Finally, some good journalism on this topic. I learned a great deal, and have to say, I much prefer to hear fact-based, real information about this situation than the idealistic and theoretical argument that horse slaughter will solve all our problems.
I dislike slaughter for meat. I also understand that a lot of people cannot keep their horses anymore. But on that note if I knew I could no longer keep a horse and knew he would most likely end up in a slaughter house, I would just put him down myself instead of allowing him to suffer. I'd rather be faced with the smll cost of a vet or possibly a bullet than have him wind up on a plate in Europe. As for the mustangs it's their land not the ranchers. I personally do not want to have and explain one day to my child why she can no longer see real mustangs instead of just pictures in a book.
I completely agree. Horse slaughter is not acceptable. The breeder/rancher welfare programs need to be ended. Why should taxpayers be forced to subsidize the over breeding of horses and then expected to agree to slaughter them. This is ridiculous and the few cattlemen and cowboys present in Las Vegas are certainly not representative of the American horse industry. I see no representation of English equestrian sports, Parelli people or the thoroughbred people. The answer is responsibility. Horse ownership is at least a 25 year commitment. I am a life long horse owner. My horses will die of natural causes or be euthanized by a local vet.
Horse slaughter & American culture & values - We don't eat horsemeat in this country so why produce/sell it to others? The meat is toxic with drugs not approved for human or other animal consumption. Horsemeat was outlawed in pet food in the 1970s. Zoos have mostly phased it out, due to the public disapproval and the toxic substances. Our domestic horses are pets/companions/friends; how could we end their lives this wretched way? If we're going to slaughter our horses for meat, then why don't we slaughter our cats and dogs for meat & sell that to Asia too? There is no way to humanely slaughter horses because of their heightened sensitivities and awareness levels and prey animal fear factor. Our wild horses & burros are protected by law. Is there any other food product produced in the U.S. and exported for human consumption that we don’t eat ourselves? Why would we do that when it is wrong on so many levels? Here are some horse slaughter videos - all graphic displays of pure torture, in Canadian and Mexican facilities, and in U.S. facilities when the plants were still open. To see what these poor souls endure during the transport and slaughter processes - many are injured or killed during transport - those who survive the transport are often butchered and skinned alive. Would you have that on your conscience, anyone? http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000528 http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/ No overpopulation of wild horses & burros exists - When is the press going to get it that there are only 20-30K wild horses & burros left in the wild in the ten Western States as opposed to 1-3M head of non-native cattle? Wild herds consume less than 2% of all forage allocated to grazing wildlife and domestic livestock on the public domain. Less than 3% of the nation’s beef is raised on public lands subsidized by the American taxpayer. Wild horses and burros are native to N. America by fossil evidence and are wildlife by case law (ie Colvin v. Hodel) and by Congressional designation. Habitat reductions and herd removals have threatened and endangered these species of special designation. Hundreds of individual distinct herds are now extinct on the public lands. America’s wild horses and burros deserve their fair share of their legal Western public lands.
Thank you so much Ms Netherlands for speaking up for the horses. Horses have enriched my life is so many ways. They deserve our respect and gratitude, not the horrible hand that has been dealt them from the likes of Sue Wallis and her cohorts. Wish there were more people like you out there fighting for them. I have 13 right now. Many are rescues. They make the best companions, trail buddies. Keep up the good work and know there are many others that love horses completely and truly and not for what we can get out of their dead carcasses. I just hope to live to see the day that the slaughter ends.
Thank you, Horse Channel for the very good article on a very sad subject! One seldom sees information on this topic supported by so many facts. There are solutions for at-risk horses that are vastly more reasonable than the brutal slaughter process. I think that people must somehow convince themselves that slaughter is more like euthanasia and less like being butchered alive, in order to justify sending a trusting horse to such a tortured death. To even be talking about the possibility of slaughtering horses as a legal industry in this country again is beyond rediculous! What we should all be focused on is how to keep kill buyers from shipping America's horses to Canada and Mexico, and how to rehome or humanely euthanize them. A horse, burro, or mule should never, EVER be killed for profit!
Thank you Simone Netherlands/George Knapp and ALL who stand up for these beautiful HORSES. AMazing isn't it how the AQHA, one of the largest breeders are Pro-Slaughter along with other's, yet this is never brought up in the discussions of the Pro-Slaughter advocates, so sad that these people consider horses a mere commodity and do not care what happens to them. If there horses that they sit upon only knew what is in store for them once they have tired of them and onto the next. They have no connection what so ever and should not be allowed to even own a horse with that sick and morbid attitude. I guess they would eat their horse too. Horse Slaughter Plant's in the USA is a complete SHAME, to even think of opening them to create a better Horse Industry is a SIN and shameful and heartless. SUe Wallis, to even think of feeding these horses to school children, the homeless and inmates is a complete disgrace from A to Z..Just as SUe Walli's poems make NO SENCE either does anything she claims she is doing for the Horses and the abudance of.......ALL ABOUT GREED
Thank you so much Horse Channel for this article concerning the ugly institution of horse slaughter. Having had considerable experience with killbuyers and their ilk, the horse traders, this awful business has got to go! It is a most reprehensible "business" from the beginning to the bloody end. Please continue to expose us concerned horse owners about such events as these mentioned in the article. Thank you once again.
Thank you so much for this educational and enlightening article regarding horse slaughter. Many Americans think that because the U.S. has closed it's slaughter plants that it isn't happening anymore. How wrong they are...10,000 a month are being slaughtered across the borders in CAnada and Mexico. It is a horrible and barbaric death. The whole process takes 1/2 hour and the horse is conscious during it, absolutely horrible. No animal should die like that, and especially such a sensitive creature that is so special in so many ways. There is a humane death for the horse when it comes the right time, that answer is euthanasia. Thank you again for this article, there should be more on this subject and also of the plight of our Wild American Mustangs in the future.
Horse Channel! THANK YOU for an eye-opening, educational article. I have recently become aware of the horrors our American horses face once irresponsible owners are 'done' with their friends. How can someone take their friend, who has taken care of them, out of his clean, dry stall, leave him at auction, wondering where they are, when they are coming back to take him home. His owner is long gone, with his few hundred dollars from the kill buyer. A few hundred dollars for the life of a friend. No looking back, no giving a second thought as to what will happen to him now.. I don't think I would want a friend that could treat another being as cruel as this. Who's to say they wouldn't sell me out for a couple hundred bucks? Horse Slaughter does NOT belong in America. We do NOT eat our horses. Transporting American horses to Canada and Mexico should be illegal as well. Our horses are NOT meant to be for human consumption. The contaminants in everything we give to our horses to keep them healthy are highly toxic to humans. Yet, Canada and Mexico slaughterhouses are sending toxic meat to European countries, China and Japan. We need to remember our PMU Mares also. They are kept pregnant ALL of their lives as they stand night and day, hooked to a machine to catch their urine. When they finally foal, that baby is ripped from his Mamma and yes.. sent to slaughter or left to die a horrible death. When these mares have done their 'job' being tortured all their lives, standing constantly, not able to lie down, be with their babies.. They too, are shipped off to a horrible death. We Americans are better than this! Horses are now considered companion animals just like our dogs and cats. We need to be more responsible. When you decide on horse ownership, decide upon it for LIFE. For their life and the joy they bring into you, a loving and caring owner.