Texas’ ‘Dirty Little Secret’: Thousands of Horses Slaughtered Every Year for Human Consumption

I’m from Texas and I didn’t know that they had those slauter Houses there. That’s really sad if they are killing horses that have a good life ahead of them. I also think that when you kill an animal it should be done quickly and not alow the animal to be able to survive from the supposed kill!!!

How about sterilizing them and releasing them onto protected land where they can become part of the food chain…either killed by top predators or recycled by scavengers?

and our government is letting this happen they are probably making money off of this travisty also what is next selling people to cannibals overseas I wouldn’t put it past them

The horses that go through these slaughter houses are not any that have “good lives ahead of them” as Vivienne put it. These are horses that are 15+ years old and have backs in the shape of a horse shoe. None of these horses they kill cannot serve any purpose from rodeo to show horses and are just left out to pasture. They are worth more to sell to a slaughterhouse than to spend money buying hay and grain to feed them. I don’t see anything wrong with this. Sure, the horses become best friends with their owners from all the hours spent riding and working, but we don’t see people complaining when an old dairy cow thats been milking for 10 years is sent to slaughter. This is perfectly fine and I just see it as part of the industry.

I too believe that overbreeding is the problem. This is the problem of the AQHA, APHA and other registries that promote overbreeding for profit. Those two organizations as well as the vets that do the breeding work are the true criminals in this debate. Breeding needs to practically come to a halt here.

Why are horses so different than pigs, cows, sheep, or any other food stock? I could see if they were slaughtering people, but horses? Please! Let the politicians work on something more worthwhile, like funding alternate fuel research.

Horse slaughter is illegal because it is a violation of the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. The horses are struck more than once with the captive bolt pistol and they lose consciousness for thirty (30) seconds. They regain consciousness when they are hoisted by the left rear leg and they begin to scream as they are being vivisected. Yes, they are awake when they are being butchered.
That the American people cannot find placements for these ‘unlucky’ horses – many of which are stolen – is a myth. I own and operate a horse welfare organization and I have rescued a Seattle Slew son, a Secretariat grandson, a Secretariat great granddaughter, an Impressive son, and a Dash for Cash daughter and granddaughter. I rehabilitate these horses and they are mine for the duration of their lives. I find qualifed private homes to free lease them to. If something comes up and the lessee can no longer pay for the horse’s expenses, I take them back. This has yet to happen, but it is in my lease agreement that I will take the horse back. I can also ‘recall’ the horse if I want.
There is a solution to this problem, and I agree that breeding should be regulated – especially in the Quarterhorse industry. That is the most overly bred and commonly slaughtered horse in the United States.
I reiterate, it is illegal by virtue of a Federal Law to slaughter a horse.

Mr.Thopmson could not be more off base on his comments. If you had bothered to watch or read some of the testimony from yesterday’s hearing you would have heard straight form the slaughter house rep that the majority of horses that are used for human consumption are young viable horses. I was involved in the rescue of a 6 month old filly from a slaughter truck, 14 other 6 month old babies didn’t make it off that trailer and were sent to slaughter. Another rescue I was close to saved 7 pregnant mares all under the age of seven from being bought for slaughter. More of the mares would have been saved but the killbuyers outbid the rescues. That is the ONLY reason they all didn’t find homes.
I volunteer ata rescue who buys horses off of feedlots, broker lots, and from kill auctions many of these horses are adopted before they even make through the front gates of the rescue. My opinion and beliefs are made of first hand accounts and my own studies and research. I don’t have to quote anyone for my information, can you say the same?
This is a point that was not made yesterday . Many people who want to buy a horse at auction are outbid by killbuyers. These horses are not unwanted and everyday another rescue or private citizen with honorable intententions open their doors to these horses. We as a Equine Community will make it work.
One last comment, the ProSlaughter propoganda machine is so full of half truths and straight out lies it actually scares me. Repeatedly during yesterday’s hearing I was raised to my feet to hear our gov’t reps repeating these fallacies!
And as far as this being a distraction form real issues. This is a real issue that many Taxpaying American citizens have worked extremely hard for. We have lost people along the way like Mary Nash and we continue in her honor. I am offended that people would scoff at our efforts. Horses helped build this country, you should be thankful.

To the folks that equate horses with other livestock, think of how this country was founded – not on the back of a pig. How did automobiles and trains come about – not from observing or riding cows, elk or bear. Horse slaughter is not like shooting a game animal, our slaughter houses were not built with horses in mind. They travel packed like sardines in transport trailers built for cattle, and are abused and frightened when they arrive. Let’s face it, the slaughter house workers are not animal advocates. The death chute is also made for cattle and not horses, they don’t fit well, they can see their comrades hanging. Yes, if we walked up and shot them between the eyes, that would be kinder, but we don’t. Horses are magnificent creatures with deep emotions, and intelligence. They serve us well without complaining and this is the end they deserve? Congress is spending time on this because this country was founded on the backs of these animals, and there is a lot of crime and abuse that goes with the slaughter of them. There are millions of horse owners in this country and there are very powerful people involved in the industry who are fighting to end inhumane slaughter practices. Let’s face it, congress probably does not spend a whole lot of time on this one. But I my book, it is an issue that needs attention.

Actually I have seen how horses are slaughtered and it is not quick. They are repeatedly hit with the captive bolt. Horses by nature are flight animals and fight the entire process. They rear up and fall down in the blood slick kill pen. The horses next in line can see, smell and hear the entire process. They know it is coming. The captive bolt gun was designed for short neck animals, horse have long necks if you hadn’t noticed. Matter of fact if you bothered to research the entire process you will find that Horse slaughter is based on the fundamentals of other species. It does not take in account equine behavior or physiology. There are videos out there that are raw footage of the enitre process from them coming off the trucks all the way to the dismantling of their bodies.
Second this is not a recent issue. Mary Nash started this fight over 20 years ago. After her death from cancer many people continued her fight and many more joined. You keep making blanket statements with no real education or research behind them. You are spewing what you have read. I live rescue, I have seen the horses that were saved from slaughter, I have groomed them and fed them. I have found homes for them. Yes some are injured or older, but the MAJORITY are healthy, young viable animals. My friend just bought a young 5 year old healthy thoroughbred from a kill pen last week. This week on a rescue website there are several young and or healthy horses that are up for adoption or sale. Everyone of them could have ended up in the hands of a kill buyer. The rescue I mentioned before saves mostly young horses under the age of 8 months. Should I keep going? I seriously think you need to eduacate yourself some before you continue with your ignorant posts.

I am glad that this issue is getting more attention.This Inhumane practice needs to be stopped in this country.These aren’t old, sick, and lame horses that are inhumanely slaughtered every day.These are healthy, young and sound horses.I go to the auctions, I see what ends up in the kill pen,always healthy young horses.Even the slaughter house agree on this.And the issue of horses starving in a field and dieing is simply false and pro slaughter propaganda.I can’t wait until September when this Truly Un-American and inhumane practice will finally be voted on and stopped once and for all.

I have to chime in, too — Point one, as far as the quality of slaughtered horses goes, my first horse was rescued from a truck on the way to slaughter, and he turned out to be the best horse in the barn. Beautifully trained and smart, he was my companion for 18 years. The meat buyers don’t want the old and decrepit horses — they are not good eating! They want the young and healthy ones.
Point 2 — If there are too many horses in this country, it is because irresponsible breeders have the back-door outlet of slaughter for their rejects. If that were not available, you would find far fewer — especially those meaty quarterhorses — being born. And maybe the prices of the good horses would go up, while the prices of the poor ones would go down, into backyard-family range.
Point 3 — no parallel is possible with livestock that is raised as such. We don’t raise horses for food here — we raise them for other purposes, admittedly often to earn money for us. It is immoral to treat them this way. Even if the slaughter process were humane, which it isn’t — I have seen video and heard testimony that makes this very clear.
Point 4 — the slaughter industry makes a VERY small contribution to our economy. They have a few hundred employees total, and at least one firm pays essentially zero taxes, I have read.

If people want the truth they can go to the Mary Nash website, Just Say Whoa, or just type in horse slaughter into their browser. All the ones who want slaughter are too afraid to go and look because they’re all liers.

“Its very fast and painless for the animal. If it wasn’t, this would have been brought up a long time ago.” Grant Thompson
Research, Grant dear, research.
Your comment reflects that you have taken a stand without researching and analyzing the issue. This HAS been brought up a long time ago. It is not a flavor-off-the-week-issue.

Horse slaughter is illegal and I demand this issue be brought before a court of law and justice be served upon all those involved. It’s time we end the ability for people to make money off of slaughtering our AMERICAN horses. What’s worse is that all horses, young, old, pregnant mares, derby winners, show horses, stolen horses (oh yes people make a living off stealing horses & selling them to slaughter), and our wild horses have all gone to slaughter. Just the other day several pen fulls of wild horses from the reservation were shipped off to slaughter. Horses that once roamed free are now on someone’s dinner plate. Slaughter continues because it puts big money in big pockets and I demand a full investigation as to why this illegal atrocity is allowed to continue. For those of you that think it is quick and painless you are WRONG. Go visit (UNNANOUNCED) to a slaughter plant and you will see how they are poked, prodded and beaten from the time they get off the trucks and see the terror they experience as they meet their fate. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on all those who condone this and to those who let it continue.

I am so sick of hearing about horses being slaughtered for the Europeans. Just because the horses are banged up or sometimes not even that, that doesn’t give anybody any rights to send them to slaughter. It is wrong and it should be banned for good. I have seen alot of good horses go through slaughter and auctions and nothing is wrong with them. This isn’t right. I have been a horse lover for too many years and i have also been a horse owner so i totally am against horse abuse, horse neglect, and horse slaughter. How would you feel if you put through that torture? I don’t think you would like it either. Think about it…..

Here is a short video taken recently that shows what kinds of horses that are taken to the plants here in the United States.

To expand on the point of how horses are different then a cow or a pig, consider the funeral procession of ex-President Ronald Reagan two years ago. Mr. Reagan’s casket was borne by the Caisson Platoon, which includes the horse drawn caisson, following by a riderless black horse with a pair of boots turned backwards in the stirrups. The riderless black horse is meant to be symbolic of a fallen leader.
To those whom do not see the difference between a horse and a cow or a pig I pose this question: Would the Caisson Platoon have the same dignity if the caisson were drawn by cows and followed by a riderless pig?

I don’t buy the whole “unwanted horses” rhetoric being spread by those in favor of keeping the horse slaughterhouses open.
Consider these facts:
In the 1990′s the number of U.S. horses slaughtered declined sharply. According to USDA records; 345,700 horses were slaughtered for export in 1990; ten years later in 2000 that number was 50,400.
Last year 7,100 horses were imported from Canada for slaughter in the U.S.
If the horse slaughterhouses are here to take care of an “unwanted horse problem”, why do they have to import from Canada??

Anyone who has taken the time to research this issue can say with out a doubt this is an absolute horror and a crime. Horses are not killed instantly they are much of the time dismembered alive. What about that is humane? I have been to the feedlots I have seen the trucks. I purchased a young full of life little QH filly that was destined to make that trip. She is now a loving companion to my grandson. She learned to trust again so freely even after spending days at a pit they call a feedlot.
These spiritual grand creatures who will give their all for a human deserve to have their owners held responsible for their time here on earth. When there is an easy out people will take it, if it’s not offered then people think twice. Slaughter is an easy out for the irresponsible horse owner. With out slaughter as an option people will have to make a better informed decision prior to taking a horse in to their lives. A horse is one of Gods most perfect creations, how we can allow them to be tortured with horrid conditions at feedlots and criminal rides in over crowded trucks then to be killed so someone in Europe can eat their meat is just so WRONG. What kind of society do we live in that finds this an acceptable practice. It must be banned!

I love horses just as much as any of you do. I’m just saying its better to find some sort of use for the surplus other than just euthanizing them. Talk about money that doesn’t need to be spent.
Also, you say this country was built on the backs of horses. You must have forgotten what people ate in the 18th century. They sure as hell were not eating steaks, pork chops, and leg of lamb. Maybe all you PETA advocates should also look at trying to halt rodeo as you may also think that is cruel to the horses.
Think on both sides of the issue. You say stop the slaughter, then I suppose you should ready yourself to take in all of the 100,000 horses every year that are slaughtered. I can already picture it – malnutritioned, skin-and-bone horses taking bullets in their heads in some far off pasture in texas, new mexico, etc. because these “rescue centers” don’t have the capacity to handle them.
Rebutt me all you want, you can’t change my opinion. Sorry for thinking practically, my apologies to you all.

I grew up with Trigger, Silver, and all the others. I dreamed of riding fast, hair blowing in the wind, riding in the river, lieing down on my horse and looking at the sun, plucking apples from the trees atop my horse, these dreams came true.
Winston Churchill said ” There is never a wasted hour in the saddle “. People who are not horse people can never understand the importance of the horse, only people like myself and others who’s lives were saved by the kindness, and love of the horse can know.

First of all, killing horses IS different than killing other “food” animals!Horses are not just left in the pasture with others and not interacted with. They save our lives as children and offer a great partnership throughout our lives! Cows, pigs, sheep, etc are not in close relationship with their owners on a daily basis. We LOVE our horses. Second, for the #6 post, how dare you write that this cause is unimportant and does not deserve your time-HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!! Your opinion is a slimey, low-life opinion! You go follow a horse’s life from day one until the day he enters a slaughterhouse, and YOU go swing the sledgehammer with the bolt on the end of it if it’s no big deal!
Furthermore, I am a horse trainer and a breeder and believe me- there are plenty of things to do with unwanted horses!! Its an outright LIE to say that suddenly the country will be over-run with unwanted horses! That is the biggest joke I have ever heard, having been in the business for over 25 years, and clearly those people don’t realize how fast any horse lover would adopt an unwanted horse- in fact, sometimes people will outright scramble to go get an unwanted horse! Most horses that end up in slaughteryards- I know because I have rescued one heck of a lot of them from those places- are horses that the owners have been lazy with and decide to auction them off as a lazy way to get rid of them without having to advertise them as “for sale”. There are alot of super nice horses that end up there because of irresponsible lazy owners!! Some of the best riding horses we have found were found there! I just missed a daughter of “Abdullah”, the 4 time Olympic Gold Medal jumper, by about 5 hours that was sent to slaughter because her pathetic owner didn’t want to spend the time/money advertising her! An Abdullah daughter- perfectly healthy and in great condition- easily a $12,000 mare- killed for meat for $600!!!! And Fernando- a Kentucky Derby Winner who gave his whole heart to his trainers and owners- he did more than they asked of him- he did the ultimate for them, and in return, they slaughtered him- its insane! The people who don’t know the difference between meat animals and horses need to shut up and crawl back under their rocks!! Horse slaughter has to stop, and the surplus of unwanted horses is a pathetic lie! If horses could not be slaughtered, it would simply force the owners to take out a classified ad and post them as free or for sale- its that simple-believe me! The horse would have a hom in a matter of days. Its that simple and all auctions offer is a lazy way to “dump” you animal for irresponsible owners. Is that what we are catering to here- lazy, irresponsible owners? Are we saying- “yeah, you lazy slobs that are too pathetic to take out a $6 classified ad for your horse deserve to have a place to dump your horses.” ? I think not!!

By the way to hear the new song by Maria Daines for the US horses you will need to go to her website. The site I wrote in my post was not posted.
maria-daines.com, then go to music then ‘I wanna run free’. Radio edit.
Thank you!
Pamela Bertsch —

I just wanted to chime in here a bit….
#1. Yes it is true that horses “being herd animals” are smelling/hearing/seeing the horror in these *#@*&%$ foreign owned meat plants and most certainly KNOW what is happening.
I can only imagine the terror they must feel as they watch/smell and listen while in line to be next & wait their turn to be killed to feed some foreigners in Europe & Japan before they get to the “bolt’ so to speak, and this is not an opinion it is a FACT. Having studied horses for all of my 42 yrs I do know a bit of what I speak of here!
#2. These horses are MOST def. NOT all the “sway backed nags” someone here mentioned , etc.
I have witnessed first hand the beautiful horses who sit at the kill plants, and I saw more young, healthy, sound horses than not.
#3. This must be stopped. I will never give up the fight, for I have loved horses from the day I was born-literally!
Lastly, I place alot of blame on the AQHA & APHA horse associations for such massive over breeding in the past couple of decades.
That is a ONE huge part of the overall problem here….I wish these 2 assoc’s would stop the overbreeding, but that doesnt seem to be happening!
If you breed at all…
Be a responsible breeder plz, plz!!
Please consider/rem. that there are sooo many awesome horse out there to be had & who are desp. need of good/forever homes, to be bought for little to nothing at local auctions etc. so why keep breeding more??????
I just dont get it!
I guess thats because I am not driven by the almighty buck huh?
And Im mad as hell that so many people have their heads in the sand, or where da sun dont shine re: this issue.
Its becoming similar to the massive cat/dog overpopulation probs we have had for years now,with millions being euthanized annually just here is the USA due to not enough homes!
I dont want to see this happen with our horses!
Of course Im NOT all about the all mighty dollar so I fight for what Im passionate about.
I own a beautiful 15 yr. old Arabian gelding, who saved my life-literally, and he is my best friend, trail partner and so so much more! I do not think I would be writing to you now if not for my Montana, he gave me my life back after so many years of being sick & just wishing to die.
I hope that someone can get some honest perspective from my post, if not..I always have to try!
****For the animals!****

So Grant, do you feel the same about dogs and cats? Is slaughter sometimes necessary for them too? Should we get in business with the Asians as well?
Here in the US we must keep with certain standards. Horses, dogs and cats our the top three companion animals. We must watch what lines we allow to be crossed.
If we keep going in this direction then I guess just slaughter everything? What a beautiful country this would be!
Pamela Bertsch

Hi Grant,
you seem to have spent alot of time nit picking my post apart lol!
I didnt say anywhere that I can find re:
“other animals are not in close contact with their owners on a daily basis is untrue. If you were a member of 4-H or FFA, or even attended fairs to exhibit in open shows, you would see how close owners get with their beloved animals.”
I WAS in 4-h, I DID rodeo, and sure nuff showed in Western Pleasure/Equitaion & Trail classes for years as well and now am training horses for others.
SOOOOO I guess Im not sure where you got the impression that I “dont see how close owners get to their animals?” or anything like it.
what are you talking about anyway!???
Did you even READ my post???
roflmao
Also, I just cant figure out where you get the impression that I said only horses are “herd” animals…
I said: ” Yes it is true that horses “being herd animals” are smelling/hearing/seeing the horror in these *#@*&%$ foreign owned meat plants and most certainly KNOW what is happening.”
So go have yourself a nice pat on the back now…for you have proven yourself to be either illiterate or just plain stupid.
I never said any of the things you so proudly chastised me on, but hey …wtf! Lmao:)
You have a great eve!
And thanks alot for the honest perspective, thats what I asked for..just cant seem to find where/why you said the things you did-but oh well!
:)
Jill

About the difference in showing food animals, the only reason people show food animals is to get a better price for their meat! Somebody showing a steer, pig, etc, breeds them for meat, shows them to improve the price for their meat, etc. The entire focus is on meat and meat prices. Never once have I met a horse breeder/trainer/showman/lover that was in the business to get a good price for the MEAT on his horse- that’s like comparing apples and oranges- there just is no similarity other than they are both have 4 legs. The horsemen are into horses because they love horses, not the slaughter prices they get for their horses. Having been a horseman all my life, I have never been “into” food animals also. They aren’t the same thing. Food animals are just that- food animals and I have never been interested in them at all. We are talking about horsemen here, not meat farmers. There is just no comparison and to say there is shows that you are not really a true horseman and horse lover, because to those of us that love horses, we know we love everything about them- the smell, the beauty, the fun, the partnership, the adventures, everything. Again, like I said, never once have I met a horseman who raised horses for meat-it just isn’t what horses and horsemen are about. There is such a vast difference it isn’t even comparable. To a non-horseperson- I could see the cause of confusion in thinking its just an animal- all animals are the same, but the truth of the matter is that those people really don’t know what they are talking about and might as well go talk to a tree because what they say to us horsemen is that they are CLUELESS! Congressmen/women included!

Mixed Emotions.
Death is part of life.
Fast & Fearful OR Slow & Painful?
Not all horses are sound or manageable.
Who will take care of all the unwanted horses if they do away with the slaughter houses?
Where will they bury all of them?
Who will pay for it?
People who haven’t owned a horse don’t know the expense it can be.
I don’t like slaughter houses, but I don’t like prisons either.
Not everything about breathing is rosey and peaceful.

I can’t believe all the whining snivelling “women” out there. A horse is just an animal. It is not human, and if the Europeans want to eat them, then I say “more power to them!”. Let the market place do its job and the rest of you whiners get one for yourselves.

A horse is not just an animal.
I have 4 horses that was about to go to slaughter. They are great and our best friends. They have feelings just like we do. I can when they are happy and not. I’m sure they are some that need to go but i also see good one go. The way they go is not good for the horses.

I am completely against horse slaughter for all the same reasons listed here by others who have done their research and have read about the actual events leading up to a horse’s death in a slaughterhouse. The way these companion animals are being treated is heartbreaking, disrespectful and too often torturous.
However, I believe the problem’s roots go much deeper. Go to some of the wild mustang sites and continue to dig–you will find the numbers, the research, and the bigger questions: Why are these horses being auctioned to begin with? Where are all these ‘surplus’ horses at (mostly Bureau of Land Management) auctions coming from? Bonnie Beaver has not done her research. There is no good reason we need to “create facilities that could house an additional 10 times that number of horses every year.”
America has much more than a black eye. This issue is just the surface—and the American people in general are not aware! But horse slaughter is the current topic on this webpage, so I will go no further along that thread after having said that there is more to find out.
The actions in the recent past were honorable, but were only a start in supporting the original Wild Horse Annie Bill of 1959. Simply removing government money from USDA inspections is not enough. Slaughterhouses have plenty enough to get their way around that–or simply pay for it themselves. Those supporting their closures have been defeated on this action, and not because they were in the minority.
There used to be more slaughterhouses–in California they have closed theirs down and collected data proving animal abuse cases are significantly lower, for example. The legal battles in Texas with the courts trying to close the slaughterhouses there have shed much light on that state’s opinion as well.
These slaughterhouse companies need to stay completely off American soil! We have a great history and legacy with the horse. Our country grew up on horseback–in those days the ‘wild west’ wasn’t just the very most western states, but pretty much anything past the Mississippi River. And horses remain honored and respected as pets, athletes, and ‘employees’. (There may be fewer working farms, but they remain with police forces and such.)
We are talking about banning slaughter for human consumption–very specifically. This is a major step and more acts and bills will be written as Americans hear more about this and take action.

Only a person who has never been to the “killers” in Kaufman would argue for horse slaughter. It is a “no questions asked” kind of place. They don’t care where the horse comes from or from whom it was stolen. Everytime I went (looking for my stolen horse) I saw many beautiful horses in the pens with no outwardly visible signs of illness or injury. So please go on down and visit Dallas Crown like I did. I guarantee it will be a day not like any other you have ever experienced, an unforgettable day.
It will break your sad and cold, cold heart.

Grant, with you I disagree wholeheartedly.
1. I wonder, if you were a horse, would you think differently of this treatment?
2. GRANT, I KNOW YOU MUST, INSIDE SOMEWHERE, BE A GOOD PERSON. PLS JUST THINK OF ALL THE SUFFERING YOUR ATTITUDES ARE CREATING.
3. GRANT, YOU ARE CONDONING A GREEDY, SELFISH, NEEDLESS VIOLENCE ON AN ANIMAL THAT YOU YOURSELF LOVE. PRACTICAL OR NOT, IT IS WRONG. JUST LIKE SLAVERY WAS WRONG, IT WAS PROFITABLE BUT IT WAS WRONG. WE ALL SEE THAT NOW. SOON WE WILL SEE THIS AS WRONG TOO.

Every doctor who prescribes Premarin, and every woman who takes it, contributes to the horse oversupply problem. I don’t know to what extent, but any at all is unacceptable. Put up with the “power surges” in the name of humanity toward innocent animals. Overbreeding–whether terrorists, cats, dogs, or horses–is the root cause of the world’s most endemic problems today. We could spay and neuter our problems away in 25 years.

O come on: what is the difference between sending a horse to the slaughterhouse and sending a cow to the slaughterhouse? The both are shipped exactly the same and killed by exctly the same procedure. Yet we don’t say a word about the “welfare” of cows. Is this outcry simply our intolerance of eating horsemeat as a society?

If it is OK to kill cattle with a bolt gun – why not horses as well? If it is inhumane for one, should be for both.

If the public could see the video from inside a slaughterhouse for horses…they would vomit. Sometimes it takes 3 hits with the bolt gun to kill them. Some are still alive when they are strung up by one leg and have their throats slit. Horses are bred and raised as pets..not food! Save the horses!!!!!!!

As a professional in the horse industy and and individual that makes a living educating people about horses I find it irresponsible of those who’s opinions are formed based on emotion and not experience to have opposition to this issue. The reality in this world is that there are far more useless and dangerous horses than there are people CAPABLE of taking care of them and realistically domestic horses CANNOT take care of themselves… talk to the people at the BLM, even the mustangs won’t accept these animals and it is an injustice to the good horses in our industry to deny them good homes because these dangerous/infirmed/injured animals are taking up the space. If you are a horse owner, be responsible. If you don’t want your horse to go to slaughter take the effort to screen possible homes for your animal through private sales. If you choose to take the easy way out and send your horse to an auction expect that slaughter dealers may be there. It is a choice the PERSON makes that allows these horses to be available to killer buyers. It is rediculous to take this RESOURCE away from the industry because individuals want an easy way out from under there horse.

I am a horse owner, I love my horses, they will never be sold and if and when it becomes necessary will become pasture ornaments without a care in this world. But because I have lived in Europe, and have eaten horse meat I wish we weren’t sending all of it overseas, it’s very good, I like it. That said, I feel that the slaughter business in general needs to clean up it’s act. There’s not reason at all that any animal, be it horse, cow, chicken, rabbit, whatever, should end it’s life terrified. I’ve seen cattle haulers stuck in traffic for hours in the broiling sun, do you think those animals are given water, nope. As an industry, the slaughter business is poor, maybe legistation would better served making the whole industy better than trying to decide what animal deserves better treatment. BTW, my sister is a USDA meat inspector, has inspected chickens, turkeys, beef, pork, and lamb, I do know that the killing isn’t always done painlessly.

If the kill is illegal then the Government(s) responsible need to be prosecuted for dereliction of duty and aiding a criminal act . Get on with it !!!

People – this bill CANNOT pass or it will “kill” the entire horse industry in the United States. Like it or not, just like the cattle, sheep, and hog markets, horse prices are supported by horse meat prices. We need MORE horse slaughter facilities, not none. If we don’t have these facilities, these animals will have no where to go when they are ready to die or not manageable anymore. I own three horses and love them all dearly, but for them to have any value, the “unwanted” hard case, untrainable, dangerous, or very old and sick horses need to have some place to go that is of value – namely, the slaughter plant.

You save a horse from slaughter you think you can fix and you cant then what’ you kill it.I think thats cruel,When all along its still in the same spot DEAD,I own and raise horses,If one was to ever goes lame and had to be put down,I myself have the right to get money out of it not lose My money.You try to take that away and what is FREE.NOTHING

well i am a proud horse owner that has as grant had said a horse-shoe back but she is the best horse money could buy. when i went to buy her it was a choice between her and a 5 year old mare that looked like she just came back from a show but i picked the old horse that nobody wanted. she has won me places in the local rodeo. people ask all the time how old is she i tell them the truth. i dont care if shes 40 i still will not send her to a slaughter house. if yourone of those people that think that the horses dont know what has happened well you havent done your research the horse fights for their life till the end an when hung up to be beld then alot of times are fully aware of their surronding. the horse regains conciousness after 30 seconds. so now tell me if its a good idea….

I AM A DISABLED 42 YR OLD WHO HAD BRAIN SURGEY IN 2005 AUG., I AM NOT EMPLOYED AND I BUY HORSES THAT ARE ON THE WAY TO SLAUGHTER,THEY ARE WONDERFUL, GREATFUL AND BEAUTIFUL CREATURES THAT ARE MAJESTIC AND DESERVE EVERY CHANCE TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND FED AND CARED FOR AND LOVED DAILY, I WOULD HATE TO STAND BEFORE GOD AND HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY I DIDN’T DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP!!!
SHAME ON THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT ANY ANIMAL SHOULD DIE THAT WAY!!!

right off the bat I’m gonna say I AM OPPOSED TO HORSE SLAUGHTER!! therefore my question and thoughts to follow are in NO WAY meant to support it.. its meant to hopefully open some eyes.Now for those in support of horse slaughter to be shipped out.. I have one question for you and a comparison as well.
WOULD YOU BE ALRIGHT IF YOUR CHILDREN, CAT, OR DOG WAS BEING SLAUGHTERED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN ANOTHER COUNTRY?
if you say yes to that then you should be right there in the cell next to Jeffery Domer ( sp? sorry dont pay attention to cannibalistic peoples names much)
Now as for my comparison.. i know those that are in favor of this aren’t looking at the MAJOR down side and seem to be into economics.. soooo, With the outsourcing of US jobs you get mad about that ( of course just about every full blooded American does ).. well the money made from the unethical slaughtering of horses ( as the ONLY 3 existing horse meat plant in the USA are FOREIGN OWNED – thats right NOT American owned, but owned by someone who is NOT a US citizen ) s shipped OUT of the us and in NO WAY benefits the US Economy. Now how do ya like that? Personally i don’t.. and either way.. I don’t think its ethical or humane to put a perfectly good horse down.. I have been to a Cow slaughter house.. it took me YEARS to want to eat cow again after seeing the WHOLE process ( which is the SAME process used on horses AND I HAVE SEEN THAT TOO SO DONT GO GETTING IN A HUFF) I STILL wont eat chicken and if it weren’t for growing up on a lake and fishing nearly everyday, I probably wouldn’t eat fish either.. However, I eat fish and just recently ( within the last year) started eating cow again.One thing i will NEVER EVER do is eat horse meat.. I cant look at an animal that I WITNESSED HEAL HANDICAPPED AND MENTALLY INCAPACITATED CHILDREN AND ADULTS and think ” hey i think im going to try horse meat today” I dont eat at Chinese restaurants because they kill cats in this country and in their own and eat them.. and if i do.. i get egg drop soup and shrimp fried rice ( same thing every time) anyways back on point.. you cant compare a horse with a cow.. i have raised both and personally, horses are more sociable, intelligent, and become a part of ones family.. like ever other protester to this cause.. I will say this.. GO WATCH THE BUTCHERING PROCESS AND THEN SAY YOU STILL SUPPORT IT..
btw.. New advancs are that most of Europe is now banning horsemeat except Italy whom now has to “furbish” thier own horse meat because other countries are no longer shipping to them. I read that somewhere.. Anyways for my fellow horse lovers, Slowly but surely it will be banished.
and one last thing.. Tell these big horse racing farms to stop breeding massive amounts of horses.. Same with majority of Texas and their beloved Quarter Horses ( which BTW are the #1 slaughtered breed of horse.. Thoroughbreds come in second on that list)..Lastly.. those that have never been to a livestock auction.. especially the horse ones, I urge you to go for the experience.. Go back in the pens and whatnot and look at the horses, how they are kept, how they look, Look THEM in the eyes and you will see what the equine industry sees, their pain and their sadness. they know its coming. Lastly.. Read Black Beauty again, perhaps that will help you understand what a horse feels when they are neglected or abused, and when they are shipped to the auction that could potentially end their life.It was never “just a book” Ana Sewell was right on point with it.

This is downright nasty! Seriously the people actually against the ban maybe should walk along side a horse that is about ready to be killed from the moment they walk onto the trailer untill the bolt gun is done. Then let them tell us how humane this is!
Horses are an American treasure. I doubt there are very many people who would actually be for the killing of these precious animals.
I own many horses of my own and never could imagine any of them going thru the kill pens like many horses already do. All of those horses have had previous owners and i bet they would be heart broken to know there beloved pet has died such a cruel death! The only people that could possibly put there horses thru these factories must be cold and heartless!
I understand there are many horses that are unfit for showing purposes and some have very rotten attitudes but none of them deserve such an inhumane, cold hearted death that these kill plants give them.