US Horse Meat Trade in Decline
More farmers going out of business as their meat trade becomes uneconomical. More biarre speciesism as states ban horse slaughter but allow other routine murder of farm animals to continue. More evidence of the abuses of modern farming
STAFFORDSVILLE, Ky. — The bidding for the black pony started at $500, then took a nose dive. [src]
There were no takers at $300, $200, even $100. With a high bid of just $75, the auctioneer gave the seller the choice of taking the animal off the auction block. But the seller said no.
“I can’t feed a horse,” the man said. “I can’t even feed myself.”
Kentucky, the horse capital of the world, is being overrun with thousands of horses no one wants–some of them healthy, but many of them starved and broken-down. Other parts of the country are overwhelmed too.
The reason: opposition to the slaughter of horses for human consumption overseas.
Public backlash–and state bans of slaughters or the threat of them–have led to the closing of several slaughterhouses that used to take in horses no longer suitable for racing or work. Auction houses are glutted with horses, and many rescue organizations have run out of room.
Horses have been reported chained in eastern Kentucky and left for days without food or water. Others have been turned loose in the countryside.
It is legal in all states for owners to shoot their unwanted horses. But it can cost as much as $150 for a veterinarian to put a horse down, and disposing of the carcass can be costly. Many places ban the burying of horses because of pollution fears.
Sending horses to a glue factory isn’t an option; adhesives are mostly synthetic nowadays, said Lawrence Sloan of the Adhesive and Sealant Council. And because of public opposition, horse meat is no longer turned into dog food, said Christopher Heyde of the Society for Animal Protective Legislation.
Anti-slaughter groups insist the market eventually will sort itself out, meaning fewer unwanted horses.
“I can’t absorb the price,” said Nelson Francis, who raises gaited horses. “You try to hang on until the price changes, but it looks like it’s not going to. . . . What do I do? I’ve got good quality horses I can’t market.”
“Kill buyers” formerly paid pennies a pound for unwanted horses; they packed them into trucks bound for slaughterhouses, which would ship the horse meat to Europe and Asia.
However, public opposition to the eating of horse meat has caused the number of horses slaughtered each year in America to drop to about 90,000 in 2005 from more than 300,000 in 1990, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Only one–in DeKalb, Ill.–still butchers horses for human consumption.
“What do you do with them all?” said Lori Neagle, executive director of the new Kentucky Equine Humane Center in Lexington. “What do you do with 90,000 head of horses?”
California expressly bans horse slaughter; similar measures are under consideration in Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Illinois. Meanwhile, as the market price for horses has plummeted, the cost of food, lodging and health care has not.
Kathleen Schwartz, director of Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Lisbon, Md., which adopts abused and neglected horses, said rescue operations that choose not to euthanize horses are generally full.
“We had one horse . . . that was a rack of bones–in pain from starvation and parasite infestation and injury,” Schwartz said. “His owner thought life was better than going to slaughter. Well, life is–if you’re going to feed it and take care of it.”
Killing horses is gross and it is really sad, they don’t even taste good!!!!!!!! anyone who does this to horses should be put in jail because horse are the most kind creature on earth and i don’t know why some people don’t get that!! This is a cruelty to animals just so we can enjoy a nice dinner!
Get a life, Sara
the killing of horses is torture to them its not right and it is sad to see these horses die. if the horses are not useful they shouldnt kill them that way just let them free. its really sad seeing these horses being slaughtered i love horses a lot and they are my favorite animals i hate seeing this happen to them they should stop this and leave the horses alone and let them live.
i think it is sad killing horses is sad, but they dont torture them before they do it and they usually kill horses that are sick, ingured, or very old. so really they arent “hurting” them at all. i think it is just like killing cattle,it really isnt that big if a deal.
I think they should give the horses a chance before killing them. HORSE SLAUGHTER IS HORRIBLE!!!
I think there is nothing wrong with the killing of any animal for meat if it is done humanely (gun to head) and they were properly cared for before hand, see, what happens when you don’t dispose of the unwanted horses is nobody will, the owners feel to guilty to put them down and they try to sell them for cheap hoping they’ll get a good home, there is so many unwanted horses right now that good horses wont sell because everyone is trying to sell there own horse, and even though it is illegal to ship horses out of country for meat anyone still can easily get around that and the horse is then shipped to mexico where it is then stabbed until paralyzed and then hung by its hind feet and gutted. before the ban was in place we should of thought about where all those thousands of unwanted horses are going to end up.
Don’t get me wrong I was against it at one point but I did research and believe me its a ton better then ending up in mexico or dying from neglect because your owner’s guilt.
so when you say somebody should give those horses a chance you mean you want one person to put their whole life on hold and buy 300,000 + horses so you can feel a little better about this.
the killing of horses is not bad done in the right hands.
hi nicole you must be dumb to think they just die a painless deth because they dont they basicly get crushed alive try studying the truth not the lies evey1 says
this unreal your going to hell for this…/
what if i took one of your pets and do the same thing to them!!!!
STOP THIS END THIS NOW!!!! I love horses
email me back @ stacybissonnette@yahoo.com
So guys, Horses are wonderful creatures, but like all creatures there must be a limit to how many we humans can sustain on this earth. I don’t know what the answer is but i think everyone’s opinion is useful in this hard decision we humans have to have. Because we are “at the top” of the ecological chain and can in fact reason unlike the rest of the animals on earth we have to take responsibility for our actions. If we are to continue to populate the earth there is going to be less land and less food for everyone, including our friend the horse. The real problem here is the number of horses that people breed each year, not the number that go to slaughter. Unfortunately the US has decided to ban horse slaughter for human consumption so that means around 90,000 horses a year are unwanted, neglected, and abused. I am never sure if slaughter really is the issue we should be tackling here, but i do know that it was a somewhat profitable alternative to putting them down, or letting them lose in the wilderness, a place where most horses would have no idea how to survive.
In the united states there are currently hundreds of unwanted mustangs sitting in feed lot. Most stallions are never castrated or separated from bands of mares, why? When asked one official admitted he didn’t understand why that would make a difference and that there are foals born every year in FEED LOTS. Now if anyone knows
about feed lots they are pretty inhospitable places. Dirty and unkempt some horses spend their lives here. So not only do you have hundreds of mustangs, you also have hundreds of mustangs reproducing foals into this world of neglect.
The point here is while horse slaughter may be somewhat cruel or inhumane it is in fact no different than the treatment of cattle. In fact in the past decade there have been numerous attempts and laws put into place by the FDA and USDA to control the abuse that may go on during transportation and slaughter, just before the ban horses were being treated better than cattle, and if you have ever been in close contact with cattle, emotionally these two creatures are not much different.
As humans it is our duty to control the population of creatures that do not have anymore natural predators (a situation created again, by human expansion). Deer in the east are a good example of this. If we were to cease the hunting of deer if the Eastern States they would overrun the area and spread disease and famine for all the other creatures, and would cause problems for humans.
Horses have a unique ability to bond with humans and us to them, but let us not take this bonding ability to be a trait of a deity-like animal. They are in fact a source of protein and could be helpful in the sustaining of poorer nations.
We also must agree that we cannot save every animal from death or extinction, especially when we are the cause of such tragedies. But we can control our actions by containing ourselves when it comes to creating more horses, or any animal for that matter.
We also must realize that not every person has the understanding of a horses intellectual and spiritual side and may not find it far fetched to eat or kill such an animal, they also may not find it important to support people who would want to save these animals or make it their responsibility.
Even so, everyone wants the human race to continue on it’s current path, and i do believe there are countries full of people who may benefit from the slaughter of horses for human consumption if their were organizations in place to distribute such goods.
Take responsibility for the people of the world and to the animals in it. But in moderation.
it is not the horses fault they where disposed of so why just kill them? the slaughter houses should be ashamed at themselves for killing an innocent animal which wasn’t meant for consumption, horses were bred for humans to ride or for farms etc not on a plate. Yes i do reliase people in europe eat it but if there was a ban on the killing of them they couldn’t. And even if it was still allowed they should atleast be completly killed not stunned or a bullet in the forehead because that doesn’t actually kill them!!!!
No it’s definitely not a horse’s fault that an owner cannot afford to take care of it or have it humanly euthanised and processed. However it IS our fault that too many horses exist in this country and that we have not taken the initiative to control populations ie: controlled numbers of horses born every year.
Now if you are against the consumption of meat entirely i cant say much about that, only that humans biologically need proteins to survive and that typically means animals proteins.
Ok so instead of banning the slaughter houses let us remember that we have the power to make these processes as humane as possible, we have the control in this country to do that. If we stop it here, it only goes somewhere worse like mexico, and if it stops there the horses bear the trip across seas in more horrible and longer traveling conditions.
The next issue is that horses WERE in fact bred to WORK, now they are pets to most people because of industrialization. So now we breed them to look good and maybe perform in competitions right? Not always, some people breed to breed, that’s it. So the genetic strength has been artificially created not naturally selected and because we breed for looks and use a process called line breeding (in-breeding) horses are not always sound enough to do anything but stand.
Why kill them? Horses are a resource, and a good one.
All animals are innocent, but are on Earth for man and we must balance ourselves to the Earth no matter what the topic.
you should never kill a horse it is so mean so quit killing horses!!!!!!
i HATE peoples who slaughter horses ive seen on you tube horrible things. the people who do slaughter horses and animals while they are doing it i can just imagine them smiling…. they know its wrong but they still just do it to get their anger out of them they are soooo horrible!
Banning horse slaughter is stupid and greedy. Over half the horse meat was going to feed people that are starving in other countries such as China and in many countries in Africa. Also horses going to Mexico has increased by almost 300%!!!! THAT IS SAD knowing the horses killed in Mexico are normally killed with a machete..
why would anyone want to slaughter a horse…yes we should control how many we have but not by killing them on purpose..if your horse happens to die or be put down GO BURY IT don’t let it be slaughtered for meat…IT’S WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
okay,
yes cattle and horse slaughter are wrong,
but you really shouldnt complain unless you’re going to do something about it.
you’re mad cuz others wont buy, rescue, or take care f them humanely..
buy what are you doing about it…and if you are then great…
but thats my opinion
wondering how?
go adopt one horses or cows. get one at an auction before going to slaughter…
thats what im doing…
i love horses and cows too, i have some of each
5 well cared for horses…fat and happy
and 3 cows hhang with the horses where they run in the field
I love horses very much,but horse slaughter is very important,if we don’t manage our herds the prices will keep droping and the horse neglect cases will increase.They are not human so I say manage our herds.
You know what…..I HATE PEOPLE, nothing in this world is as heartless as a human being and luckily I’m not the one that’s gona have to explain to the Lord one day for harming these beautifull animals!!!
Like my Grandma always say: If you can do that to an animal, you can do that to a person!!
I hope that you out there doing this to these animals ROT in HELL!!!!!
I am a horse owner and use them every day. There are a few horses that will never leave my ranch, but in my years training, riding, and using horses everyday I have figured somthing out. Most people view horses as a pet or a companion and this is not there intended purpose.( I admitt that I have done this to, but it takes a very good horse to find a place in my heart.) I have run across several dozen horses that were not fit for any person to handle let along ride. These types of horses can and will hurt someone very badly, not because they were abused or mistreated, but because they just want to. I know that it sounds stupid but it is true, most criminals and serial killers are the same way. These horses should be slaughtered in a humane fashion and sent overseas for human consumption.
In the uneducated minds of most americans horses are treated horrible in transit to and at the slaughter house. When in reality horses are slaughtered just like cattle. A captive bolt is shot into the horses head, this renders them brain dead so they can not feel anything. If the american public thinks that our american slaughter houses are bad, just think Mexico does not have strict regulations like the USDA enforces. This means that anything goes.
All animals need to be properly taken care of and not abused, but they are not on the same level as people and therefore there not a damn thing wrong with eating them. If it was not illeagal then I would try it just to see what it tasted like.
If the government thinks it is wrong to slaughter horses for meat then they should stop letting idiots breed horses.
The good Lord did not put any animal on this earth solely for human companionship they are all multi- purpose so let them be used in the way that they were intended.( every animal is capable of being eaten). There are people starving to death in third world countries and AMERICANS are more worried about protecting an animal.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!
you need to wake up CHET ROLLINS cause u obviously have no idea what u talking about sorry to hurt ur feelings but u need to do more research. cause u have no idea and u must be no good with horses to run across SO MANY that wasnt fit for people. nice try though
Horse sloughter is the most cruel thing in the world!!! all the horses that have been slaughtered, if they had the chance to live in this world they could have been top show jumpers!!! This world need to wake uo and realise whats CRULE!!!!! WHen i was at school i had to do an aunty horse slaughter presaintation and i was very discusted by the pics on the internet of horse slaughter!!!
STOP HORSE SLAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slaughter is murder there should be jail time!!!!!!
Codi and Chet,
You are both very intelligent. Most of the postings on here seem to be emotional and not well thought out. I am a proud owner of 2 horses and I love them dearly. They are pets and used for my enjoyment on the trail. Unlike my horses, many horses are neglected, and I agree that starving to death is way worse than slaughter. I am not a vegetarian, so how could I or any other meat eater say that a horses life is more valuable than a cow, pig, chicken or fish for that matter. We have caused this problem of overpopulation in ALL animals. Not only that, but nature has ways of balancing, and we interfere with that by “saving” these animals. Granted I would treat my horse for most illnesses, but if you really think about it maybe a sick foal shouldn’t be saved. If we want to talk “God” and “Hell” maybe it was “God’s” wish that an animal is sick or a newborn foal is too weak to survive. I think the main thing is to make sure that slaughter is done humanely and that the animals are housed in clean and spacious conditions prior to being slaughtered!! I don’t like to see all of them crammed into pens and walking all over each other because they have no room. AND, why are sick old horses or any animal for that matter being used for human consumption. If it’s sick and emaciated then maybe euthanasia is the answer over slaughter. I work in the veterinary field and we euthanize animals every day. It is a heck of a lot better than suffering, but the circle of life continues and if an animal is well enough to be “recycled”, if you will, to feed a family then so be it. Humane is the key, and STOP BREEDING! The common Humane Society phrase…Dont breed or buy while shelter pets die should apply to horses as well. Don’t breed or buy while slaughter horses die…unless you are going to be a LIFELONG caregiver.
horse slaughter is alright, in fact, their meat is deadly yummy delicious, so why noy slaughter, let’s kill them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nelylevee@gmail.com
i agree with evryone except with nicole. IT is bad to kill horses. YOu can kill any animail but not horses. ITs ally mean to the dead and alivee!
Horse Slaughter Is F%^&ed Up. People Shouldn’t Be Doing This.You Don’t Need Anything From Horses. I Mean They Are The Ones That Let Us Ride On Their Backs They Are The Ones That Help Us With Hulling Things And Horses Are The ones That Help People With Diabled Problems When People Can’t. Horses Are A Gift So Stop Killing Them For F£$%ing Money. They Can Win You Money Other ways Like Shows And Stuff. So Stop Killing Them I Know People Who HAve Been Raped And Never Trusted Anyone Wouldn’t Even Leave Their Houses And Then Everyday They started waking Up To Go Out Wo A Barn Starting To Talk To People Starting To Trust And Care And Again About Life That Is A Miricle Also Wut Horses Are.
In all the comments posted, not one mentions that centuries ago horses were hunted for food. I am a horse owner and I love every one that I own. This doesn’t mean that I am against the slaughter of horses. The previous comment mentioned that some horses cannot be dealt with. There is nothing more true. Just like some serial killers they will never be broken. The slaughter of horses is what keeps the market going. People complain because horses live in poor conditions, so do something. Either lets slaughter horses, or everyone against the slaughter should start adopting. There are thousands of unwanted horses and I blame this on the breeders and or owners of these animals. But realisticly there will always be unwanted horses and unless the slaughter continues there will be thousands upon thousands more.
If you want to feed the third world countries and make a difference, the answer is not sending fifty cents a day and calling yourself helping. Lets send them food. Lets put to use the unwanted and suffering horses. If they are safe to be consumed, why aren’t we feeding the starving with perfectly healthy horse meat.
Enjoy that humanely slaughter steak or hamburger you will eat later. Not any different.
Horse slaughter is a need in the U.S. Currently in KY, Bales of hay are selling for more than 8 dollars a bale, i myself own 20+ head of horses and they very easily go through 4 or 5 bales a day. I am considered lucky, my parents make a considerable amount of money, so the hay costs are not hurting us like they do some, we do however, have money issues. The Horse market is at its lowest it has been in years, as a result of the banning of horse slaughter. Registered, broke horses are selling for less than $500, when theyre worth 5 times that. I am stuck with horses that we ahd originally planned on selling because there is no one to buy them. Horse slaughter is a necessity, whats the difference between slaughtering a steer or lamb? I will never personally eat horse meat, and i will never buy horse “products” but i am a firm believer in horse slaughter, we need to go to our leaders and inform them of what they have done to the horse industry. Our humane associations have barns here in Ky, and guess what, everyone of them is full. Full of horses that no one can afford to keep, it would have been much easier for that horses former owner to have sold the horse to slaughter. We need to legalize horse slaughter in the U.S and open up several slaughterhouses.
This is a hard subject. I don’t think that horses should be used for human consumption. But there is a a problem because there are too many horses out there that nobody wants. There would be less of a problems if people didn’t breed so many horses. Just because you are looking for a “perfect” horse doesn’t mean that you need to breed 300 horses on your ranch that obviously will not get the care that they need.
I think that the way that all animals are slaughtered is horrible. If they could find a way to more humanly slaughter all animals it would be different.
The fact is that there are some horses which are not wanted or dangerous. There was a horse a barn near where I live and they had a mare who tried to kill people. I don’t blame the horse for that. I blame the people who handled her when when was younger. But the fact remains that in my opinion she should have been put down.
Most people would rather send those kind of horses and old and sick horses to the sale barn. And it used to be that they could be sold for slaughter but now they can’t. So what are we supposed to do all the horses that nobody wants anymore?
Horse slaughter as it was is wrong because of the horrible ways that they killed the horses.
There is nothing wrong with trying to protect animals.
BIANCA HAS A POINT
i am an owner of 1 horse.
i think slaughter is wrong because it is like u being killed and then mash your guts up and burn the bones and put u in dog food.
i do not like slaughter and i am sure you all dont.
you need to stop selling guns.
stop using dog food that includes horses.
stop using the glus and stop the slaughter.
PEOPLE MUST STOP SLAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!HORSES SHOULD LIVE TILL THEY DIE OF OLD AGE!!!!!
Oh my god i cant beleive people would want to do this type of thing to these beutiful animals!!
i cried looking at these photos! just to think of the pain and suffering they go threw is deverstating!
i have two horses my self and would Never want them to go threw so much traumer,
its unbeleivable that people have the heart to do this!
they obviously have’nt go a heart !
In my personal opinion as a horse lover the people that kill slaughter horses deserve the same fate as the horse they killed. A horse is a Humans ally we have used them in wars and even in peace keeping missions. Horses also are used to help people who are sick mentally and physically, I do not own my own my own horse but the horse i ride i love like he is my brother. People form a strong bond with a horse and it makes me sick to see a horse get slaughtered.
Im torn between sides on this. Yes it’s wrong 2 kill animals for human comsumption, but, there is an incrase in the horse population and its getting out of control. horsemeat is being sold 2 foreign countries…but what u people DONT know that its a delicacy which means its really only sold 2 wealthier people. If less horses were being bred, less would be killed because there wouldnt be a large number of unwanted horses. I’ve seen the process of horse slaughter and it makes me sad of how many horses’ lives are being ended like that, some of those horses are even foals imagine being born not even for a few months and then your life being ended in a slaughter house. But in most ways, its the fault of humans because we can castrate stallions and not breed as many horses a year. People think that setting horses free would end the problem..not true. It actually increases this problem because more foals are going 2 be born which once again means an increase in the populatin and then what are we goning 2 do about that? Think about it, this means less grazing land for the horses which means more wild horses dying of starvation. This issue is one of the many that tears me because both sides are correct in their own ways.
horses are my fav pet in the world and how ever herts horses are asses
Horse slaughter is WRONG VERY WRONG all this should come to a end. And for all of you who think its ok do some more research these poor innocent horses get torchured, starved untill there death and most of the time they are not even dead when they are hung up and gutted. Think about it would you want to die this way?? A horses life has no less value than ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i personally LOVE horses they are my favorite animal in the whole entire world. but killing horses for human comsumption; i feel it is very wrong. if i could go to a sale, like someone in a previous comment said, and buy a horse or 2 i most definately would; no doubt in my mind. but seeing as i actually live on a farm (hogs) my parents will not let me get one.
the ways these horses are killed is absolutely !TERRIBLE! they are SO mistreated and abused. i have seen what happens to horses that arent wanted ive witnessed it myself and i am literally scarred for life. i also agree with many people on this, STOP LETTING PEOPLE BREED HORSES JUST TO BREED THEM! it would help so much if people would castrate their stallions or keep mares and stallions apart.
my family actually used to own a fairly large herd of horses and we never sent ANY of them to slaughter houses. when they were too old to work anymore they were “killed” humanely and i honestly believe they didnt feel a thing. i really dont understand why people take on horses that they know they wont be able to afford in a couple months and then let them starve and then send them to an auction then they go to a slaughterhouse. the transportation of horses is also a factor the the mistreatment of horses.
i personally think they should stop the slaughter or horses… they just arent meant to be eaten by anyone. they are for pleasure, contest, the disabled and rehabilitation for people with injuries. this is my perspective and if i had a choice and ability to help these absolutely gorgeous creatures i would jump way too enthusiastically at the chance.
this is just what i think, i know people have different perspectives and thoughts but searously if you are going to leave a comment here leave a pretty damn good reason either way to back up your feelings on this issue.
Stop the rodeos! If you are against huting these graceful creatures, don’t let the rodeo folk ride them with broken legs, cuts, and other life-threatening problems!
I can’t believe this you can’t just kill a horse cause you don’t want it give it to an adoption agency sell it but don’t kill it please i am ten years old and i have a horse named black jack and i love him more than anything in the whole entier world.
horses do so much for people, they let them ride them and they let us kick us in the side to make them go. thats like a monkey jumping on us and making us run around for them. horses race for us just to make us money. HORSE SLAUGHTER SUCKS!
I hope that u all who does this burns in hell or goes and dies one night .Well u can say all the horses u killed cause they were old just killed u. p.s i hate ur living face..
I think horse slaughter is very very bad. I have seen thing way more horrible than whatching a scary movie most people do not know how they kill them…Some are crushed alive and there are some that are hung upside down by chains and ropes while they are still alive and then there throats are slit and they bleed to death. And they will even take a mother horse with a colt in very good condition and kill them both it is very horrable and it should be stoped.
All horse lovers showed go on strike!!!
Horses are beautiful and how horse slaughter is being done is WRONG Another issue is that people are breeding or letting ton of stallions with their mares, therefore producing foals(duh)that people will not even use. Since they can’t sell them, they send them to slaughter houses to be shot multiple times, cut up, bleed, and all of this done in front of fellow horses! THAT is what is wrong! In order to solve these problems, 1. People who really do care need to get involved.(to find out how, go to fund4horses.org) 2.If you do not know what is going to happen in the future of foals that you breed, don’t breed them!(another duh) 3. The slaughter houses that horses are being sent to treat them cruelly, so the last day of their lives they are in terrible pain. To finish up, I agree that all of what I said applies to other animals too. The good Lord made animals to help us, NOT so we can abuse them! Also, in order for the horse industry to go on, horse population does need to be controlled, until we get the breeding under control, horses need to be killed HUMANELY an example, put to sleep. And before that happens, they need to be treated lovingly. I repeat all of this applies to other animals too. Personally, I would never eat horse meat, but I’m not starving either. There are people who are indeed starving, and they are the kind of people who need nourishing food like horse meat. If you like horse meat, that is a personal choice, I happen to not like beef, lamb, or horse meat. This Is just what I think.(I know it’s a long thought, whoever read the whole thing, thanks for hanging on!XD)
P.S. Could we not curse so much on here guys? try using words like crap, crud, sucks, etc. Just for everyone’s benefit. Thanks!
slaughtering horses? I HATE IT SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what i say is that horses lead us thrue history and evrything in wars in show .i say we should make a law for the u.s. and other contruies to stop horse slaugther and killing them.
This mare was sold to a man for $35, and then sold to someone else for $100. He tried to load her to take her to her new home but she balked and refused to load. So, he decided to force her in with pain - by wrapping barbed wire around her halter - each tug cutting her face more and more. Now he was getting angry, and decided to tie her to the trailer and drag her helplessly behind - the barbed wire cutting viciously into her face. Her hooves were literally sawed off and are mostly gone now. When she finally colapsed he only grew angrier, and unhitched the trailer rolling in on top of the exausted mare. But her punishment wasn’t enough, not until he shot her in the face. But with the stubborness of a mule, she did not give up. Fortunately, through all this torture and abuse, the little mare survived. Her road to recovery will be a long one, but with your help, a possible one. The little mare’s name is Naysa.
What this guy did to this mare was inhumane and anger-driven. So horse slaughter isn’t the only thing people have to worry about.
First of all, meat is not murder. The wanton killing of something for the ‘joy’ of killing is murder. Where do you all think the leather on your stylish pumps, or that pricey leather sofa came from? I both own horses, and work at a livestock auction. While I love my horses, I realize the slaughter outlet is a necessity. What people do not seem to understand is that there are no shelters euthanizing unwanted horses the way that cats and dogs can be handled. Horses are livestock. We tend to have a different way of handling horses, but, face it, not many make it into the living room. The first effect I noticed from the ban on slaughter was the “clearing” out of old pasture ornaments, or Great-Uncle Fred’s memory from times past. People panicked that they would have to pay to have the horse put down, and then pay for a rendering truck because not many counties allow the burial of your horse anywhere near civilization. As soon as the ban was going to pass, the number of horses that people just dumped went up dramatically. As soon as this influx of horses hit the sales, the prices of the horses dropped like a stone. A simple matter of supply and demand. Imagine if you were told that you could not trade in your old car! I realize it is not quite the same, but the economic impact is. The car companies would have a fit, and go bankrupt, as are many people who make their business in the horse trade. Now these scandallously cheap horses are going home with people who could not previously afford them and should not have them. Truly it is the horses that are suffering in this, and the cowboys that did look for good homes for their horses now just need to get them sold.
i have only read one person talking about breeding. there is a serious problem of over production at the minute all over the world. in Ireland they are talking about the culling of useless TB broodmares, so if they can be used ‘recycled’ instead of rotting into nothing i say go ahead.
i dont agree with the culling or slaughter of perfectly healthy horses, but horses that are in pain with broken legs, permanent lamenesses, old age that in the wild would render them helpless and fair game to prey i dont see a problem with. i would emphasise the need for humane slaughter though.
I here a lawmaker named Jim Sacia os trying to legalize horse slaughter in illinois, and the LMA is trying to open up the horse slaughter plant in illinois, they claim that the ban on horse slaughter is racist.
Slaughtering horses is like really cool! I hate them! I want to drink their blood.
Phill Collins
Bottomline-Horses should not be slaughtered. Don’t buy a horse for the wrong reasons, if your sole intention is to use a horse to profit yourself, then you know eventually down the line you won’t want it anymore. This isn’t brain surgery, people just need to start thinking, use their brains and cruelty can be reduced. Stop breeding your horses if you don’t have enough room. Also, there are plenty of people that would love to own a horse and simply can’t afford the prices they are sold for. Greed has become a sick epidemic in this country and the thought of selling a horse for less than someone paid for it is a unthinkable thought for many. Of course, we have enough money to fund all the races that people enjoy so much, but once we use the horses, they become “burdens.” Why don’t you rake some money out of the ticket profit and put it towards a fund to humanely put to sleep hurt or unwanted horses, there are ways around this disgusting act of slaughtering, It is ridiculous and the people that can shove a dagger in the spines of horses and then gut them alive disgust me and I don’t know how you can sleep at night, let alone wake up in the morning. Oh and whoever said it is wrong to ban horse slaughtering because the meat goes to countries with starving children, you should get your facts straight because horse meat is actually considered a delicacy in Asia and Europe and people pay big buck for it, greed again playing a major role, so no, slaughtering horses is not aiding the fight to end world hunger.
If only the slaughterhouses would be more humane, I would look a little more kindly toward them…but slaughterhouses as they are now are horrible! They do torture the horses, even if it’s not with thumbscrews and knives or whatever. They torture the horses by making them stand being hung up by their hind legs, having their throats split open, and then bleeding to death before actually dying. I think that slaughterhouses should put a bullet through unwanted horses instead of all that rubbish.
I 100% agree with Charity. Although there are better alternatives to slaughtering, it’s as necessary as people needing landfills to put their trash in. It ain’t pretty…but without them, our country would be a mess. You have to eventually throw out the old, and replace with the new, no matter what it is. And even though I’m totally against landfills as well, would you rather live in your own trash? I didn’t think so. It’s necessary, even if it’s one of those necessary evils. Hopefully one of these days we’ll come up with something better, but for now, it’s all that works to solve the problem. If we just closed down the landfills…you can only imagine what would happen. Our country would fall apart….everyone having to live in their own trash and not having anywhere to put it, or any other solutions as to how to deal with it. Not that I’m comparing horses to trash…but it’s the same concept. You HAVE to have SOMEWHERE to put all of the old, dying, and useless horses, just like you HAVE to have SOMEWHERE to put all of the trash you consume on a daily basis. In the wild, nature would take care of the problem itself…all of the weak and old animals die and are eaten. But because we interfere, we prevent things like that from happening…we prevent natural selection. And because of this, we have too many horses….horses that should have died a long time ago, are still living and with no where to go. And NOT everyone is going to be willing to take in all of those un-wanted horses…so they HAVE to go somewhere…even if it’s a slaughterhouse. Slaughter is too harsh of a word…it should be more like a “getting rid of the old and useless” house. It’s completely necessary to keep the population of horses in balance. It’s no different than eating and killing ducks, chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, and other animals. And just because we don’t eat it over here, doesn’t make it wrong to eat it. Hindus don’t eat cows…but does that mean we’re wrong for eating them? No. Just because horses do more for us than other animals, doesn’t make them any more special than another species. You could say the same thing about any of those animals. I’ve heard of pigs being inspirations to people, and even chickens…but do we stop eating them or killing them in honor of those cases? No. It’s no different for horses, no matter how beautiful they are and how much they’ve done for us. It’s just a different custom than what we’re used to, and so far, the only solution to a huge problem.
Some people make a living off of selling horses. NOT EVERYONE BREEDS JUST TO SIMPLY BREED. Some people specialize in those horses that MOST people seek after…..show quality horses that you can compete with in different sporting events, working horses for cattle and other livestock, and kid & beginner safe riding horses for small children and un-confindant adults, lessons, and therapy. Remember…without breeding, there wouldn’t be any horses. You EVENTUALLY have to replace the old with the new, which is why babies are born in the first place. And some people make a living out of this cycle of life. The people that sell these horses, have to make a living in order to feed themselves AND the horses they breed and train for the people who are looking for them. All the profits gained off of the horses sold goes towards the cost of hay, feed, tack supplies, general health care for the OTHER HEALTHIER horses, and the living conditions of the owner of the horses.
Like Charity said. It’s kinda like cars. Older models of cars are being junked and scrapped to make room for the newer models that PEOPLE WANT. Some people like to drive around in older models, but MOST PEOPLE DON’T. The same for horses. NOT everyone wants a 25 year old horse that can’t keep weight on, that costs more to feed and medicate than it’s worth to actually own. And for this same reason, is why there are so many horses that are un-wanted in the first place. No one wants a horse that is going to cost them $5000 that dies a month later. I’d rather buy myself a new, useable horse for that price!!! MOST people would rather feed themselves and take care of a horse that is WORTH taking care of, not a horse that is on it’s last legs. In order for the “out with the old” and “in with the new” motto to work, the horse that is old, needs to be sold or gotten rid of some how. And since MOST PEOPLE don’t want old or useless horses either, whether or not they feel for the animal doesn’t matter, the horse is never sold and never gotten rid of. MOST people want NEW, NOT old.
This creates two problems.
1. People that can’t get rid of their old horses either have to spend money they don’t have or don’t want to use, putting the horse down, or they leave them to fend for themselves somewhere…either on a property without proper grass leading to starving horses with hoof, skin, and internal problems, or in the wild where any wild predator animal can savagely eat and kill them. And all because they wanted a newer horse, but couldn’t afford to buy the new one, without getting rid of the older one first.
2. People that are trying to sell their newer, useable horses, can’t, because everyone else that WOULD be buying these newer useable horses, are having their own problems trying to get rid of the older horse first. This leads to the people, that are trying to make a living, going into debt and having to sell out of their horses in order just to keep themselves from going bankrupt.
BOTH of these problems were solved with slaughter houses. It kept the cycle of “out with the old” “in with the new” going. I know a lot of you think it’s cruel. But which do you think is more cruel…the horse starving to death without food, shelter, and clean drinking water…walking around with painful, over grown hooves, skin conditions, and internal parasites……or the horse fending for itself in the wild where a wild mountain lion can attack and kill the vulnerable horse, which is probably even MORE painful since most predator animals start to eat on their kill WHILE it’s still in the midst of suffocating and alive….or being killed as humanely as possible, like cattle are killed, giving the owner a little bit of money back out of the horse that he put so much into over the years that he took loving care of, and that now with an empty stall, he can go and buy himself a newer horse that will last him another 20 years. I would MUCH rather see a horse killed by a bolt to the head than see the horse eaten alive like lions on a zebra, or starve to death because it has no food source what-so-ever. Out of all three options, it IS the most humane choice, whether people are eating the meat or not.
And yes…I realize that people can just “put down” their horses, that they don’t have to send them to get slaughtered…but that isn’t feasible for most people. It costs a lot less and is easier to dispose of a euthenized dog or cat than it is a horse. It can cost a couple of hundred just to euthenize a horse and then you have to call someone to come and get it off the property, which costs even more money if you can’t just bury it, which isn’t allowed in some places. When it comes to spending $300 on putting your horse down, vs. realeasing them into the wild or abandoning them for free, which option do you think they are going to pick? It’s no genious answer. MOST people are going to choose the free option. Even I would if I didn’t have the money to put my horse down, and had NO other options…not even a shelter. I’d rather spend $300 on food for my other, healthier horses, than on putting down a horse that I can’t sell, find a home for, or use anymore. Most people want horses they can do something with…like ride, or show, or work. Like me…as much as I love horses (I own 5)…I don’t want to feed and take care of a horse that does nothing for me except stare at me all day. That kind of horse costs money…and if you’re not getting anything out of the horse…and you can’t sell it…and you can’t afford to put it down…and all of the adoption facilities around you are full to the brim, and you can’t afford to keep the horse anymore because of the changing economy or maybe other changes that are completely out of your control…..WHAT OTHER CHOICE DO YOU HAVE? Abandonment, realeasing to the wild, or taking it to the slaughterhouse. And out of all three options, slaughterhouse is the most humane choice, whether anyone agrees to see it that way or not. Either of the 3 options results in death of the animal. The first one is torture and suffering for a long period of time, the second can also be torture and suffering for a long period of time with the possibility of a very painful death due to a wild animal attack, and the third is, yes, probably traumatizing and painful, but it’s quick, and the meat goes for a good cause, whether it’s rich people eating it or not.
And there are even worse cases….people becoming so frustrated at their horse that they beat it to death BECAUSE they can’t get rid of it. That’s NO life for a horse. I’d rather see it go to the slaughter house than be beaten to death by some frustrated person who couldn’t get rid of his horse no matter which way he turned.
Our duty as human beings, because we have to take the natural selection into our own hands, is to keep animals in check like nature would do….to make sure that the weak are killed out so that the strong can survive and to cycle out the old with the new. Old animals in the wild, would not live as long as they do when they’re in our care…neither would crippled animals. Even animals with behavioral issues don’t survive. They’re killed out to make room for the stronger, healthier animals. And if that means mass amounts of killings of horses on our part just to keep the population in check and doing what nature would be doing, then it should be done. And even though it’s cruel, out of all other alternatives and options feasible for MOST people…it IS the MOST humane.
wow some people are so mean. humans can be so mean. sometimes people dont realize that animals are incrbible cretures. ok some people think that they are superiar to animals but what they dont realize is that some of these animals have been on this planet a lot longer than humans. it is wronge to kill any animal unless it complety nessesary or your are taking an animal out of its misury. some animals do some things that people cant leave without, like when a blind person has a guild dog, dogs and horses are animals so if you slautherd dogs it would be alright too. the people who do this should go to a mental hospital because it is a sickness any person that neglects animals should go to …… because it is so sick. the animals have not done anything wrong, but the human race on the other hand has(global warming, extintion of some speices, and other things)
I own 6 horses and i couldnt do that to them they are my life i dont get you people why would you do that to something who did not do anything. you wouldnt go kill a human so why would you kill an inocent animal its a mammal and so are we!!!
killing horses is just mean and wrong on soooo many disgusting levels! STOP HORSE SLAUGHTER! it just shows what’s in their heart by the way some people treat animals.
i think its discuting for people to take a innocent helpless animal that has been our loyal partner on farms for years and kill it for meat. its just wrong why kill horses when there are cows for milk and bulls for meat it shouldnt be like this horse slauter should be baned everywhere on the planet their not for eating their for helping out around farms and their also used for therepy for the disabled and for long relxing rides on the beach,and horse racing can surly bring more money than horse meat
Wow, Renee. I am glad there is someone else in the world who can think further than “You are so mean!” Lots of people living in a world of soft, fluffy clouds, apparently. No one says you have to send old Blaze to the plant. Keep him till he falls apart if you want. But plenty to say you can’t get rid of him. I currently have a old, blind, pony that is really good for nothing. She has a home for now, but when it is her time to go, she will have to go. (not to the plant - can’t ship a blind horse) I know what it is to have a horse for no apparent reason. Sometimes the option is not there. The slaughter outlet is a necessity. Meat is a necessity. We americans do not eat horses, dogs, rats, guinea pigs, snakes and lots of things eaten in other countries. Does that make us superior in some way? Nope. Just quicker to judge.
gostaria de comprar um cavalo de balanço acima, para criança, quanto custa e como faço para comprar?
Edit:
For English speaking visitors, this is a Portugese comment and an automatic translation tool has translated it as
“I would buy a horse of stock above to child, how much and how do I buy?”
Let’s take an approach here that seems to be lost in this forum. Reality laced with the truth. First. Most of you posting on this aren’t even old enough to drive. It’s clear as a bell from the content of your posts so we will consider them for what they are, teenage hormonal rants.
Second. Just in the Thorobred horseracing industry 900K are born, one third make it to the track. That leaves 600K. Most fillies will of strong bloodlines will become breeding mare. Same with colts with some reason he is kept from the track. But, on average 300K go into the sport and 300K leave the sport each year.
These are facts straight from Bloodhorse, the bible of thoroughbred racing. Third. As a former soldier in a elite unit, I had the unfortunate rresposibility to work in some terrible places. But let me tell you this, I WILL KILL A THOUSAND HORSES TO FEED ONE STARVING CHILD! You people on this post sit on your leather sofas eating a burger and chastize this industry. I will ive you that it is brutal, but live is brutal. If you were born not that many decades ago, you might have been thanking the good Lord above for the opprotunity to have that protein meal. I am sure that if you grandparents lived through the Great Depression, WWI or WWII, they GLADLY ate horse meat.
I have had to eat horse meat. I was starving in a foregin assignment in the field and a village took us in and THAT was their gift to us..FOOD…which was HORSEMEAT! Stop and think…the United Nations uses horse meat that is processed for storage and later human consumption. Sound horrible? Well, tell it to the child in Niger who hasn’t had not only protein but food in weeks! I said I would discuss reality laced with truth. Here is my closing. If you love things that are slaughtered and are helpless to do anything about it, start making your friends aware of the Genocide in Dafur…I’m not a nut, left winger or have any agenda…I have just recently came back from “near there” and wathched, as an UN observer, Rebels massacre babies, chikdren elders for no reason. Do you think those slaughtered worried about horse slaughter. Get your priorities straight.
that is terrible!!! how can people kill poor innocent horses like that???? all they do is work their butts off to help people and then they juist turn around and kill then ????? its just not right i hate it…..thats why i dont sell my horses!!!!
the people that slauter horses and cows should be ashame look what god gave us and they take it and throw it away like god never made that beautiful creature
i hope the people that slauter horses and cows should go to hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im friends with dakota look what god gave us i wish they could see what it is like to be killed for food
sick! and barbaric! apsolutly discusting anyone who would even drem of eating a horse is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I THINK IT IS WRONG TO KILL A HORSE PEOPLE WHO KILL A HORSE SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL BEACUSEI I LOVE HORSES HORSES SHOULD HAV THE RIGHT TO LIVE LIKE WE DO.HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE KILLED CUT UP AND EATIN BY A HUMAN?IT IS SICK TO EAT A HORSE WHO EVER HAS EATIN A HORSE IS SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM A HORSE LOVER. ALL MY FRIENDS WOULD AGREE WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i go with you monica that is sad
i hate people that kill horses
Horses should never EVER have to die because of human foolishness! If you can’t find a home let it loose. That way it can live a normal life and if predators kill it then it died normally!!! And for hell’s sake don’t chain your horse up outside and leave it there!!!! STOP IT! Its just to sad…..