[rooster1]

My daughter is a great lover of all animals and wrote this article to bring this issue to the attention of all concerned persons.

[American_Centurion]

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.

[oceanperch]

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.

[Dudoight]

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.

[AlbertWang]

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.

[11th Earl of Mar]

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?

[HairOfTheDog]

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.

[mel]

You should be proud. Thanks, tell your daughter I really appreciate her article.

[joesnuffy]

The French eat horses -dont they

[blackdog]

OK, so take your old, lame horse out back and shoot it instead of selling it at sale for $500.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Sorry, it's an 'effin ANIMAL.

Food, glue, dogfood - whatever.

Kae-go-gi (sp?) anyone?

[jtminton]

At the risk of sounding mean and cruel, horses are ANIMALS. They are not humans. Sure, they can be trained, are intelligent, and can show what seems to be human emotion, but God put them on earth to be used by man. What makes it okay to slaughter or kill a cow, but not a horse? I grew up on a farm with both horses and cattle and can tell you that I've seen what appears to be intelligence in them. But deep down, it is just a Pavlovian response for food or attention. It's sad to think of a beautiful, graceful animal ending up in some Frenchie's stomach, but that's the marketplace. Deal with it. Horses are part of agriculture. End of story.

[BallandPowder]

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

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

[Cacique]

bttfl

[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.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The best way to reduce this problem is for everyone who cares about horses to absolutely refuse to support competitive racing and showing of horses in any way. The only reason for the huge oversupply of horses is the huge overbreeding which is driven by the greedy urge to produce a "winner" -- even if that means producing a thousand unwanted "losers" in the process, who will invariably end up neglected and eventually slaughtered, long before the end of their natural lifespan. If you participate in horse shows (beyond the just for fun children's type), or attend or bet on horse races, YOU are part of the problem. Overbreeding will stop when it stops being profitable, and not a minute sooner.

[deport]

There are two horse slaughter plants operating in the US currently, both in Texas and named Bel-Tex and Dallas Crown.

Let them know how recent efforts to legalize horse slaughter in Texas met with overwhelming opposition from the public.

---

Well which is it? Is the slaughter plants in Texas operating illegal or not? If illegal then looks like the problem is solved if they are illegal since they should be able to be shut down.

[deport]

Folks..........

rooster1 has left the building........ seems he has posted the article and hasn't responded. His last post prior to this one was back in July 03....

[RottiBiz]

My daughter is a great lover of all animals and wrote this article to bring this issue to the attention of all concerned persons.

A well written and compassionate article. Thank you for posting.

You have every reason to be proud of your daughter.

Leigh Anne, keep on fighting the good fight.

[stanz]

Thank you for this article. There are some who have no regard for the plight of animals and view them as "useless" and not worthy of compassionate treatment. It's as if these animals don't feel pain or sadness.
Without the loyal service horses have provided over the years, we should venerate them... not cast them off to some abysmal slaughterhouse to await a cruel fate.
I will pass this article along and hope that it catches the attention of someone in a position to help.