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.
That is actually a pretty good book that we got for ecurbh to read. My 'cowboy' friend Bob recommended it. It is all about studying and correcting behaviors, and he liked it because despite the cutesy name, it speaks to adults. So many of the "learn to ride" books are geared toward kids that it is hard to find books that don't overly talk down to adult learners.
The horses have to be kept for a period to check for certain diseases and parasites. That is because they were not raised as livestock. They cannot be slaughtered immediately, nor can the meat be sold in the US by most plants.
As for the long rides to the packing house, left to starve and dehydrate, it would be counterproductive for the seller as they are weighed on delivery.
Slaughter is done with a 25 caliber hammer, or at least it used to be, like hogs. The squeeze chute is the only way to keep them still so they can be slaughtered quickly. The meat stinks to high heaven though.
A horse in the round pen the other day. I tied mine up on the outside. I looked back as I walked off. The horse had his head thru the fence trying to bite mine and mine kicking , trying to get away. I looked under and Oh xxxx! I tied him up right by a stallion. He thought he wanted a piece of me too.
I didn't say they were starved, I know that they are fed and fattened. What I said was that those who are sent to the sales because they are injured are made to endure those injuries for whatever their distance and duration till the end. People who think it is a good way to put down an animal that is injured and suffering should know that it is not.
Yeah. I'm going to check it out. I paid 20 dollars for one the other day and then saw I could have got it for 1.99 thru a book club. I think this was also one of the choices.
Yeah - even if he wasn't a stallion, any horse loose in the round pen might find messing with your horse as the best entertainment available.
Now I know though:')
I don't agree with everything she says, but then.... I didn't get here by having no opinions ;~D She's got a lot of good wisdom.
You work for himher, so you know those things.
But you can't dope them up on pheno or chloral, if you do they sit it off in pasture for a specified time. Sometimes this means injuries fester and it makes them worthless. Usually it means you have to drive out to the field in the forklift and carry the half-dead animal into the plant.
I'm sure there are avoidable abuses. But some are not, in the eyes of the industry. Personally, I would just shoot the poor animal and put it to rest with the backhoe. But many don't have the ability to do that, and have to dispose of them somehow. How would you suggest they go about doing that? The horsemeat industry, at least theoretically, allows an option that most can live with. Do you have another?
Yes, I work for Bo Derek. You caught me.
I put them down with a needle. My horse is 22 now, still working as he can, and when he can't and life is too painful, he'll be put down by my vet. Whether he is buried with a backhoe or taken to rendering after his death, I don't know yet.
He has been too good to people in this life to be betrayed at the end for a few hundred dollars.
My horse had a leg that was hurt pretty bad, so I shot it. Now it has a bad leg and a gunshot wound.
LOL!
Texans can have differences of opinion, too!
Like I said, I never looked at horses as pets, and that's the difference.
But I won't argue this point any further.
Owl, stainlessbanner is a fine Freeper of upstanding moral turpitude with whom I have joined on previous occasions in defending the honor of the South on various Civil War-related threads. However, he apparently lacks experience in the fine art of equine dining, and I was wondering if you'd care to share any of your experiences in that area.
BTW: On a semi-related culinary topic, did you see Letterman last night? He showed a "Kerry ad" in which he explains that the cicadas only come out when a Republican in the White House: 2004, 1987, 1970, and 1953. Kerry was promising that he would wipe out cicadas if elected, which, given their delicacy status, is just another reason to vote against him.
I was being general, and I respect your attitude. In fact, you have made me ponder something I never really thought about too much, not owning horses myself; these semi-rural suburbanites with horses, do they ever think ahead about how they are going to handle the situation? I do know that some people acquire horses who are not set up to take decent care of them, and end up having to sell them; the same could be said for lack of foresight even if they were able to provide a good home.
Probably many who don't think about it or plan for it. Or at the first sign of lameness or arthritis or Navicular disease, they Bute them and sell them off to someone unsuspecting and let them deal with it. I resented my friend selling my Bay at age 19, because he had to know whoever bought him now would have to deal with his last days. So I bought him.
But the short answer is, a rendering truck or a backhoe. If they do happen to die naturally without drugs, I know a guy with tigers, and Wolf Haven here locally who will take them. I shake my head at the thought because I love my horse, but it isn't a bad option... ;~D
Here is a link to an organization that rescues horses, race horses , Premarin mares and foals.
For all you people with the "people should eat anything they want" argument, - Do you say the same thing about dogs and cats? I have a friend from the Philippines who has eaten dog, and says it tastes good- Should we send dogs to the Philippines for consumption? How about cats? Certain cultures eat cats too. Horses are domesticated animals. They serve us. Historically, we have never eaten them(unless as a last resort). We have a choice about this. I understand poor countries , where they don't have a choice, but, horse meat is considered a delicacy in Europe, why accommodate them?
Stainless, you don't know what you're missing out on!
Some animals we eat, some we don't. Personally, I think eating a rabbit is disgusting but you can get it at fine restaurants. The idea of eating a bear, dog, cat, or horse may be disgusting to you, but it appeals to me and some others.
Don't just limit yourself to horse steaks though, be imaginative!
When I was 12 my younger sister was 8 and had a pony. My father told her that if she didn't get above C's in everyone of her classes no more pony. Well, sure enough the report cards came home and she had a C in one class. My father being true to his word immediatly went out and shot that mare. But not being a wasteful man he carved up and froze the meatier parts of the beast. Note: DO NOT USE THE BONES FOR STOCK!!! For some reason they take on a very gluey consistancy and WILL RUIN YOUR BEST STOCK POT!!! Generally, you have two different sections of meat- the shoulder and rump sections, near the leg, and the tenderloin which runs along the rib sections (DO NOT TRY TO EAT THE RIB SECTIONS OF A HORSE, AGAIN VERY GLUEY CONSISTANCY OF THE BONES!) The shoulder/rump sections are rather on the tough side as they do a lot of work, but are also the more flavorful part of the horse. Don't overpower that good horse flavor with a heavy marinade, maybe just 10 minutes in redwine, olive oil and garlic, a little S&P and then straight on to the hottest part of your grill. Don't over cook, it should still be pink or it will be too tough. The tenderloin benefits from a slower cooking to improve it's tenderness. Use a beef stock, winter vegetables and a dutch oven or crock pot. Several hours over low heat will produce the tenderest horse you've ever eaten. Keep in mind that this was a pony we ate. I've long hoped to find horse here in the states, but I'll probably have to go to Europe to sample this wonderful delicacy again. Good luck and post if you find any sources for horsemeat!
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
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