The proud cut gelding was what some people would call "spirited".
No, he was just mean.
Posted on 05/19/2004 6:22:07 AM PDT by billorites
SPRINGFIELD -- Horse slaughter opponents applied star power Tuesday when they brought in a Hollywood movie star to lobby their cause. Actress Bo Derek, national spokeswoman for the National Horse Protection Coalition, visited Springfield to present complaints from animal-rights activists. Horses, she said, are companions not cuisine.
"They deserve better. It's not humane. We don't raise them for food. We raise them as pets or for sport," said Derek, famous for portraying the woman of Dudley Moore's dreams in the 1979 hit "10."
The House narrowly rejected banning horse slaughtering in March, but supporters in the Senate have resurrected the campaign to close a controversial horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb.
Opponents of the ban say horse slaughtering should be a choice. Currently, horse owners can sell their horses for slaughter to Cavel International in DeKalb or pay to get rid of them when they die.
In addition, supporters say the Belgium-based company helps DeKalb's economy.
Cavel, which is scheduled to open sometime this week after rebuilding from a fire two years ago, will employ 40 people, add $90,000 in property taxes for local government and pour more than $1 million into the economy, said state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley.
"It will allow them to support and care for their children. It will allow them to be active members of society," said Pritchard, who represents DeKalb. "I feel that as this state is losing jobs by the thousands, ... that we need this source of revenue."
Pritchard didn't think Derek's movie-star status would help efforts to end the practice of slaughtering horses.
"I know a lot of people in the drama and movie industry have tried to impose their values on other people, but I think people across Illinois will make that decision based on the respect for choice," he said.
State Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo, wasn't star-struck. Derek pulled him aside for a five-minute debate after her press conference.
"I'm still a 'no' vote," Sieben said.
Cavel is one of only three horse slaughterhouses in the country. The company sends the meat to Europe for human consumption.
"I'm not going to judge another culture and what they choose to eat, but I don't know why they have to eat our American horses," Derek said.
If the state institutes the ban, Jim Tucker, a Cavel manager, has said he could challenge the law in court because federal law allows the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Also, he said he could file for an injunction, meaning the law wouldn't apply to his company.
Congress also is considering banning horse slaughter for human consumption. The so-called American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has 180 co-sponsors while only 218 votes are needed to pass the U.S. House.
House Bill 649 is currently pending in the Illinois Senate and could be called for a vote sometime this week.
Now, how about those sugar cubes...
(I still don't have any sugar cubes...)
Horses become too mouthy (even my kind ole Bay) if you feed them treats too often.... But I have been known to approve of an apple or a carrot on occasion!
I think onle barbarians eat dogs, horses and cats. Their close association with human beings over millenia of domestication as pets, companions, comrads in arms or hunting pals should negate their consideration for food.
Maybe the degenerate French would find dog stew or filet of mustang palatable, but I certainly don't.
ISn't Bo Derek a conservative Republican, or do I have her mixed up with some oother Hollywood blonde who is????
My cats have monkeys on their back, and it's all my fault.
Yes, I know I could just so no, but there is nothing worse than a cat strung out on pounce...
Yeah. They also eat snakes, sea horses, starfish and other kinds of inedible slop in the orient. In some places they eat the brains of live screaming monkeys.
And we ALL know where SARS came from - civets in China.
In Africa they eat monkey meat and that's probably where AIDS and Ebola Zaire come from.
And if your strung out cats weighed 1200 pounds, you'd have a heck of a problem on your hands ;~D
"Horses are no different than any other animal if you're hungry."
How do you feel about people? I wouldn't want to get near you when you have a good appetite up.
We're not tlaking about starving humanity here. These are people who ELECT to have horse on the menu.
Horses, Dogs and Cats, because of their close, long, and special connection with people are animals apart from all others.
I agree with you 100000%.
You are right on the mark.
Some of the "Conservatives" on this board should grow a heart.
Horses and dogs and cats have had a long, special and very intimate association with people, especially with westerners like us.
When the frirst hordes of Indo-Europeans came swarming off the southern Russian steppes, they were riding horses and using dogs a s companions guards and hunters.
In just about every war ever fought with the sole exception of the most recent ones, horses were essential companions of the soldier - especially the western soldier and the Asian soldier. Horses in a sense, made us what we are. Knights, cavaliers, the concept of gentlemanly behavior, all had its roots in the kind of horse culture which produced western civilization.
God bless you. What a refreshing response.
Makes me wanna come back as a saddle!
"Many find eating cattle, chickens, pigs, etc... barbaric."
Yeah. PETA nuts.
"Many people are also repulsed at the thought of shooting a deer, butchering it, and eating it. But I love it!"
Deer have always been the subject of the chase in western hunting and there is nothing wrong with killing them and eating them. But many a European stag hunter rode to the hunt on his companion horse with a dog at its side.
"There are no sacred animals. Human life alone is sacred, made in the image of God."
I think ALL life is sacred because God is present in every living thing.
There is nothing wrong with eating certain animals - perhaps most animals, but God gave Man dominion over animals, not the right to abuse them.
And regardless of your PERSONAL feelings, horses, dogs and cats have ALWAYS had a special place in western civilization and that place has never been in the cookpot.
Cindy.... Here is the fine line that you will find between horsemen. Those prone to severe treatment of their animals claim they work because they claim to have solved the most horrible behavior using these extreme tactics. What they don't realize is that the horrible behavior often didn't happen without a reason.
Horses can be made to comply out of fear and pain. You can beat them into submission. But fear also brings with it many other instincts of self-preservation that are dangerous behaviors. The rougher the cowboy, it seems the more extreme behaviors they are forced to confront. I have never had a horse that would bite me when I got on, but then I have never had a horse that through pain or rough treatment ~resented~ my riding that much.
In other words, you will get better work out of a horse that trusts in your leadership than you will a horse that only fears you. What is trustworthy leadership? You know this... Firm, in charge, clear and consistant rules, kindness in reward and fairness in punishment.
Adios.
I watch and I see different styles. I had to find mind. My horse has shown me his teeth a couple of times and got popped. I read all kinds of stuff to do if they bite you but I've decided the first time he does I'm just going to bite him back:') (how is that for staying on topic on a horse eating thread?)
I have seen a couple of crazy horses though. Don't know if they were born or made that way but loco.
The stallion I had in high school was the most 'mouthy' horse I ever had. Stallions in general tend to bite more than other horses... and with him, I had to be even more rigid because he was always thinkin' of doin' stallion things. But he was an easy stallion as they go. I'd like to think I had something to do with that.
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