse slaughter has created an easy out of horse ownership. If a TB is not running good enough the meat man is called problem solved. If a breeder has a horse or horses they can’t sell or they do not have very good color they can have the meat man come and take it and they make a few bucks on the misery of the horse. Or they can go to the auction where someone will buy it. If not a good family looking for a family horse then the KB’s will buy it. I know you know all this. You have already made your point of view clear. You think horse slaughter is a good way to dump a horse and you can care less how much the horse must suffer.Like all proslaughter people you don’t care about the horses welfare only the money. Money, money money! -
Its so sad to see so many women with such cold hearts. Seems women have gone the way of cold hearted hateful men. What ever happened to the caring, nurturing and sympathetic women of the past? Seems that instead of becoming kinder to all living things, cruelty and death is the only thing that makes their hearts warm. You all are only thinking about MONEY not the welfare of the horse.
We will see just how much suffering the horses will endour now at the hands of killers like Wallis and her proslaughter supporters. She has made a mockery of all you who support her. She is in this for the money and cares nothing of the horses welfare. If humane observers are allowed access to the plants 24/7 and the humane killing happens then and only then you can all point your fingers and say we told you so. (I doubt that humane killing will happen as it will take too long and cost too much. Horse slaughter is all about the money). But if this is like the BLM who says they allow observers and then does not, then it is the anti slaughter folks who will be pointing their finger and laughing at this failed venture. We will see just how humane the slaughter of these kind animals will be. And PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING!
And Sue Wallis does not own horses according to her own words read her blog.
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Well you know, here it is, since as you so clearly state, “its not about the money it is all about the horses” Let me see how to say this, you ever see a skinny cow at the slaughter house, well no, there is a reason, you dont want the old skinny ones you wan the fat juicy ones to fatten yours and overseas companies wallets, while WE the people pay for you to make money. So have any of you heard about the 99%, and again since it is not about the money, you wont have a problem donating all the money you THINK you are going to make. You know, you may get this one through, but I assure the door will shut as fast as it opened. Wait till America hears they just lost their benefits so a few people could pull this one off, and everytime we have a food scare, trust me, we will be right there tell them you know all that money you spend on the horse meat inspectors, we need it to stop, public view shut you down once, it shall again.
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Those who say that horse slaughter is humane are simply being dishonest or are misinformed. Horse slaughter encourages irresponsible horse ownership. Because people can dispose of their “unwanted” horses in a way that rewards them financially, they have no reason to limit excessive breeding. By completely ending slaughter in this country (as well as preventing horses from crossing the borders for that purpose), horse owners will be forced to take responsibility for their animals. Anyone that can’t afford to euthanize and bury their horse should not own horses in the first place. There are options available (rescues, euthanasia clinics, prevention) that horse owners can utilize. The majority of horses ending up at slaughter houses are young, healthy and sound. Proslaughter advocates paint a picture of horse “famine and abandonment” if people can no longer sell them for slaughter. It is all supply and demand. There is a demand for horsemeat overseas, therefore we supply that demand with our “unwanted” horses. Unfortunately in this industry, people tend to take the route that will earn them a quick buck instead of being ethical. Ask any real horse-person if they would send their own beloved horse for slaughter, and you will get an emphatic “NO!” Eliminate slaughter, and you will see a dramatic decrease in excessive breeding of horses. Why would anyone breed horses they cannot sell? With the slaughter option still available, breeders can ALWAYS sell their horses, no matter the quality, training or condition of the horse. This is common sense. Please think logically.
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p.s. Has anyone actually watched a video of a horse being slaughtered when plants were open in the US? It is not “humane” by any sense of the imagination. My farm has been rescuing horses for over 30 years (when plants were still open in the US), and cruelty was just as rampant as ever. Slaughter allows people to get away with neglect and abuse because they can dispose of the evidence easily by sending the horse to an auction. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by the proslaughter complaints about horses being shipped to Canada and Mexico as justification for opening plants in our country! Substituting one form of cruelty for another is not solving the problem of “unwanted” horses! If you admit that there are “too many horses” with not enough homes, then why are you registering 150,000 quarter horses every year?! It is madness and I can’t believe people buy into this. Slaughter makes “worthless” horses worth something (proslaughter quote): that is the real reason they want it around.
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Wow, I have never heard so many people believe so may lies. Sue Wallis herself said she did not own a horse. When the horses are slaughtered I hope everyone of you that wanted this so badly will at least go and watch what happens to these horses and then come back and tell us all how humane it is. The only people that will make any money are the Corporations, Sue, Dave, oh yes the AVMA. We will still see abandoned horses probably even more because most people will not want their horses to end up at some slaughter house. Most of you I would think know that a horse is not dumb. They have the flight response. They will be horrified. They will smell the blood. They will be thrashing. Please don’t forget, kill buyers don’t make any money on the sick and the skinny horses. I bet the theft of horses will even go up. This is truly a sad day for our horses. A perfect way for the BLM to get rid of all of those wild horses and burros to. They won’t have to pay to keep them in holding pens.
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@ all of you, do you not get a horse slaughter plant does not want the cast off old skinny horses, they want the fat one you bred and decided was not good enough to keep so you can go bred more of them so those in rescue can run around and pick up the slack for your tax right off, you can not, tell me any different, and at who ever said we dont let you eat your horse, well if you want to eat that meat that will give you cancer go ahead, you can eat it your horse, you just cant sell it, the chemical you use for pain is not allowed in a meat producing animal, so go ahead eat that horse you will get what you deserve, and your untied leader of the horsemans group has already said, we are on our way to harvesting, yes harveting horses for meat productions, get the facts, it is not about the skinny ones, the unwanted one,
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I did not read all the comments but here is what I read. ” Horse slaughter is good for horses” That should read horse slaughter is death for horses and good for my wallet. “there are a ton of causes of aplastic anemis” That does not change the fact that the Canadian , the US and the EU have all BANNED these drugs from being used in food animals. That is the current requirements and it is beyond my comprehension why it is argued about.
Do you not think if this could be proven to be safe for human consumption the manufacturing drug companies would not do that? It would represent Millions of dollars in profit if they could get approval to use these drugs in food animals, but they cannot!
And the belief that it is the lack of slaughter facilities in the US that is causing the abandonment of horses etc is a myth! Canada has FOUR operating horse slaughter plants and we are experiencing the same problems as the US. so explain that one for me!This is all about money money money.
Sue Wallis thinks it is normal and “fun” for someone to shoot their horse, gut it, strip naked and climb inside to have their photo taken and post it on the internet! I am sorry but I do not trust the womans ability to judge what is “best for the horse” -
CJ Oakwood Sue Wallis is the one who said that she does not own a horse, just recently on her face book page.
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Caroline Hughes If someone is maine wants their horse to go to slaughter they sell it to a kill buyer who takes it to Quebec, Canada Richelieu meats operates a horse slaughter house in that Province.
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As an American citizen I think it is appalling that people in this country support horse slaughter. Culture is very important and we simply do not eat horses here in this country. Lets support industries that do go along with American values. Beef is what is for dinner!!! Pork: Be inspired!!! If other countries want to eat horse meat because that is culturally acceptable to them, let them eat their own.
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Regina If you think horse slaughter is or was humane you are badly mistaken, go to Youtube and search for the video Cofessions of a Horse Killer or just put in horse slaughter and you will soon see that it is not humane in any way shape or form. I dare you to take your horse put it in a strange situation with other strange horses and have a stranger walk up to it and place a foreign object in the exact correct small area that a captive bolt needs to be in order to execute a clean and correct deployment of the bolt. You are a horse owner you know how a horse reacts in situations like this!
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When is Big Ag going to admit to the atrocities that always surround commercial horse slaughter??? All commercial slaughter actually, but thanks to the animal advocates, bovine slaughter has really improved, so they say. But really people…
I know the majority of people who read this particular article are pro-slaughter, and probably don’t like the fact that American Wild Horses compete with domestic cattle raised for slaughter.
Are there actually any horses in the US raised for commercial slaughter like the other animals that are?
That’s a good question, huh!
To watch this poser, Sue Wallis and her buddies is corruption and political poetry in motion.
There has NEVER been a humane model for commercial horse slaughter disclosed, ever!
The pro-slaughter cattlemen, horse breeders, killer buyers and meat industry mavericks can sit on this site and say whatever they want, whether it is true or not.
FULL DISCLOSURE to the General US Public will happen, whether you like it or not. This whole issue is about to get major national media attention. Paid bloggers by sham nonprofits beware.
Show me 1 hour of continuous of video footage at the end of the kill line in a humane commercial horse slaughter facility?
I dare you.
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Commercial slaughter produces “dark cutting” when the animals are not easily killed in the commercial, unnatural environment. This occurrence is extremely high with horses, producing a meat product containing the highest amounts of adrenaline and cortisol of any commercially produced meat. It is often a kin to a “bad kill” in hunting terms. Most horses to slaughter, other than the race horses off the track, have never been inside a building before. They are inherently fearful and communicate with one another their fear of danger and their knowledge of death surrounding them. Horses sense of smell is better than dogs. Stallions in the wild can smell mares miles away. They know what is happening, much like the Jews who were exterminated in the camps of the Third Reich. Horses eyes are frequently gouged out before the kill rod is released in order for the kill to happen at all. Horses fight for their lives. I have heard their screams. In 2005 when I was waiting in a semi-truck delivering hydraulic parts outside the facility operating near Kaufman, TX. If you know and appreciate ANYTHING about horses, you are not an advocate for their commercial slaughter. The people you see responding to this blog in favor of it are likely being paid by friends of Sue Wallis and her sham “nonprofit” organization, who are the only ones who stand to benefit from a commercial horse slaughter facility opening up in the sparsely populated state of Wyoming.
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“The Moran amendment that was on the House bill that was still – that left the riders on the bill — the House version, was stripped off in conference (committee). And, the language has already come out – and – there’s no riders prohibiting the inspection of horse meat,” says Duquette.
Don’t celebrate just yet. Just because it was stripped out does not mean it is now ok to go ahead. I have spoken to the USDA personally. They are cutting back. They can not afford to fund the inspections they are responsible for now let alone add horse meat to their plate. Especially for foreign markets. The only way Americans will eat horse meat is if they are unaware.
Here is an article I just finished
Horse breeding in America…..from a former breeder, and horse trader
One of the consistencies you will see throughout the horse world is the approximate number of unwanted horses. Whether you are a pro slaughter person or against, people all estimate that there are approximately 100,000 excess horses in America each year.
Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or advanced mathematics to figure this out but simply a little Google time and a few phone calls.
Here are some of the numbers turned in by associations.
AQHA: Approx. 130,000 to 160,000 per year
APHA: Approx. 35,000 per year
Jockey Club: Approx. 30,000 per year
Those are some of the more popular horses in the US. Many of the other breeds such as Appaloosa, Arabian, Morgan, Tennessee Walker, Missouri Fox Trotter, Spotted Saddle Horse, American Saddle Bred, Standard Bred, ponies, Belgiums, Clydes, Friesians, Vanners, Rocky Mountain, POA, etc. range from 5000 to 15000 each year. (These numbers reflect horses registered) Although not specifically all “foals” that number works out to be correct when you average out each year.
This of course does not take into account the “unregistered horses” each year. Take for example the “Jockey Club” Many TB’s are used for racing but many are also bred and used for jumping, dressage, etc. so the numbers are just a starting point.
Consider this….
The major players account for approx. 200,000 horses each year. Considering that there are more breeds than one person can count, taking into consideration even 10% of all horses in America never get registered, it would be safe to assume a MINUMUM of 500,000 horses are born in America each year. Realistically the number could be as high as one million but for argument’s sake let’s stick with 500,000.
If there are 100,000 unwanted horses in the US that would call for a 20% reduction in breeding to alleviate this, only 10% if the number is really one million.
With all the back yard breeders in the US it is truly impossible to get an accurate count. However pro slaughter factions claim that 100,000 horses need to be slaughtered every year to keep the market going.
The bit of research I have done I have found out some interesting facts. Prior to the close of slaughter plants the same number of horses were being processed as there are today. I have also found that slaughter has not been stopped at all. Although slaughter plants have closed in the US, the dirty deed has been turned over to foreign markets. Wait…..American horses being shipped off to foreign countries where they pay top prices for horse meet?????
Ok….having been a breeder (currently own 3 stallions that have not been bred in over 3 years one of which is one of the most magnificent examples of his breed) having gone to these auctions, having been in the business of breeding and selling horses prior to the close of slaughter plants…..I have noticed and heard a few things.
The most curious of these things is all the complainers. People that use to dabble in the $500 horse have seen those prices dwindle to nothing. People say openly that slaughter is good for the market. It gives us an outlet to dispose of cheap, undesirable horse. Just fatten them up and they are worth $300 to $600. This low end market has been seriously affected and the people who have lost this outlet claim that slaughter will resolve it.
Some basic economics here.
I build horse trailers. I am a home owner, I buy and sell used trucks and do some farrier work. I use to train horses, breed, board, buy and sell. When the economy went haywire the first thing I noticed was the price of steel skyrocketing. Next was fuel costs. These two factors caused the horse trailer market to increase costs of all it’s products. When the cost of living goes up, when jobs are cut, when the housing market fell apart, when much of America became unemployed, I changed my game plan. No longer were people spending on trailers, horses, training, etc. Everyone was cutting back. I realized I had to change the way I did things simply in order to survive. Now with all this talk about surplus horses I must scratch my head in amazement. Why then are breeders not cutting back? The home builders stopped building, when cars stopped selling they slowed manufacturing…this is basic survival. You don’t create product in a market that can not support it. So…although I use to be on the other side, my basic common sense has brought me here. It is not a matter of who is right or wrong. It is the first thing they teach in basic economics….”The Law of Supply and Demand!” So with that being said, I will not breed until the market can support additional horses and in the interim I will share my opinion to whoever will listen in hopes of improving the quality of life for the wondrous animals we call our friends and family!
~ Z ~
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Once again instead of actually looking at the root of an issue our society opts for the easy button. No wonder China owns half of our debt. As you pat yourselves on the back for reintroducing horse slaughter to the us, please keep in the mind the following facts: Horse slaughter is not humane if performed as it was in 2007. No way around it- if you do not believe it check out the 902 pages of documents on Kaufmanzoning.com. Sorry, but those horses were not acting no matter what the leaders of pro slaughter faction have told you. There have been no changes to the process that is about to restart.. I will bet money that these plants will not have third party monitoring, they will not have access, they will not even create the thousands of jobs SW and her friends have claimed. Secondly- while you may not have given your horse bute, many of us have and according to the FDA, that excludes them from the food chain. Lets be honest too, everyone knows that each and every carcass is not inspected. As it is now, there is no history, no accountability for horses entering the food chain. the EU gets it. They are not going to be purchasing your horse meat no matter how many documents are falsified. By introducing horses that have not been raised to be part of the food chain, you are playing Russian roulette. For petes sake, even the dog food manufacturers wont use it because of the ivermectin and other special treats that kill dogs. Kind of makes you wonder, what do they do to humans? You might not become ill, but maybe your family member will. It might be someone if another country, It might be someones little child. Can you live with yourself when that happens? But then again, it isnt ever about anyone else. Its always about your right to do whatever you want. This is a society. Like it or not. Everything we all do effects everyone else. . There are many of you who believe this will “restore” the industry and put a bottom price back into the market. No, what it will do is to encourage more people to continue to breed instead of looking at demographics and economic factors. It will allow special interest groups like the AQHA and APHA to continue to collect your dollars for registriation fees, breeding fees etc etc etc. You are all being used- slaugher is not an act of alturisim or social awareness. Its all about money. Period.
While some of you believe that you have accomplished a good deed by returning horse slaughter to the us, you will see unintended consequences. People will start looking at your entire industry and asking questions Lobby and special interest dollars are going to be traced.. Are you ready for that to happen? Slaughters return will force more people to be backed into a corner- If they dont want to see their horses go to slaughter so what do they do? Hang onto them longer? Abandon them in hopes that they will fare better than in a kill box. In a twisted way, they are correct. There is nothing humane about a misdirected captive bolt multiple times or misplaced bullet (s), the stunned horse, only to be skinned while still conscious. It takes a special person to commit those acts day in and day out… Wonder where your applicant pool will come from…Prison perhaps?
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CJ, Sue Wallis stated on an open group page (I’m sure you know the one I am talking about since you are a member) that she did not in fact own a horse, Just because her brother breeds, does not mean she herself owns them too.
You people amaze me. Canada has the very same problem with neglected and abandoned horses as we do and they have legal slaughter.
Have any of you even bothered to read what former Mayor Bacon wrote about her little town in Tx when the plants were still open here? Do you honestly think this won’t happen again?? Do you really want a stinkhole in your neighborhood?? Contaminated water supply? Clogged sewers? Stink that is beyond unbearable for upwards of 5 miles when there is even a light breeze?? There goes the neighborhood AND the value of your homes!!! Re-opening these plants is not the answer. Making a registry where every horse has to be registered as well as taxing the stallions would be a start. That in itself would not only create revenue but it would also create jobs. Some of the profits from doing something like this could be used to subsidize low cost gelding and low cost euthanasia.
Another point I’d like to make is that many of you claim to be Christians yet you condone eating horse meat. Get out your Bible’s folks. Flip to Leviticus Chapter 11. Read it!! -
Allowing the slaughtering of our American horses is Unpatriotic, we have praised the horse with helping this country be the country that it is. We are free cause of the horse, George Washington’s horse gallantly carried him through the Revolutionary War, and Paul Revere’s horse helped him announce the British are coming. If not for the horse we would not have won the battles and the wars that we have fought over the centuries and even today, 2001 troops relied on the horse to cross Afghanistan. A horse shot 9 times battled with our troops during the Korean War. If not for the horse we would not have had our spirits lifted through times of hardship, Seabiscuit during the The Great Depression, and even recently with Barbaro, a hero who fought for his life, though his life ended, he brought attention to the horse and to the spirit they have. The icon of freedom that this country is proud of and the pride we carry with it is with the spirit of the Mustang. The Mustang that is now doomed to extinction and slaughter because of this new happening. Our domestic and Wild horses are in danger and all we have to say is oh well. These animals heal our autistic children, for example a study done shown that autistic children with speech problems like not speaking at all eventually started to speak after 3 months of riding lessons, because the HORSE gave them hope, confidence and among all things a healing that nothing else could provide. The Horse has helped our disabled and PSD suffering Veterans out of this and depression by providing a compassion, and hope that humans couldn’t. The Horse is a companion in hospitals to children with Cancer and other illnesses that will eventually kill them, and they also provide companionship to the elderly in nursing homes. We have a companion, a healer, a partner, an entertainer and a War Veteran. Yes Slaughter is an UNPATRIOTIC Act to the HORSE. Shame on you America!
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If you eat horse meat..you are a pathetic being! End of story!
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It is a disgrace to the USA in my opinion to eat Horse meat! We just do not do that in this country!
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Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat, there is no humane way to slaughter a horse. Period. You can humanely euthanize a horse with chemical injections by giving it a tranquilizer first, and then the medicinal shot to end it’s life. But slaughter is done either by the captive bolt, which shoots a hole in the horses head between it’s eys if done properly and supposedly stuns them for 30 seconds while it’s hung by it’s back legs and throat slit and it bleeds out. But statistics show that 60% of the time it’s not done properly. Meaning a horse now has a hole in it’s head (feeling all of that pain and terror) and now they have to try once again to complete the process. Or better yet, how about slaughter in Mexico?? There they don’t bother with a captive bolt. They take a sharp knife, hold the horse in an enclosure and hack at it’s spine until it’s severed, which takes and average of 10 stikes. They say the screaming of the horses can be heard for miles. Dr Temple Grandan, who is THE leading authority on humane methods of slaughter for horses and cattle shocked a meeting held in Las Vegas last spring when she was invited to be the key note speaker for a conference of pro-slaughter people, when she declared that they were incorrect to assume she backed their forum. That until the captive bolt is 90% affective first time out, she would declare the present methods as barbaric and should be illegal. So all that state the taking a horse to slaugther is a kind thing to do are totally uninformed. Yes, those horses that are in pain or can no longer be kept and are starving should be humanely euthanized. But not with the present methods used. And as to the safety of eating these animals….Think about how many drugs have been used before making the decision to send a horse to slaughter? Lameness, illness and infirmity will dictate that most that end up on the tables in other countries are full of a multitude of drugs that will now be fed to children who, it has been proved, are becoming ill from injesting unsafe meat. So tell me, how can anyone think this will be a positive for any animals or human involved???
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Just look at the number of anti slaughter people here and pro slaughter. The anti’s have it! Over 70% of American’s are against horse slaughter and we need them to all get off the couch and call their Congressmen and women and tell them to PASS HR 2966, S 1176 and add S 1281 for good measure. That is the only way we are going to end this discussion and the needless killing of our companions and pet horses.
Oh and there are two Lynn’s on here, 1 pro horse (edited)** and 1 ANTI horse killing, ME!
So I changed my sign on name!Now go call your Congressmen/women!!!
**EDITED BY ADMIN.
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Got to love it. DuQuelle states “we’ve all done it for the love of horses, not the money.” What a load of (____). It’s all about the money. How can a bolt in the head and than hanging from one leg while bleeding to death be for the love of the horse??????? With slaughter plants possible reopening that just insures that a price per pound will be a sure thing, So now all the Pro United Horsemen can continue to load their fields with horses and breed,breed,breed without regard for anytype of betterment of a breed and all the show people will be able to throw away their unwanted or uncolored foals. Because their is a price per pound…
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Try feeding horse meat to school children and watch how many of us parents pull our children from public schools! Feed it to the felons… No one cares if they die from the toxins! Try to put it in our grocery stores and you’ll have a tiger by the tail! Sick, twisted, and morally reprehensible!!! Don’t break your arms patting your sick selves on the back… It’ll take all the fun out of it for you bunch of (____)!
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Read this if you think horse slaughter will bring wealth tp the communities it is practiced in.
Right on Suzanne!!!! I am with you.Paula Bacon, former Mayor of Kaufman, Texas response to “Slaughter of Horses Goes On, Just Not in U.S.”article written in the New York Times
My city was a doormat for horse slaughter with one of the last 3 horse slaughter plants operating in the US. They barraged us with 3 big problems– big environmental problems, stigmatizing the community and economic development–And the plant was a fiscal black hole, locally and beyond. As the mayor in 1986 said, “Quite frankly, we don’t want you here…. You’ve never made a dime for this city and you never will.” But thanks to their ability to outspend the city in order to continue operating no matter what, it took over 20 years to finally see them gone.
A horse slaughter plant is unlike a cattle slaughter plant since horses have much, much more blood than cattle, and that blood cannot be hauled off to be used in fertilizer because of drug residues, The burden on infrastructure by a horse slaughter plant is extreme. Environmental problems are easily quantified – the plant was in constant violation of laws and a taxpayer-funded mandatory $6 million dollar upgrade imminent. Not just with my city but the other places with horse slaughter plants also had a long history of big federal, state and local environmental violations, not paying their fines, etc.
BTW, horses in the U.S. commonly receive medications that are not intended for food animals and are known to cause blood disorders and cancer (even including horse aspirin called ‘bute’ [phenylbutazone] and several other regularly administered medications). Apparently the meat is not a good food choice and neither is it good for making fertilizer.
Also unlike a cattle slaughter operation, a horse slaughter plant creates a hugely negative stigma—understandable since 75% of Americans do not support horse slaughter in this country. Developers declined further interest in this community after asking, “What are all those horse doing there?” and looked very surprised when told. “Not a good fit,” was generally the reason given for their lost interest.
Fiscally, the plant never made the city a dime–WE paid. No sales tax, tiny property tax, Poor paying dangerous jobs, straining our hospital, housing stock and schools. And when their tax records were brought to light, they had paid a mere $5 in federal taxes on sales of $12,000,000. Tax returns for the previous five years showed their tax rate was 3/10 of 1%, which is like you or I paying $300 tax on an income of $100,000. The forensic accountant hired by the city said they sell to themselves overseas at a loss so that their profits only surface overseas.
There are many other serious negative aspects to horse slaughter, like the inquiries from distraught horse owners about stolen horses or family pets bought at auction by the self named ‘kill buyers.’ And then there is the USDA document covering 11 months of 2005 and containing a staggering 906 pages of graphic photos that show what was happening to the horses at the plant in my city and in Fort Worth. Behind the privacy fences were unthinkable, grim violations of federal and state regulations, from mares birthing foals to horses with eyes dangling from their sockets and legs ripped from their bodies.
It’s only Half Done—a GAO report says either make it legal or finish the job and make it illegal so the cruelty, irresponsible ownership and overbreeding are not supported by the safety net of horse slaughter on US soil or elsewhere. We need to pass the federal ban and be done with this ridiculously abusive and Un-American practice.
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I don’t think the issue is what to do with our old unwanted horses and that is what people are not recognizing. Even if I think it is a good thing to bring back horse slaughter in the US so the horses don’t have to travel to Mexico or Canada, this doesn’t answer the number one question. Which horses are we going to slaughter in the US? There are already great concerns and new laws being pushed by the EU because they do NOT want our horses. So unless we are going to start breeding horses for meat here in the US, which horses will go to slaughter and who is going to eat them? Even IF I loved to eat horses, I would want to eat a horse that was bred for human consumption, not a horses that was bred in the US for sports etc and has been given wormers, lasix, bute, fly sprays etc. Who is going to eat those horses? Cattle are killed generally before the age of 2 and there is a reason for that. Most people in the United States eat beef.
I am friends with people in Belguim and the Netherlands where not too long ago they started riots when it was found that horse meat was filled with drugs that they were told was not there. People were in grocery stores throwing anything with horse meat in it on the floor. The horses that they breed are not the problem.. the problem is our old drugged horses entering into their food supply.
Then we enter the argument of what is humane.. Slaughter is NOT humane for horses
“In its 2000 report on methods of Euthanasia, the American Veterinary Medical Association stated that the captive bolt gun should not be used on equines unless head restraint could be assured. This is because of the relatively narrow forehead of equines, their head shyness and the fact that the brain is set back further than in cattle for which the gun is intended. It is difficult for an operator to assure proper placement of the gun.”No slaughter house ever found a practical way to restrain the heads of the horses, so by the AVMA’s very definition, the process was not acceptable. The result was a very large number of ineffective stuns. These misplaced blows undoubtedly caused severe pain until a stunning or fatal blow was delivered. ”
Many horses are slaughtered while still conscious due to these problems. Slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia.
“The captive bolt is not a proper instrument for the slaughter of equids, these animals regain consciousness 30 seconds after being struck, they are fully aware they are being vivisected.”Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM & former Chief USDA Inspector
In Mexico they are sometimes stabbed repeatedly in the neck many times with a Puntilla knife until paralyzed. In Canada they are many times shot with a 22 and this has proven to be non-effective and the horses are seen trying to stand after being shot.
“Most people do not know the torture inflicted upon these intelligent horses. It is the ultimate betrayal to those which so trust and love us.
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Not nice admin. If you are going to open the subject, you should allow both sides to voice their opinions and that includes allowing links included in posts for people to see for themselves. You can’t be biased when you open a can of worms to public comment.
**All links are deleted on all comments from all sides of all issues.
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CHRISTINE!!! YOU ARE SO WRONGLY INFORMED!
Take your brain out of someone else’s pocket and RESEARCH this issue FOR YOURSELF!!!
EUTHANIZED equines CAN NOT BE SLAUGHTERED!!!
If you believe that they are going to kill horses in a “humane” way you are very, very wrong!
Ask them to show you the model for “humane” commercial horse slaughter and you will be ignored. The blanket statements the pro-COMMERCIAL slaughter people make are completely unverifiable and unjustified.
They use alarmist tactics to sway uninformed and misinformed people in the general population.
Educate YOURSELF!
The only way of killing a horse for harvest of flesh is with a very big, very sharp knife to the throat—which they cannot use inside a commercial equine slaughter facility because of the risk of harm to human handlers—or—a shot to the head. You know NOTHING about euthanasia to make the statement you did, Christine. Euthanasia is an intravenous shot administered, full of chemicals that stops the beating heart of the animal and it cannot be administered to animals being harvested for meat. In fact, they cannot give them anything to calm them even because it is dangerous for human consumption. The way they “calm” the horses is by restricting their access to food and water completely, making them weak.
Chrisitine!!! You seem like one of those people who got caught in the United Horsemen’s net and maybe paid them some money to be given their “talking points” they promote to people who have not done their own research and formed their own opinion… on their own.
Believe me, I’m telling the God’s honest truth when I tell you that I almost got caught up in their little web myself! When I began researching this issue over a year ago they almost had me believing their LIES until I dug a little deeper and EVERYTHING they say is unsupported and falls apart upon challenge with factual data. Even Dr. Grandin is distancing herself from this small group of people who want to make LOTS AND LOTS of money in a less populated state from the massive suffering of equines—AND FEED BAD MEAT TO PEOPLE! The meat IS POISONED by extremely high levels of adrenaline and cortisol!!!
Learn the FACTS for yourself: Google “Commercial Horse Slaughter.”
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I agree with rita
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ru serious! Im crying. THis is retarded
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This just breaks my heart that once again, horse slaughter , and processing is likely going to be allowed. I shudder at the thought of those poor, trusting animals trying to get up after being cruelly stabbed, and shot, and such. I just think it is so morally wrong. This has to stop.
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For those of you who are understandibly opposed to re-opening the horse slaughter industry. What is your solution to the increase in neglected and abused horses? What is your solution for the horses that no one can care for?? Also since our economy has declined, what is your solution for horse owners who due to job loss, or layoffs, can not afford to take care of their horses, yet they have a very hard time even giving good broke horses away???
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Oh yes, and “horsemilk“ is a new product that will be served up, creating a whole new channel for horse slaughter – FOALS. Don`t kid yourself, this is not and has never been “about the horse.“ It`s about money and abuse of power..
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I don’t like the whole killing horses for food thing…how about start at the ROOT of the issue.
Backyard breeders! They breed for the stupidest reasons, cos foals are soooo cute. Most stallions should be gelded. Breeding farms should be limited to how many they can breed every year. And especially those racing farms…way too many babies born when just one might make it…Im sure too often the money losers end up dead or if lucky, a new home. Premarin should be illegal as all those foals born (unless lucky to be homed) all end up dead.
I dunno..it’s such a screwed up issue, it’s insane. I love horses, they’re up on a pedestal to me, we’ve built this country on the back of a horse, personally we should respect and treat them much better than we do. Breeding just needs to be limited and highly regulated.And yeah, they’re not fit for people to eat…all those drugs. blah……
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I have horses and they are in their forever home. They do not need to worrry about being slaughtered. However, the reality is thousands upon thousands of horses are sent every week to be slaughtered in Mexico and Canada. Many more are starved to death. I am constantly begged to help find horses homes from owners who can no longer feed them. Right now, I need folks to step up to the plate and agree to adopt one or more of the little over three thousand horses that I am trying to find homes for. All of you anti-slaughter people please let me know how many horses you are willing to adopt in the next couple of weeks. I would love to see all of them placed in forever homes. There are horses of all shapes, colors, breed, sizes, some can be rode and some can’t. Please let me know how many each of you are willing to take. There are horses in each state needing a good home.
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Slaughtering is never Humane, especially if it is for an animal that was born to be a pet as horses are in this country. Anywhere there are slaughter houses whether in this country or others, there is sure to be cruelty & inhumane treatment happening. Anything that is going to be killed for profit is subseptible to abuse !!!
I don’t think most of the people in this country want horses to be bred for meat nor the ones born as pets ending up slaughtered whether it is legal or not, it is WRONG! Not to mention they are exposed to chemicals in medications they may have received that is dangerous for consumption.
Horses historically were once our partner & main source of transportation in life, without them helping us we would not had been able to develop into the modern times that we live today .. They don’t deserve such treatment as in being slaughtered…They deserve to be honored for their part in our history of this country, not for meat, but as a companion!
Just because their are too many dogs & cats in this country that people neglect & abandon, does that mean we should slaughter them too? No, it’s not humane euthanasia & not appropriate, nor is it our culture to kill these animals for meat & profit…same goes for horses!!! Just sayin’ Makes me sick to think of this country legalizing horse slaughter… it would not be a solution, but only a worsening problem!!! -
Please, I am still waiting for people to step forward and let me know how many horses each of the anti-slaughter folks can adopt. We can start placing horses with you within a week.
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Let me give you some facts. I live one hour south of of Fort MacLeod which is the Alberta Canada slaughter plant. Due to the non med requirements of the E.U. horses are kept in feed pastures (up to 160 acres) and are very well fed. Before you scream inhumane, this is NO different than any riding stable. Horses stand around and are fed. They are given hay, and only grained when they move into the final stage. Again. there is no more stress than a boarding stable.
Horse slaughter is AN OPTION. Where I live, it costs $200 for a vet visit, $135 for the euthanization AND $195 for the rendering truck. This is money an owner without money can not afford and non of the anti slaughter seem to be able to come up with the money to help out.
Horses arrive into Canada on two certificates. One, a trailer load of horses and they MUST be killed in 96 hours and the rest on individual health certificates meaning they can be kept, feed and SOLD or slaughtered. The plant is very good about trying to help save mares, foals etc. IF they are on this type of certificate. It is the same certificate ALL horses need to travel to shows or for breeding.
There are feed farms in Montana and probably 30 in Texas. I would NOT want a horse to go to the U.S. Canada has strict guidelines and the kill floor is monitored not only by video but also inspectors from the SPCA . They no longer allow PETA as their reps through fire crackers at the horses in the chutes resulting in major injuries and breaks. They were filming and were going to say this was caused by staff of the plant.
The horses are killed in the same manner that cattle are. a DEAD BOLT to the brain. They are hit from both sides. They do NOT slice the throat while the horse is brain alive. That is a scare tactic put out by HSUS and its representatives.
The American Vet association members who stated the dead bolt did not work was primarily composed of the HSUS rep vets (those whose education has been paid for or grants given by HSUS in exchange for total obedience. This is the same group that refuse to euthanize a healthy horse.
The problem was chute design. In the past, (about 30 years ago) horses were killed at cattle facilities. That has not occured for a long time.
The horse does NOT gain ANY conscious state 30 seconds after a dead bolt to the brain.
I would like to add that the meat is NOT poisoned. AND with the new guidelines there will be a no med guaranty of SIX months. Adrenaline does NOT poison the meat. Horseback America is the usual plant from HSUS that start with..I was in favor of slaughter until I did my homework…THAT is the directive way that the HSUS asked their reps to put forth at the Baltimore Conference.
They do NOT restrict feed or water to make the horses weak. That would be counter productive. This is a person steating they know facts when in fact, what they are saying is nonsense. I am part of the watch dog group for the slaugher and I watch one day per month. I bet posters on this forum have not and if they claim they have I want proof.
Horses in Canada are NEVER shot with a 22 gun. There is a shotgun on the premises should it be required by it has not been used.
Dr. Grandin has NOT distanced herself.
This is an emoional issue and sadly, those who are against slaughter can not find an alternative. They would rather state breedrs need to stop producing and that will cure it (even if no horses were bred the market would still have over 1 MILLION) The anti-slaughter group quickly state SOMEONE MUST DO SO”METHING…but they have NO realistic suggestions other than to state no one should be allowed to own horses. I have worked in rescue for THIRTY YEARS. DEFHR and restitution based rescues are corrupt due to the amounts they charge for “boarding” the horses while they claim to find homes…they only do so when they seize horses from individuals with a home, a childs University Fujnd/././. Anything of value they can seize or lay claim to.
I would like those opposed to state here, on this forum, the IMMEDIATE SOLUTION…hay shortages, water shortages, and cold weather…take that into account…SHOW ME A SOLUTION
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Thank God! It is terrible what the so called animal lovers have put our horses through!!! This has caused good people to starve their animals who would never have done that! The slaughter houses are a neseccary evil! I have been to horses rescues and have witnessed the cruelty that they have inflicted on animals…they cant take any more in, they are all at capacity and i have seen some horses at these rescues that needed to be put down! Quntity over quality of life is bull! People cant afford them and also cant give them away so because of all the bleeding hearts out there they arew starving!! I have horses and love them but they will get a bullet before I let them go to a rescue or starve!
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I have read both sides of this issue, and I have seen the videos secretly obtained from slaughterhouses and posted for anyone to look at. There is no humane way to euthanize a horse. We give our horses ivermectin each month for worming, and I am not sure about bute, but I would bet that my horses former owners may have given him some at some point. Horses need medications for many reasons, and these medications make the horse unfit for human consumption. I also saw someone’s post on reading Leviticus, Chapter 11, and I have just realized that we are not supposed to eat pig’s either. As much as I love bacon and sausage, I don’t eat any other type of pork, and will now stop eating that also. Back to the horses. This is all about the money and don’t let anyone fool you. For those of you who think that slaughter is a good idea, get on you tube and watch some of the videos. I know firsthand that horses smell fear, and just like in humans, this increases adrenalin and cortisol in the horse before it is killed, or while it is being skinned, yet not dead. These houses can’t possibly be monitored the way they should be. Did you all miss the McDonalds issue where they had a video of the chicken house and the chicken was being swung around by it’s legs just to torture it. They thought it was funny. I don’t know yet, but I bet when McDonalds dropped them like a hotcake, they will now be out of business. It takes a very sick individual to work in these plants. Look at some of the downed cow videos out there. We have some of the sickest people in the world in this country, so hey, let’s open up some more venues so the sicko’s can have their fun torturing an innocent animal. My thought on this is, I bet 99% of Americans do not believe in eating horse meat. We don’t eat horse meat in the US. So, for the one that posted that he does eat horse meat, I suggest you all pack up your bags and move back to your country to do so. We also don’t eat cats and dogs, so those of you who do can also leave. Does this sound cruel? Perhaps, but our country was founded on certain things, and one of those was Christianity despite what the idiot leading our country says. Wake up people. We will be no better than Mexico, Iraq, Iran, China, and so many other countries that eat domesticated animals. I for one support my horse rescue friends 100% and will continue to help them monetarily as long as I can. I also work for a non profit greyhound rescue as VP. We have got to become a more humane society, but sadly, we have women killing their own babies so they can get their beauty sleep, so I think it may be too late to even save the US. This makes me feel sick thinking about it. This is not the country I grew up in and I am only 50. Please sign each and every petition you can find on this issue and sign it. Contact your congressmen and senators. Flood their inboxes, but also fax them. The numbers are easily obtained. I would love each of them to get in their offices after Thanksgiving and find thousands of pages of faxes from the outraged people of America.
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Debbie Wooten I totally agree… Those of you who claim slaughter in the US would be humane are seeing through a blind eye… Just look at the evidence captured on YouTube videos of how animals are most often treated in slaughter houses and one can only imagine the stuff that never gets caught on tape. It will be no better for horses slaughtered in the future than the cruelty that most often happens to animals in the meat industry. Get real people, anything that is going to be killed for profit is susceptible to abuse, because the majority of people in that industry most often see animals as just meat & money, but not as the living beings they really are that have feelings !!! If horses had a say so they would not want to die for profit as meat (would you prefer to die like that?), and also the percentage of people in the US would be against consuming horse meat.
Those of you who think the dead bolt gun they would use on slaughter horses is humane are most certainly wrong. Horses are forced into a shafts extremely scared & panicking when there number one instinct is to be head shy trying to protect their selves, which often results in the bolt missing the mark because the horse moves when it is being shot , therefore it remains alive to suffer further to a gruesome death…
Those of you that don’t believe in horse rescues are completely ignorant… There are plenty of people who rescue horses including me that give horses quality of life as they deserve, so to say you would rather slaughter a horse or shoot them in the head before surrendering them to a rescue is ignorant. There may be a few rescues out there that are hoarders more than caregivers, but that is a minimal few.
Those of you who claim horse slaughter would be the solution to the over population is an ignorant notion… Horses will continue to be bred irresponsibly by people, neglected by irresonsible owners, & people will continue to buy horses irresponsibly without the knowledge or means to care for them… Animals will always suffer in the hands of humans like this & legalizing slaughter will not fix the problem, but open the door for people to breed horses for meat! Legalizing slaughter of horses is no solution to the current neglect of horses out there, but only a problem that will increase horses being abused onto their untimely death…There are better things to do to manage the horse industry & population than slaughtering these wonderful creatures, like laws to restrict breeding, requiring breeding licenses, and the government creating regulations to provide low cost castration, euthanasia, & disposal when necessary.
Just because horses are currently being shipped to other countries to slaughter & suffer the journey, does not make it right to make it legal in the US just so they don’t have to go as far & suffer the same fate !! This is a ridiculous notion & it will only be a cause of increased suffering of horses in the future !!!
Until the law is laid down with breeding restrictions & regulations for steriling animals nothing will change for the better. If slaughter is legal for profit, then you can expect people to start breeding horses for meat just to make some money, and who in this country wants horses bred for meat? I would say the great majority would say it is WRONG ! Horses historically were once our partner & main source of transportation in life, without them helping us we would not had been able to develop into the modern times that we live today .. They don’t deserve such treatment as in being slaughtered…They deserve to be honored for their part in our history of this country, not for meat, but as a companion!
Just because their are too many dogs & cats in this country that people neglect & abandon, does that mean we should slaughter them too? No, it’s not humane euthanasia & not appropriate, nor is it our culture to kill these animals for meat & profit…same goes for horses!!! -
I agree to some of the comments,however there are some animals been glorified to the point of stardom in a lot of peoples eyes, horses is one of them,,its true horses helped man kind to get where we are today,,but then again so did the mules,donkeys, and oxen (cattle) ,,we used them as a tool, as was intended even in the bible, however abuse of any kind to any living creature is also very wrong in the bible, some animals were ment as food, and some were ment as a helpful tool. Humane treatment is the key, I believe that they should open them up, as there is an overwhelming amount of animals that have no where to go,and not enough feed to feed them,,there has to be a counter balance, even in the wild there is a counter balance to keep from over population, when there is overpopulation look back in history there was plagues,and natural disasters, yes it can be sad but who are we to change how nature works,,without our counter balance who knows what it could bring about in the environment.
Don’t know about you but that could get diecy, are you willing to live thru the repercussions it could cause??
What new and horrible diseases are going to come outta this if we stop slaughter houses?
So if you are willing to take that chance, instead of just talk How much time and money are all yall will to put out personally to find homes from all these horses now and more to come,cause just like other animals they like to breed. -
We have had to stop breeding quality show horses because the bottom of the market fell out. I have a family to feed and if the sale price of horses do not come back up ( with slaughter reopening) then you can call BULL !
Lets just wait and see …
Oh and PS , there are hundreds of illegal plants still operating in the US that are even MORE inhumane than the ones that you all forced closed !
What next .. stop the slaughter of all hoofed animals …. Ponder that over your next steak dinner !-
We appreciate the passion with which each of you share your thoughts and ideas. HOWEVER, if you swear, threaten or personally verbally attack another person, chances are pretty good I’m not going to post your comment. Thank you. – Administrator
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Brownfield Poll
Should horse slaughter/processing be brought back to the U.S.? Every poll I have seen reflects the same concensus.
Yes 23.94% (214 votes)
No 75.28% (673 votes)
I don’t care. 0.78% (7 votes)
Total Votes: 894
This from your own page……Congress did not listen. Shame, truly a shame.
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I have owned horses for over thirty years, the saddest day of my life was Oct 19, 2001 when I had my gelding “peppers” humanely euthanized, well let me tell ya, there was no “humane” about the four injections it took to stop his heart while I laid across him crying! I had to put down a three year old filly this year that I raised and she went alot quicker with one 22 bullet, her death was “humane” and she provided meat ! I hope there will be a balance when the laws are passed, not one sided. If you look at the old westerns and during war, horses fed people when needed, and maybe miniature horses are “companion animals but horses are livestock! God bless all these people with their crazy dreams!
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There is no humane way to slaughter, I wish people would stop saying there is stop and think about it figure it out people. No to opening horse slaughter plants. Hell no>
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After signing petition after petition over the past 2 years against horse slaughter, against reopening horse slaughter plants, stiffer penalties on those illegally shipping horses out of the country to be slaughtered, writing over and over to my State Senator, and House Representitives, and even the President (who promised us he would never again allow horse slaughter houses to be reopened)…still somehow, someone had enough money to fill someones pockets to look the other way. Really!?!?!?
More than 70% of the US POPULATON OPPOSE HORSE SLAUGHTER! How can you stab us in the heart like this!?
Again, I have wrote all of the above to address the amendment set to be voted on. Again, I feel someone is going to get paid off to look the other way. How many times to we have to yell “WE DONT WANT HORSE SLAUGHTER IN THIS COUNTRY”? And it looks like other countries dont either, they are being misled into thinking this meat is fit for human consumption? What a horrible thing to do to other people!I AGREE, I there needs to be limits on breeders heading to the house for votes. Limit the breeders, the biggest culprits like the Quarter Horse industry, Throughbred Racing Industry, The PMU Industry, and more. Just like in canine and feline breeding, there are limits, the horse industry should be NO DIFFERENT! The limits should still be strictor in Canine and Feline because our animal shelters are still overrun by unwanted pets, and ignorant pet owners and breeders. So should the Horse breeding Ranches. I love horses, raised some, sold some, bought some, and I am a horse trainer, love them so very much. And I cannot fathom the comments from Mr. Dork-ette for saying this has nothing to do with profit or money! Really, what are you doing when you dont want a horse….selling it! If you cant give it a good home you send it off to be killed! BUT YOU STILL MAKE MONEY ON IT DONT YOU! You and the breeders hate that you can only make a couple hundred on a horse going to auction (aka: slaughter) when before when slaughter houses were open, you made THOUSANDS! HECK YES IT IS ABOUT PROFIT! We are not stupid. Also, the HSUS has nothing to do with this, they only profit off themselves, they dont give to animals or shelters, they pocket the money for themselves. Pay them and they will say anything you want.
The Browfield Poll says it all. Keep the slaughter plants CLOSED! And lets all do something to make Washington here our pleas to keep the closed and put into law strict regulations on overbreeding. Ever since the PMU drug, Premarin has been exposed as causing Cancer in women, Most doctors wont even prescribe it…yet they are still making it! Why? This needs to be shut down and save thousands of mares and their foals. The BLM consistantly takes our Free Wild Mustangs off Public land in forced roundups, and dont even tell the public how many wild mustangs and burros actually get adopted, what about the majority of them going off to slaughter to Mexico? One semi loaded with horses bound for Mexico got busted…what happened to those horses? What happened to the drivers, and wasn’t it proven that they got paid by the BLM to do it? They are doing a lot of covering up out there. We need to help the horse rescuers that are taking on horses to prevent them from getting killed and it is much like animal shelters, it is overrun. They need hay badly yet hay is getting exported to China instead of to the horse rescues.
It is truely a sad time in our lives when our requests, our voices are no longer heard because money controls greed over ethics. -
if slaughter is sooo humane, why use a word that is associated with the carnage of war. simple, because killing is never humane. if you are talking to a person who says “it is or can be possible”, they are lying, plain and simple. check out youtube and enter “horse slaughter” and watch a few of them. get back to me on that one, please!
everyone should know the meat from equines is tainted with chemicals that can impair your health, accumulate in the brain and over time kill the carnivore that consumes it. how many ways can we say this til it sinks in? but the “pro” ppl/group here seems blind to all the arguments on this subject, keep asking the same ridiculous questions, or put forth some stupid story line or “worry” about all the old, used up, unwanted horses starving to death in this economy. get real, if you want to kill horses you don’t care about them.
Yet, here they are on this page, why? because they are PAID to be here, google this for more info. this is the newest form of work at home for a lot of people that are broke, have a computer, time and no moral compass. the average is about $10 a post, if 10 posts = $100 for the day.
i mean, think about the bs that is being spewed on this page. never do they mention the over breeding of thousands of equines for the race industry or AQHA, etc. always the backyard breeders, shifting blame away from the real players,
just follow the money my friends, it never lies.
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I am an owner of 4 horses. One is an 8 year old off the track throughbred who is THE sweetest animal on earth. He was saved from the Fingerlake track in NY. They have a great re-homing program that all tracks should adopt. The second one we got was an abused appaloosa/welsh pony that a trainer had rescued and worked with for 8 years before she felt he was adoptable. I got him for my daughter. He is a large pony and although he is sweet as pie, and she did a great job training him, he still has spooky moments because of the abuse he endured when he was younger. The next one is an 11 hand small pony mare we rescued from Camelot horse sale in NJ. She definately has been abused is very non-trusting..but sometimes I feel like we are making progress…she does not seem to want much to do with humans or other horses. The last one also is a Camelot rescue. She came to us with strangles which we are still dealing with. She is a medium sized welsh/arab pony. This is my point, I will probably never part with any of them as long as I am breathing. There are people like me who just want them to get to live their lives. There are thousands of us on facebook scouring the rescues and taking in what we can. And I am also friends with hundreds of rescues and they do not take in more than they can handle and admit when they are full. So there are places for these horses to come to. I do not think that Frank at Camelot has sent a horse to slaughter is over 3 years because the homes DO open up. This is a country of folks who LOVE horses and we find homes for them. If they are lucky enough to be picked up by Camelot, End of the Line horse rescue, SunDew Saves, or any of the numorous groups out West such as Starlight Sanctuary or Auction.net, those horses WILL be saved. So I can tell you that if you put them out there hearts and homes WILL open. I see it happening week after week. But it is true that we need to become a more responsible nation. As Bob Barker on the Price is Right used to say, “Please spay and neuter your pets”. I want to say that we do need to stop breeding all the thoroughbreds for that one in a million KY Derby winner. We need to stop the breeding of mares for their urine (who thought of that anyway?) As a woman turning 50 I will go through menopause without the need of that because I know how awful it is. And we need to stop allowing backyard breeding. Horses are expensive and time consuming to care for and only those who truly love them will do it. But I love all our babies and would not change a thing. And I cannot in my wildest nightmares see any of them hanging from a butchers hook.
So, the United Horsemen, founded by cattle rancher & WY State Rep. (interesting combo.), Sue Wallis – who doesn’t even OWN a horse, think that horrifically slaughtering horses is for the horses? Huh, interesting. I don’t honestly believe the horses would view it in such light.
What I want to know is what are we REALLY going to do with all the “unwanted” abandoned and starving animals they keep talking about saving with slaughter when slaughter doesn’t help them? Obviously, since it’s still available now just over the border, yet we still have a problem. Couple that with Sue Wallis and her team of greedy butchers having already set to work forming IBEA – International Equine Business Association. Sounds like a nice horse meat export business venture doesn’t it? They’re already talking about raising horses for food. So, when the slaughterhouses are buying all the fat young horse flesh raised to be food, what is America planning on doing with all the old, infirmed, skinny horses that will STILL NEED HELP!! Oh, no Dave, I’m quite sure it’s ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! You may as well just come clean because you’re not going to be able to hide behind the welfare guise for long!!
Wake UP America!!! This is not good for you, the horses or the country. Why are we being railroaded by a limited few (only 1% of horses in America are bought into the slaughter pipeline) who are forcing us to regress and relive an ugly history of horse slaughter that we’ve already gotten rid of once because it was disgusting, immoral, predatory, costly, bad for the environment, bad for communities and didn’t solve the problem. It created the problem and is the problem. We need to pass S.1176 and HR 2966 and give the TRUE HORSEMEN the opportunity to actually correct the market place. Americans don’t eat horses nor should we be forced to pay the USDA to inspect their carcasses!!