THE TRUTH
Horses are Being Slaughtered Since the Six Horses were rescued, many people have asked me if these horses were actually at risk of slaughter. I realize that most people do not know what is happening to over 90,000 American horses every year: They are being slaughtered for human consumption. People in
The Final Betrayal Horse slaughter is a betrayal of the American horse. After spending a lifetime of carrying someone on his back or running as fast as he can or giving birth to foals year after year, horses deserve a dignified ending in life. Be not comforted: A ‘recycled’ slaughterhouse death is a hellish way to end years of duty, service and companionship.
Rendering plant versus Slaughterhouse What is the difference between a horse going to the knackers, versus one being slaughtered? It is all the difference in the world. A rendering plant, commonly called the glue factory, is a place where dead animals that do not survive the animal auctions or transports are ta
While we do not wish any horse to be killed at either sort of plant, the rendering plant is not the same as the slaughter plant. I suspect that the general public thinks these places are one and the same. They are not. The slaughterhouse ordeal is much much worse for the animals involved.
The Process (Warning: Graphic.) When an animal is slaughtered for human consumption, the animal is supposedly rendered unconscious and hung by a hind leg. The throat is slit. The animal bleeds to death. This is the standard procedure for all animals killed for meat.
A slaughter plant experience is simply a nightmare for the horses. They travel hundreds of miles in crowded stock trailers for many hours, often cross country. Frequently the trailers contain dead horses upon arrival at the slaughter plant, as any horse that falls down inside the trailer cannot get back up and is trampled to death by the others.
Once at the slaughter plant, the horses are lined up single file. They see their companions killed in front of them. They hear the struggles. They smell the blood. They understand exactly thier fate. They stand in line trembling violently with fear. I have been told by an investigator that she's seen horses trembling so hard that they could barely stand up.
The method of rendering the horse unconscious, the ‘captive bolt’ often does not work properly with horses. Often they must be hit time and again with the bolt in the head. Sometimes they are not unconscious when hung up by one leg. It is a gruesome death all round. It is unconscionable.
American plants no longer slaughtering The last three ma
However, American horses are also being transported in great numbers to Canada and Mexico where slaughter plants process ever-growing numbers of large numbers of horses every week. The long transport is dangerous and sometimes lethal for the horses. More slaughter plants are opening up both above and below American borders.
The Canadian plant processes are
Many horses are being transported from and through the State of
Most horses ta
Deceptive Dealers A horse dealer will tell you that this or that horse will not go to slaughter, to avoid the controversy that ensues if they admit the truth. The truth is that once a horse gets into the hands of a slaughter dealer, that horse is probably going to end up dead at the slaughter plant within a week. The highest quality horses are occasionally resold but most end up slaughtered because there is quick money to be made in selling horses for slaughter. This industry allows for a quick cash turnover for the slaughter dealer. Some owners have no idea. Some are willing to turn the other cheek. Some simply want the cash in hand.
The Six That Got Away The Six Horses Family represent the horses that got away. We acted very quickly when rescuing the Six, for we knew that this herd, though sweet and lovely, were at high risk: They were not a particular breed. They were not trained at all. They were hard to handle and harder to load because they were completely without training of any sort. And they had been sold for slaughter, so quick action ensued. The Six were lucky that someone called for help to rescue them. Many horses do not get this second chance.
Ferdinand and Exceller If you suppose that only the inexpensive horses end up slaughtered, know that Ferdinand, the 1986 winner of the Kentucky Derby, was slaughtered in
CURRENT LEGISLATION AND RELATED SITES
Updated 6/30/09
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 Current Legislation: HR 503
There is a proposed Bill languishing in Congress now, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009. The Act was introduced this past January both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ban the transport and slaughter of American horses for human consumption. The House bill was introduced by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. As of
The text of this bill:
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption.
HOW YOU CAN HELP TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER
Ask your own Federal Senators and House Representatives to co-sponsor this important Bill.
Passage of the Bill is essential to the well-being of horses across the United States.
To find out if your own legislators have co-sponsored the Bill, go to
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR00503:@@@P
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RELATED SITES
Veterinarians For Equine Welfare Veterinarians for Equine Welfare represents veterinarians opposed to horse slaughter, as should be all veterinarians. Please read their January 2008 White Paper on Horse Slaughter at http://vetsforequinewelfare.org/white_paper.php
Mary Nash's Horse Meat web site The late Mary Nash, activist and horsewoman, lived in