The National Humane Education Society -On the Educational Front>:Sept. '08 Horse Slaughter: A Shameful Secret

America

has always enjoyed a love affair with horses. These majestic animals have a solid, honorable role in our country’s history and have helped humans in many ways. For decades horses provided transportation prior to the automobile, worked the grain and vegetable fields, hauled heavy loads and worked mines, gave physical strength in dire rescue situations, and served with our nation’s military and police forces. Of course, many horses still occupy some of these roles today, and without a doubt, through the many years, they have always provided endearing companionship.

And for all of these good deeds, how do we thank U.S. horses in modern times?

According to the USDA, in 2006, some 70,000 horses were slaughtered in the United States, and about 32,000 more were shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. Some of these horses were killed for the pet food industry, but most were slaughtered for meat to be shipped overseas to European and Asian markets. Thankfully, state and federal actions have since all but eliminated horse slaughter in the U.S. Unfortunately, transporting horses to foreign slaughterhouses for the purpose of killing the animals for meat is still occurring.

With changes in horse slaughter laws in the U.S. the last couple of years, exports to Canada and Mexico horse slaughter plants have greatly increased. The USDA estimates that total horse shipments increased from 32,000 in 2006 to 80,000 in 2007, and presumably more in the current year. More than half the horses are shipped to Mexico where particularly heinous slaughter methods are practiced. How appalling and shameful it is that

U.S.

horses are supplying the “delicacy” meat market demands of European and Asian countries!

Slaughtered horses, both domestic and wild, come from many places. Just a few include: race horses, breeding stock, farm workers, riding camp horses, and companions or pets. Some horses are outright stolen for sale and slaughter, while many more are acquired through equally dishonest means.

Horses are typically sold at auctions in the

U.S.

and then transported to the foreign slaughterhouses. During transport, horses are crammed into trailers without food, water or protection from temperature extremes. Many horses endure these conditions for several days before arriving at their grim destination. Of course, some of these poor creatures die en route, while still others suffer horrendous injuries. In the end, they all face the same fate a cruel death by slaughter.

Adoption Screening: If you own a horse and for whatever reason must part with him or her, NHES cautions you to do an extremely thorough screening of the person(s) who wishes to adopt the horse. Auctions and slaughterhouses are easy dumping grounds for unwanted animals and the lure of money, however small the amount may be, is enough for unscrupulous persons to falsely pose as potential pet owners. Many pet horses have been sold within hours of being adopted by a new, “loving” owner.

Adoption and Foster: If you are looking for a new horse friend, please consider adopting rather than purchasing a horse from a breeder. You may help save horses from slaughter, and will not contribute to bringing new animals into the world. If you would like to support horse rescue programs, and have farm land available, please consider becoming a foster home for rescued horses! Please visit www.horserescue.com for a wide listing of horse rescues, foster programs and sanctuaries.

Protective Legislation: Thankfully, legislative action each Congressional year is moving horses closer to protection from the atrocious slaughter industry. NHES encourages all compassionate citizens to contact their legislators and urge support of the federal bills seeking to ban horse slaughter.

Both the Senate and House version of the bills seek to, “amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes."

These two bills were introduced in 2007, and have moved through several committees, but have not been addressed by congress in the 2008 legislative year.

This House bill seeks to, “prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption.” Essentially, the bill seeks the same changes as S. 311 and H.R. 503. It was recently introduced in the 2008 legislative year.

For your federal representatives’ contact information, please visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. To check the bill’s sponsors and status, visit www.thomas.gov.

Although wild, free-roaming horses are not sold or adopted out by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption, a small number of horses acquired by individuals through the BLM have been resold or traded to slaughterhouses. The BLM has several steps in place to try to prevent this from happening.

Despite the BLM’s efforts to prevent horses from being slaughtered for human consumption, the agency has historically participated in the mass killing of thousands of wild horses as part of their federally-funded wildlife population control methods. The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 disbarred the capture and slaughter of wild horses for many years; however, a few years ago these protections were repealed.

Please write your federal Representative urging his/her support of H.R. 249 “To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.”

Also, contact the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to voice your opposition to wild horse slaughter, and to urge the agency to place our national heritage above farm industry profits. Please urge the BLM to support wild horse protections and continue to expand the agency’s wild horse relocation and adoption programs.