Horse Lovers Must Read

Leigh Anne O'Kelley

[dever412]

Horses slaughtered in the two Texas plants are for human consumption. The US does not eat horse meat but we export it to the French and Japanese mainly. To die for meat, horses must be bled out alive, which means stunned, strung up and their throats slit. Video footage shows horses being hit more than once and waking up from the stun process while being killed. It is a horrible fate for any animal. For those who complain, yes- backyard breeders flood the market with horses who are not marketable. People rush out to buy ponies and horses for children like it is a novelty. And to those who feel that it is not worth spending the money on a backhoe, well even most counties will bury a horse free of charge. As the saying goes if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it. So, if you think it is Ok to continue feeding the French and Asians our horses, I pity you. Nations that despise the US and turn their backs don't mind eating our horses. I agree their is a lot of reform and no easy answers but we don't eat horse meat in the US and we should not sell it overseas. Horses have helped make our nation what it is today, we value them as a companion animal. We ride them, we show them, we enjoy their company. They are beautiful and noble animals who have been depicted in art throughout the ages. If you really want to see what goes on in a slaughterplant for horses please watch the following: http://www.arthuranimations.com/BloodCountry/

And yes, I am the author of the article, an animal rights activist, a vegetarian and an animal rescue and horse owner. I do more than my fair share for the ones who can't speak for themselves and will fight until I die for justice for the animals. Some of the comments posted here turn my stomach. Get educated- rendering is different. Dog food, glue, etc is made from a horse already dead and taken to a factory or humanely euthanized at the plant by a veterinarian. Rendering plants do not kill horses. I could have my horse put down and taken to the plant if I so chose. Bel-Tex and Dallas Crown in Texas are NOT rendering companies and kill for human consumption. There is a HUGE difference between the two.

[blackdog]

Ever seen an animal in the wild meet it's end? First the carnivors bring it down after it's so worn down it can't fight any more. Then they start on the entrails. The animal dies while they are dining on it's guts about a half hour later.

Slaughter houses my arss.......Sure beats the natural way.

[BallandPowder]

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

Mmmmmmmm... aged horseflesh.... yummm!!!

[Cacique]

bttfl

[jtminton]

Are you as energetic in your plight to save the million of unborn babies that are slaughtered in ways that if used on any animals would be illegal? Animals should never be mistreated, but there are much more important fights to fight in this country right now. Prioritize.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's always amazed me when people who "love" their horse sell it at auction for $500 and think that it's going to a good home.

People make up lies to tell themselves when they don't want to admit what they have done.

Backhoe drivers around here will come for about $200.

[HairOfTheDog]

We don't all have to fight the same cause. There are plenty of worthy efforts in life.

[dever412]

I have my priorites and I fight for what I feel is in my heart. I do not share the passion of anti abortion protesters, so sorry if that offends you. I am an animal person more than a people person. There has to be all kinds in the world.

[Kenton]

So, if you think it is Ok to continue feeding the French and Asians our horses, I pity you.

I appreciate your pity, but it's misplaced. I didn't advocate eating Trigger, I just pointed out the answer to what happens to the dead horses.

I don't sell my cats to Asian restaurants when they get sick and old, I treat them like the pets they were and send them off to Animal Heaven where they run and play with all the other little dead kitties and puppies on a big old farm run by a kindly old [presumably also dead] lady.

Unless that bastard at the animal shelter has been lying to me all the time, anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I love animals. I think cruelty to animals sucks. But I don't listen to lectures from "animal righst activists", because I think that as a group, you are a pretty loopy lot.

I see you just joined today. Welcome to FR. Have a nice New Year.

[dever412]

Most counties have dead animal removal programs and will bury a horse free of charge or at least pick it up. I know this for a fact because of friends who live in different places. I have lost two horses, one I had buried for 125.00 and the other was euthanized at the University of Georgia Veterianry hospital and used for research. He had been plauged with problems and had been there several times and underwent colic surgery there for which he never recovered. The University charged me nothing and I did receive a tax deductible donation. My horse never suffered and was treated very loving. So there are options out there and not the auction houses and slaughter houses for disposal.

[BallandPowder]

powder..patch..ball FIRE!

I do not share the passion of anti abortion protesters
I am an animal person more than a people person

So the life of a child is less important to you than that of an animal... says a lot baout you

[sandydipper]

I ain't never 'et horse before - but I betcha I would if'n I was hungry. Maybe that's why French people are so mean.

[Endeavor]

No offense to you or your daughter, but this is horseshit. While I have a real problem with kill buyers buying up good horse stock and wild horse stock to make a buck at the killers (and feel that should be outlawed) I don't have a problem with older or infirmed animals being terminated. I was a practicing large animal vet in Texas and deeply love horses.

[ConservativeMan55]

[HairOfTheDog]

And yes, I am the author of the article, an animal rights activist, a vegetarian and an animal rescue and horse owner. I do more than my fair share for the ones who can't speak for themselves and will fight until I die for justice for the animals.

I am conservative and a meat eater, but I support you in this issue of horse slaughter, for the reasons I have given in my posts. You will however, lose most on this website by arguing from your perspective. We are not interested in adopting your lifestyle. That doesn't mean you can't make meaningful progress in working toward more humane treatment of horses and perhaps even save a few old horses someone here might have sent to slaughter without your education about how they will be treated there.

Animal rights people repel a lot of people they could have found common ground with when they come at us hard like you just have. The first step in convincing someone to change is to convince them that you share a common understanding. You have to find a common goal before your argument would be heard. Most conservatives, like myself, understand good animal husbandry is a responsibility and that abuse is wrong. Start there. Those people will hear you. The mistake would be to argue only with those who are furthest from your point of view because they will ignore you and your effort will be wasted. If your passion is animal treatment, find the ~best~ causes, and then also fight the right fight.

[Mamzelle]

re: The entire riding horse market has busted.)))

The states that have some liability protections for riding stable owners do better with their horses. As it is, few kids are taking riding lessons anymore unless they're debutantes at Foxcroft. When I was younger, lots of suburban neighborhoods had their stable.

Another nice thing the lawyer gang has done for us.

[dever412]

Thanks for the welcome and I may be in the whole "loopy lot" but that is fine by me. I live my life by compassion. I try not to preach but to educate. Yes I do feel some groups take extreme measures and wrong causes, BUT on the flip side there are advocates for humans equally extreme. What about; Anti abortionist killing doctors and bombing clinics, gays being beaten,affirmative action can anyone just get a job, promotion, or education on actual merit anymore?, etc. etc. We all have causes we fight for, some are more extreme than others. If you did a study most animal activists are peace loving and even the ALF which does use force for animal liberation does not injure people. What makes our country so great and so unique is we have the power to stand up for our beliefs and voice them without risk of persecution.

[dever412]

Those were your words and not mine. I do not stand on street corners protesting abortion clincs. I have my causes, and to be quite honest- it may say a lot about me- but yes I'd fight for an animal over a person any day.

[HairOfTheDog]

The horse market is a nebulous thing, and also very local. What you say is not true in my area. But regardless of local ups and downs the same horse will sell for $500 to $5000 depending on what clientelly he is ~put~ in front of. If you are talking to a trail rider he is worth $1000... If you are talking to a competitor, $5000. Horse worth depends on the quality of the wall his advertisement hangs on.

I have a pony that would bring $200 at an auction, and $6000 to a pony clubber, if I knew any.

[myprecious]

Just hope the Mad Cow situation does not get as bad as it was in Europe. I had a friend living in Italy at the time. She was unable to buy beef for over a year and half. The horse meat market grew to fill the void. She was never able to get over the emotional issue, but after so long without a steak.......