Horse Lovers Must Read

Driving up in the afternoon I watch the horses graze carefree in the pasture. Once a naive horse owner I am now all too aware of the horrors of the slaughter industry in the US. There are two horse slaughter plants operating in the US currently, both in Texas and named Bel-Tex and Dallas Crown.

With both plants so far from South Carolina, it seems unlikely to most horse owners and lovers that we would have a problem with our beloved horses ending up at a plant, but it is not far fetched. How many of us, I included, have stopped by an auction house and looked through the horses awaiting their turn at sale? Never staying to buy, but just seeing what was there. On any given night there are "kill buyers", those who go to buy the cheap, the old, the underweight for very little money. Like cattle they will stay in feedlots and be fattened up and then make the trip to Texas.

Horror stories about the trucking companies have led to some minor changes but still no victories for the horses. Sometimes hauled for several days, they are denied water, are crowded with mixed sexes. Mares, foals and stallions all fight for room. Some horses never make the trip and are trampled to death on the trip or suffer injuries for which they will receive no care.

Breed, size, color, or tempermant mean nothing to the slaughter house buyer. Once faithful friends of someone, wild horses who slipped through the cracks, unwanted, or stolen horses all await the same fate. Undercover footage has shown the brutal process of butchering for meat. Horses struggle in the chute where a captive bolt gun is applied to their head. It is supposed to insert a bolt to split the animals skull rendering it unconscious before it is strung up and it's throat split. Imagine the horror in the horse's mind as he hears the others, and scrambles on blood soaked floors trying to escape the inevitable. Undercover investigations have caught on tape horses being strung up fully alert, and being cut open before being dead.

Horses in the US played such a valuable part of our country's birth. We built roads, cleared forests, carried mail, battled for freedom, created towns and plowed fields for food all with the horse. As Americans we do not dine on our equine friends. Most people are appalled at the idea. Yet, we kill our horses to feed the Japanese, French, and other European and Asian nations.

Even famous horses are not spared. A Blood Horse reporter uncovered that beloved Ferdinand, a Derby Winner, was "disposed" of in a Japanese slaughterplant after he failed to be a productive stud. Racehorses are so full of heart and determination. They are used and abused, they make men rich, they offer the chance for the socially elite to show off their best, and yet the reward they receive is put out or be rid of.

The demise of the 1986 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and 1987 Horse of the Year signaled an end to whatever innocence may have remained in the Thoroughbred business. While it is easy to point fingers at the Japanese culture that holds monetary issues above emotional ones, the story of Ferdinand also ends the era when North American interests can sell bloodstock without taking responsibility for the ultimate disposition of the animals they've brought into this world. While it numbs the brain that Ferdinand was passed from farm to farm and agent to agent throughout Japan with nobody thinking to contact people in the United States who'd bring him back home, it is also mind-boggling that nobody here inquired into what happens to stallions who have outlived their breeding usefulness overseas.

Ferdinand's story became a big news story thanks to the extensive and meticulous reporting by Barbara Bayer, who spent several months tracking the path of shame that marked Ferdinand's last days. After The Blood-Horse broke the story in late July, other industry publications attempted to discredit Bayer, The Blood-Horse's Japan correspondent, as a "freelancer." They said she lacked proof, that the timing was wrong for this type of story (as if there's ever a right time), and that the horse's fate was uncertain. They were wrong on all counts.

Bayer, through her intimate knowledge of Japanese culture, got it exactly right. She knew just what it meant when she was told Ferdinand had been "disposed of." In fact, he had been killed late in 2002, the victim of two societies all too willing to rid themselves of what is no longer money-producing.

After failing to make the desired impact as a stallion at Claiborne Farm (also his birthplace) near Paris, Ky., Ferdinand was sold and arrived at Arrow Stud in Japan in 1995 with high expectations. His covers, which peaked at 77 in his initial year, plummeted in subsequent seasons. By 2000, his final season at Arrow, he covered 10 mares. He moved to a smaller operation, Goshima Farm, where he covered six mares in 2001 and two in 2002. Then he passed into the hands of a dealer, whose job it is to get whatever he can for unwanted bloodstock.

That dealer initially lied to Bayer several times when she inquired as to Ferdinand's whereabouts. The story evolved from "he'd been given to a friend" to "he's at a riding club far away from here" to, finally, "he isn't around anymore. He was disposed of."

Thank God their are agencies in place trying every day to save horses from this fate. From lobbying to letter writing. Those in the "trenches" daily buying horses from kill buyers, establishing retirement options and racehorse retirement. And there is more.... there is you reading this article. Please call, fax or write your US Congressman and urge them to cosponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 857). Let them know how recent efforts to legalize horse slaughter in Texas met with overwhelming opposition from the public. Tell them about the survey conducted last month that showed that 72% of Texans oppose horse slaughter.

HR 857 prohibits the transport of horses across state lines and international borders for the purpose of slaughter and also prohibits the sale or transport of horsemeat for human consumption. If passed, HR 857 will put an end once and for all to the slaughter of American horses both in the U.S. and in foreign countries.

Next time you drive by a field of horses, think if that one will be there tomorrow. WIll he be there ten years from now, or will he be in the stomach of a man far, far away. Our horses deserve better, we do not slaughter our dogs and cats in this way to feed other countries. We value their lives and care for them and at the right time humanely euthanize them. We have shelters in place to care for those who need help and who can over see a humane end if need be. Blood money is what prevents the horse from having the same basic rights. The strong and beautiful horse who America owes so much too, dies today to line the pockets of a few greedy individuals who see them only as a money making business for countries overseas. Don't you think it is time to put an end to this horror? How many more will have to die? I will go kiss my horses tonight and whisper a prayer for the others who won't be getting the love and care I shower upon mine. It is time now for us to take a stand and speak for those who cannot.

As beautiful as they are, there comes a time when thier purpose is served out as parts for feed or glue.

I don't understand why people worry so for the "suffering" of an animal. No one at these slaughter houses is trying to torture these animals, they are simply making a useful product out of something no one at that time wanted.

Fretting over fear and pain that has already ended for the animal is a waste of time, and IMO a stupid endeavor for the state to persue in "animal cruelty" charges. I'm not talking mistreatment or neglect, I mean charging after the animal is dead by that time it's a so what issue.

I love horses from a far, I make them nervous, so I respect them.

They are sooo beautiful. I love watching them at the yearly rodeo.

I thought horse slaughter houses we a thing of the past.

This article made me ill.

May I ask what do they do with the product from horses? In the least sickening detail please.

Every year there are fewer and fewer farms to house these old animals.

What is there to do?

While I personally would never end my horses life this way, I have donated already dead carcasses to my local animal sanctuary for food.

While I love my horses, the thought of renting a backhoe and having a tear laden service for them seems a little Walt Disneyish!

We saved a couple of horses from such a fate. One (a three year old filly) had been beaten, starved, full of external and internal parasites....that was in April. She is now a sorrel beauty glowing in health...still leary of human touch. She will follow me around the pasture, eat a carrot from my hand, but I still can't touch her. She is a 'pet'. We hope to gain her full trust, but even if we don't, she has a home here for life.

See I thought that was outlawed.

I read the contents to my Labs food, no chicken parts ect. Parts usually mean all parts that we would not consume.

It's like feeding cow to a cow. Yeah Yeah I am one of those sensitive types.

Truth is feeding the Labs a better diet makes for little out put. And my boys are big dogs.

The slaughter houses in Texas (where I live), have a great market for horse meat in France. There are restaurants and meat markets in Paris which specialize in horsemeat for patrons who seem to like it. I have seen these restaurants. There was an injunction on this commerical effort for a while. I don't know if it has been lifted. During the injunction, 'horse traders' were selling horses for just a few hundred dollars.

Have you been to the sale barn lately? Registered quarter horse colts are sellling for less than $150, filly colts less than $175. The entire riding horse market has busted. Drafters seem to be back in demand.

Like it or not, the killer market (some of the meat goes to europe) supports the prices in the rest of the horse industry. Well meaning but misguided efforts to shut down the killer trade will make matters much worse, with more horses being put down and stock being turned loose to run on public land.

Yes, I know what you mean. There are several breeders around my area who have culls every year, some are sold for personal use, but what to do with the rest? They can't be bred, and no one wants them.

Plus, there is always the horse who is not fit for human use--a biter, or likes to buck or kick, the horse that no training will fix. There are plenty of knowledgeable horse people who are kept plenty busy working with good horses, never mind the "strawberry roans."

May I ask what do they do with the product from horses? In the least sickening detail please.

Aside from dog food, I understand that a lot of horse meat is exported for consumption. A lot of it gets consumed by the French.

I am a horse lover- I own three.

Should there be a law requiring a humane way to dispose of a horse? Yes.

Should there be a law outlawing the disposal of horses? No. [Sheesh, we can't even get reasonable restrictions on abortion, let alone getting it outlawed]

Let's face it. At minimum, horses are a $100 per month expense. And expensive ex-racehorse taking up space at a fancy ranch will cost MUCH more.

If no one is willing to pay to keep the horse, not even animal rights activists who complain about it, then why should it not go to the slaughterhouse?

I would be interested in knowing about how you worked with your rescued arab horse. Our 3 year old filly is an arab or half arab. She was in horrible shape when we got her from the horse traders. She seems to have developed an attachment to us, coming when we call, following us around, but we still can't touch her. The vet says she was beaten, etc. I have found no advise on how to work with a horse with such a history.

As always, people cry out for more laws - when usually the answer is just to enforce the ones we have.

I would like to make sure the slaughterhouses operate in the most humane way possible. It is terrible what people do to dumb animals. I am not familiar with the laws governing such, but I am sure torture, purposeful or otherwise, is illegal.

But as you say, a horse is not a person, it is a product and we need to be efficient in our use of such.

Whenever the government interferes in the free market it usually just makes a mess.

I know you didn't ask me, so pardon me for butting in...I owned two rescued arab stallions, kept them for two years, worked with them daily.

At the end of that time, one was broken to ride and became an excellent, prize winning barrel racer. The other never settled down, bit, kicked, and was untameable (and I'm good at taming). If I'd put the same amount of time, money and effort into a decent horse instead of wasting it on that no-good bad-tempered skitterish arab, I'd have something. As it was, he did get sold at auction, and I don't care who bought him.

I even had him gelded. No improvement, no change. He never even took a halter. People said I was an idiot to waste my time on a no-good horse, even if he was beautiful, and they were right.

I agree with your daughter, and I respect her fight. There are some who will defend horse slaughter as a reasonable end for livestock.... no different than cattle or chickens. But they are different, of course, and it was ~us~ who told them that. Horses are treated as more special from cattle from the first day we halter them, train them, coerce and convince them to carry our weight. We tell them "trust me". "Do this for me and I will not hurt you". They perform our tasks, carry us in competition and on long trail rides, and in their retirement years teach our children to ride.

...Until they are unable to do that, through injury or old age. To send them to crowded slaughter pens to fight for their very life at the end is a betrayal of the trust they gave us. Horses, and dogs deserve a humane and dignified end... And ~we~ will be better stewards for demanding that for them.

I bought my horse back at 19 because I wanted to ensure whoever retires him never chooses a quick and cheap end for the remarkable service he has provided in life. He will get what he deserves.

I admire you for such an effort! Do you know of any books, tapes, anything on how to bring about the trust of a severely abused horse? I think this gal has promise. She has really come a long way since April. I sense her affection for me. She responds to my asking her to leave or enter the stall, comes to me of her own free will, and comes when I call her. I would like to get her to the point of letting me give her affectionate pats or scratches. We have 'round penned' her, but no true join up yet. We have had her 8 months. We had to stall her for almost 3 months to get the weight on. She was a bag of bones. She now has a social circle, and is very fond of one mare and little filly. She sees us working with the other horses. I just hope we can really connect.

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